*I was asked by Global Citizen to share about volunteering and ways to help others in need. All opinions here are my own.
As the mom to two young school-aged girls, I am very aware of raising my daughters to be kind and to give to others.
See many are not as fortunate as my girls. Therefore, I want my kids to understand this. I also hope that as they do grow up they never forget to help others.
In that way, I have made sure over the years to continually have my girls give and volunteer to help others. I also have made sure to have age-appropriate activities for them with volunteering and giving back.
One of the many fun, but education events with Girl Scouts where my girls have learned about kindness, giving back and more…
One of the many activities they take part in is that both are raising my daughters to be kind. Girl Scouts has taught them many lessons, especially with how to treat others and be kind.
But Girl Scouts also has continually found ways to have my girls take part in community activities to give back.
Selling cookies at the annual Girl Scout Booth Sale, where many helped her troop to donate cookies, too…
These activities include as follows: caroling to raise money for those in need, selling cookies to donate boxes to the military, making meals for those who can’t leave their homes, donating school supplies to kids who don’t have the money to buy their own supplies, collecting cans of food and toys for the poor, making holiday cards for the troops and so much more.
Shopping at Christmas Time for Toys for Tots Donation
But I am aware that not all kids can or do belong to Girl or Boy Scouts locally.
Therefore, I am happily sharing some more simple, but effective ways for all kids to give ideas on how to help locally with or without being a part of the scouts.
10 Simple Ways All Kids Can Help Others:
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Donate food to a local food pantry. Have your child pick out one item each time you go to the store.
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Walk for a cause. Have your kid(s) volunteer to walk to fight a disease.
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Crafting for all. Put together activity boxes including old art supplies.
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Visit a nursing home to sing, dance or put on a show.
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Clean up after an after school or extra curricular event.
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Send cards, jokes and/or notes to children’s hospitals
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Deliver meals to an elderly person or neighbor who is under the weather.
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Offer a lift to friend who needs a ride.
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Volunteer to help care for abandoned dogs/cats.
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Donate old children’s books that they have outgrown.
Want to make a difference locally with your kids?
Download this FREE Printable for all ways for your kids to give back locally…
Do your kids belong to Girl Scouts or Boy Scouts?
How do your kids volunteer locally?
Share with me in the comments…
Seana Turner says
I think children love helping others… it comes naturally to them. Adults can help provide opportunities to do this. Another idea is to include your child in sponsoring a needy child in another country, such as through World Vision. They can share a portion of their allowance, or simply just write notes/draw pictures to send!
Janine says
Love your idea, too Seana and thank you so much for sharing with me here!! 🙂
Cynthia says
I LOVE this – on so many levels. You have a heart of gold, sweet Janine! Your girls are going to have big hearts, too, and it’s so fun watching all the wonderful things you do with and for them. And I must say it’s incredible watching them grow up. What an incredible journey. 🙂
As a side note, I’m doing a walking marathon and want to raise money, but don’t know what in the world I’m doing. I may have to take some cues from the Girl Scouts, lol.
I hope you have a fabulous week, sweet friend! Sending BIG HUGS!
Janine says
Cyndi, what can I say but thank you for all your kind words and from being here pretty much from the beginning with me on this journey as a mom, writer and more. Seriously, hope you know how much I adore you my sweet, dear friend. I love that you are doing a walking marathon to raise money and hope you will share more about it maybe on your blog as I’d love to learn more now. Wishing you also a wonderful week ahead and so many hugs once again, too 🙂
Meredith Spidel says
I love this post, Janine! So important to teach our kiddos the value of this and do these things with them. Thanks for the list of ideas!
Janine says
Thank you again so much, Meredith and truly was my pleasure to share some ideas on ways that kids could give back and volunteer with you, too 🙂
Dara says
Great ideas! My kids love volunteering with me.
Janine says
Thanks Dara and mine do, as well 🙂
Kathy Radigan says
These are great ideas. My eldest son helped out this weekend at a campaign called Soles for Souls and was with a bunch of kids helping out. I think it’s so important. And I was looking through my old pictures of me as a Brownie, my daughter Lizzy still does Girls Scouts at 15!! Thanks for a great piece and adorable pictures of your girls!!
Janine says
Thank you once again, Kathy. And I love hearing that your oldest volunteered this weekend, as this sounds like a great cause to me. As for the Girl Scouts I was also a scout, so truly glad both my girls are. The Girl Scouts really does build such great character for young girls and teach them all sorts of lessons, especially about kindness and giving back, too 🙂
Tamara says
I love these ideas. I think the most important trait in a kid is kindness. At every school conference when they’re talking about academic stuff on and on, Cassidy interrupts and says, “Yeah.. but.. is she happy? Is she kind?”
