More and more schools are incorporating community service into their curriculums or extracurricular activities. Even if your child’s school doesn’t community service is a great way for kids to learn responsibility on an individual and global level and shows them that “work” can be just as much fun and even more satisfying than another afternoon spent in front of videos. A couple of easy ways to make a difference follow.
Beach or Park Clean Up
By fall, the parks and beaches that were sparkly new in the spring and early summer can look a little tired, but there are still months of use ahead! Grab some buddies, some gloves, boots, a vest (to look official!) and bags and a chaperone and get busy. It’s easy and makes a difference in their own world right away.
Reading to Kids or Seniors
Do your kids like books? Why not have them hang after school with other kids a bit younger and read to them. It’ll be more fun for all of the kids (and foster literacy) if the kids are going through books together. To make it more successful, help choose books that are age appropriate and maybe even go with a theme you know the younger children will enjoy. You could also contact the local senior centers and ask them about their book carts or reading programs. The residents will love to see kids and will likely love to hear any stories your kids will want to tell.
These kinds of activities will help your kids learn to be responsible to other people, what It means to be part of a community, plus basics like punctuality and living up to a commitment. Not a bad way to kill time!
