You’ve probably seen images of young children volunteering at homeless shelters or providing aid to disaster victims. And they’ve no doubt warmed your heart. kids can make amazing volunteers, because their actions are guided by pure innocence and a will to help the ailing ones. Volunteering in relief efforts can open up your child’s heart and mind, and can prove to be one of the most enriching experiences of their childhood.

How The Process Helps Children

Children by nature are empathetic and compassionate. Parents can foster these qualities by encouraging their children to volunteer. And parents need to foster these feelings so that kids have a chance to give back and be thankful for what’s been given to them. Moreover, encouraging kids to volunteer enables them to become more generous and articulate – the key ingredients of a well-rounded individual. Parents will also appreciate the sense of contentment and self-worth the experience provides to children.

Right Time to Begin Volunteering

The time to act is NOW! We live in a world that has become increasingly divided, and nurturing young minds to take a more positive approach and extend a helping hand to others benefits both themselves as well as others. An easy place to start is volunteer opportunities in your community, such as local shelters and places of worship that are offering food, education, clothing, and other efforts for people in need.

Lead by Example

Kids look to their parents to learn the ways of life. And when they see you doing your best to help others in need, they will want to know more. The more they know the more eager they will be to contribute to the betterment of humanity. This kind of hands-on organizing helps your kids makes a real difference, and also improves their leadership skills. After a while, they’ll be ready to take on bigger volunteer responsibilities.

Disaster Relief

Be proactive and help your child organize canned food and clothing drives at their school or place of warship. These institutes have the power and presence to become strong support centers not only for disaster victims, but also for young children and adults from the local community who wish to become a part of the relief effort. For example, in the wake of Hurricane Harvey, Calvary Houston, a Houston based community church, had over 700 volunteers of all ages helping out in preparing and serving meals, cleaning out hundreds of homes and providing food and supplies to more than 1,000 families affected by the hurricane, all coming together for the cause.

Final Words

Children have the power to change the world, and it’s the role of parents to guide them along the right path.