Susie Almaneih: 6 Things That Kids Can Do To Volunteer As an after school activity

1. 6 Things that Kids can do to Volunteer
as an After School Activity
SUSIE ALMANEIH

2. We would all like
to do more to
help out.
Here are some
ways we can
encourage our
kids to make it
a habit:

3. Some of us have more
free time than others, and
as busy parents, we often
wish we could volunteer
or be more available to
those we care about. But
for kids who get out of
school at 3pm each day,
those couple hours before
homework and dinner can
be put to good use in the
community or at home!
Here are some helpful
ideas that can be fun and
rewarding:

4. If you live near a retiree or a grandparent, have your able bodied drop
by once a week and rake leaves or trim hedges. Even 30 minutes is an
act of kindness, a little outdoor time and always deeply appreciated.
Help a neighbor with the yard work.

5. One of the best ways to learn is to teach, a wise teacher once said.
When older kids help out a younger sibling or a neighbor, they not only
cement their own skills, but they take a certain amount of pride in being
able to effectively relay information.
Tutor a younger child.

6. Children love making things anyway, why not get the jump on the
holiday season? Try homemade bath salts, soap and soap dishes,
or a photo collage.
Crafting Holiday Gifts.

7. Raise Funds for Charity.
There are many ways to raise money for a good cause that don’t
involve going door-to-door with a box of year old candy bars. Now with
crowd sourcing and social media, kids can start their own campaigns or
do grass roots work right from their laptop or tablet.

8. Community Garden.
Urban food growing
projects are
picking up steam all
over the country
and there is always
work that needs to
be done. Kids of all
ages love to get
their hands in the
dirt and learn how
to grow things.
Bonus: picky eaters
will often be more
apt to try new
things if they have
grown them first.

9. Animal Adoption Programs.
Humane Societies always need volunteers and some even have
programs for kids to come in and spend time with the animals,
feed or even walk dogs.

10. Contributing is good for kids and while they may resist the idea at first,
they will eventually find something that offers them the lasting
satisfaction of a job well done. It also helps them take a break from
their own busy schedules and keeps them active. And that helps
everyone.