This holiday break, consider volunteering with your La Paloma Academy student, and help someone else in need. Volunteering within the community is a great way to instill the values of citizenship and compassion, which can last your child a lifetime. The season of giving is the perfect opportunity to introduce kids to or reinforce these character concepts.
Volunteerism teaches kids to appreciate what they have. Children oftentimes learn best by seeing and even experiencing a situation for themselves. Helping out in a soup kitchen or touring a homeless shelter after donating allows kids to visualize the contrast compared to their own lives. Your child can appreciate that he or she is able to have a meal and home while others may not be so fortunate.
In addition, volunteer experiences let your child see that the community will come together when people are down on their luck. This is a fantastic way to show the difference even one person can make when he or she contributes time or effort.
In Tucson there are many opportunities for volunteering with children, like helping out at the The Salvation Army’s Thanksgiving Dinner or spending time at Ben’s Bells to spread the message of kindness. However, acts of volunteerism can also take place in less formal settings. Consider contributing to a toy drive and let your child select the toy. Explain to your child why someone else might need such a donation, and encourage your child so he or she feels proud of each act of giving back. Depending on the type of drive, your son or daughter may even be able to select one of their own toys, one they have outgrown, to donate, truly making the idea of sacrifice and helping others a bit more personal.
Another idea for informal volunteering: initiate a clean-up project in your neighborhood. Pick a small area of a nearby park, playground, or neighborhood block and pick up trash for an hour or so. This is a project you can accomplish quickly with kids of any age, and see immediate results in which your child can take pride.
For younger children who are new to volunteering, it is best to participate with them so you can lead by example and take advantage of a priceless bonding experience. Many options for community service may have age restrictions which require a guardian to be present.
Whether you make the act of volunteering an annual event, or integrate it into family time throughout the year, encourage your kids to volunteer and get involved in their community. Don’t forget, La Paloma Academy, your own Tucson charter school, also has options for volunteering. Check your area churches, senior centers, homeless shelters, food banks, and hospitals for additional opportunities to volunteer year-round.
