Each month, this series introduces fun and impactful healthy habits to help families with kids and teens prioritize physical, mental and spiritual well being – fostering a lifestyle of shared growth and lifelong wellness. Healthy habits built together are the ones that last a lifetime.

Introducing your children to the concept of giving back and the power of making a difference, you’re inadvertently helping them develop a deeper sense of empathy and responsibility. Teens and adults have more opportunity to volunteer whether through work, church or community organizations, but children of all ages can get started with the right options. 

Why Volunteering Matters in Childhood

Any opportunity to share different perspectives with our kids is a win. Oftentimes, volunteering includes visibility to different lifestyles, environments, socioeconomic status and community, and world issues with which they may not be familiar. Opportunities to get involved and volunteer to make a difference helps cultivate a kid’s emotional growth and provides them with individual pride and confidence knowing they can make a difference no matter how small! Imagine being five years old and realizing that even your small contribution and kindness can create positive change for people, animals and even the planet!

Making Volunteering a Long Term Practice

While volunteering individually may be something your preteens and teens may have a desire to do, including the family as a whole can help create beautiful bonding experiences. Not only are you building memories together, but working towards a common goal is incredibly rewarding, as well. 

Choose projects and causes that are age appropriate for all family members that will be participating, and block time on your calendar to find them. Set a reminder to sign up to volunteer once a quarter, twice a year, each holiday season – whatever works best for your family! Seeing volunteering as a family activity and adding it as a time stamped activity, really creates a tradition that reinforces the value of helping others as a lifelong habit. 

Here are a few simple ideas to nurture the new norm of volunteering this month: 

#1 Community Days

Big cities and small towns alike usually host their own community projects each year. Popular events like beach or park clean ups, community garden planting, Habitat for Humanity build days, charity 5Ks and family friendly fundraiser events are all in need of volunteers. Look out for these kinds of community days, and sign your family up, not just to exhibit giving back but the power you have to create real impact right where you live, as well. Working alongside their own neighbors in their community can also reinforce the mindset of “we’re all in this together.” 

#2 Passion Projects

If you really want to get your kids on board and excited about volunteering, lean into their favorite passions! Do you have a daughter obsessed with animals? Volunteer at your local animal shelter or help run a pet adoption weekend locally. Maybe your son loves video games and Pokemon trading? Look up a local conference or “con” event that might need volunteers to set up their vendor area or stuff swag bags. Choose activities that complement their individual interests, showing them how their favorite things can create really amazing change in the world around them! If you have multiple children with different interests, consider rotating choices for volunteer projects over the year. 

#3 Holiday Givebacks

The spirit of giving is never in short supply during the holiday season! From clothing drives, angel gift trees, food bank donations and more, October through December has plenty of chances to volunteer in your local community. Ask your church, youth sports coach, schools, local nonprofits and other contacts if they are running any “give back” days or kindness drives that you and your family can take part in. This time of year is an important one to remind children about gratitude for all they have and how beautiful and important it is to give back to those less fortunate. 

Creating Practices That Last a Lifetime

Keep planting those seeds of growth, gratitude and impact that you want to see flourish in your family! One of the greatest gifts you can give your kids is helping to raise them to be empathetic, confident and self-aware individuals. Instill in them at a young age that true generosity isn’t just giving away money or things, but committing your time, energy and love to something outside yourself.