Janine says
I am with Cassidy on this and feel the exact same way. I want my kids to be happy, but also to be kind and caring towards others always <3
Jen says
This is so important! I love that first Barbie picture. Man would all of my girls would die for something like that 🙂
I am woefully behind on commenting. I couldn’t look at screens of any kind last week without wanting to hurl, but I am glad this is the first post I hit!
Janine says
Aw, so glad you are feeling better and had you in my thoughts and prayers all last week and weekend, too. Hugs and seriously just can’t say enough how happy to hear you are OK, my friend <3
William Holland says
And I love the message here. This is my favorite post of yours, all-time!!!!!
Beautiful way to raise children, giving to others….great parenting responsibility.
Well done, my friend, and Happy Monday to you!
Janine says
What can I say, but thank you from he bottom of my heart, Bill. Coming from you that means the world to me. Seriously, thank you!! Happy Monday once again now, my friend!!! 🙂
Mary says
This is a great post, great mind thinks alike. I just created a new board on Pinterest called Random Acts of Kindness where I ended up pinning tons of idea for kids to join in on the fun. It’s so important that we teach our kids to give back. My Mom and Dad taught me the benefits of helping others and it shaped me into the person I am today. I was a girl scout! This is a great list Janine 🙂 Your girls are adorable.
Janine says
Aw, thank you Mary. I love that we had a similar idea on this, too 😉
AnnMarie John says
I get my kids to help out at the church with their food pantry. We also give to the food pantry. There are so many people in need and every little bit counts. You’re raising amazing little girls and the world is going to be a much better place with them in it.
Janine says
Thank you so much AnnMarie and I really couldn’t agree more that there are truly so many in need so that every little bit does indeed count.
Kristen Hewitt says
I love these ideas and are definitely going to incorporate them this summer!
Janine says
Thanks Kristen and happy to share with you, too 🙂
Diane Roark says
Janine,
I LOVE this post! Kids need to learn to be others first. Over the years, we have done many of these 10 activities with my kids but not as often as I would have loved to do them.
I too was in Girl Scouts and sing all their praises. I know what a wonderful job they do to teach girls to think about other people. We have had such a difficult time with my youngest daughter. I am going to think about putting her in Girl Scouts. She will be 15 this summer and thinks the world revolves around her. I not sure if it is an adoption attitude or a teenager attitude. Hopefully, she will appreciate everything one day.
Thanks for sharing!
Diane
Janine says
Coming from a woman, who once was more than a handful as a teenager, I say keep doing what you are doing and it will pay off. As my own mother never gave up on me and think that in the end it turned out OK for me, I’d say never give up on her. Hugs Diane and always happy to share with you <3
Aunt Gloria says
so important that kids learn to contribute to make the world a better place. And you’re doing a good job getting the girls involved with giving back. Keep up the good work! xxoo
Janine says
Aw, thanks so much Aunt Gloria xoxo
Mother of 3 says
Great ideas! We adopt a family or a few children from local charities during Christmastime and I have my boys help pick out the gifts for those children. We also donate our books and clothing and pick out toys to give away to hospitals, day cares and schools.
Janine says
Thanks Mother of 3 and love the ways you and your children give back, as well 🙂
Nellie says
These are fantastic ideas! I am going to print and put them on the fridge for the kids to see everyday. Thanks Janine!!
Janine says
Love that you are printing out for your boys and seriously happy that this could be inspiration for them 😉
Leslie says
Such a great reminder that giving back starts from the earliest ages. I try to get my girls involved by picking out and preparing food for local food pantries. And, of course, they love to pick out clothes for the homeless during the winter months. Thanks for the reminder and for sharing at the #happynowlinkup!
Janine says
Happy for the reminder and thanks once again for hosting, too 🙂
Christine Carter says
LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS Janine! Those are such wonderful ways we can teach our kids how to serve others. I’m so glad you shard them. Girl Scouts is such a great organization! I used to lead American Heritage Girls which is similar to girl scouts- we started the ministry chapter in our community years ago and it continues to this day. I left it when I started running the teen ministry due but those five years were valuable in teaching girls how to serve! (It’s Christian based- so girl scouts plus Christian teachings/principles throughout as well.)
Janine says
Aw, love that you ran that program and I agree about pitching in and being there in such a capacity when our girls are young and impressionable. Truly happy I could share about this here with you, too 🙂
catherine gacad says
this is so important to me, too, janine! my son is totally privileged and i want him to grow up to be kind and giving. i especially love the one about nursing homes because the elderly love interacting with kids.
Janine says
Aw, Catherine I have no doubt Franco will grow up to be kind and giving with you as his mom 😉
Marko @ Parent Support Hub says
Great post!
Kindness is such an easy behaviour to teach, if we are aware and lead by example. Help our children develop this very important social quality so that they may be inspirational to others and have a positive impact on the world.
Janine says
Couldn’t agree more, Marko!!