| A common complaint most parents have is that their | | | | way to teach your child to have compassion for |
| children do not engage in more meaningful activities. | | | | others. |
| Many children would rather play the latest Nintendo | | | | 5 - Teach your child all about Random Acts of |
| game or challenge their friends to games on their | | | | Kindness (RAK's). Explain to your child how even the |
| Wii's. | | | | smallest act of kindness can make a big difference in |
| As parents we want our children to experience all | | | | someone's life. Explain to your child how easy it is to |
| that life has to offer and for them to become | | | | do something nice for others such as holding the |
| productive members of our society. One of the best | | | | door open for someone, assist an elderly person with |
| ways we can accomplish this is to get our children | | | | their packages or take out the trash for a neighbor. |
| involved in our community. The experiences they gain | | | | For more information you can visit the Acts of |
| will not only teach them about the world around | | | | Kindness site. ( |
| them but it will also help our children to learn | | | | 6 - Have your family get involved in a charitable |
| compassion and good will towards others. | | | | activity such as the Juvenile Diabetes Research |
| If you have a child approaching college, community | | | | Foundation (JDRF) "Walk for a Cure" or the American |
| service is essential for them when filling out college | | | | Cancer Society's "Relay for Life". It is a great way to |
| applications. Most colleges do not only look at a | | | | help raise money and awareness for a good cause. |
| student's grades, they also want to know what kind | | | | Walks and relays are also a great form of exercise. |
| of community service a student has performed over | | | | 7 - If you have younger children you can get them |
| the years. Many scholarship applications ask students | | | | involved by having them color and draw pictures and |
| to write about their community service experiences. | | | | mail them to Color a Smile ( The organization takes |
| There are many ways you can get your family | | | | the drawings and coloring pages from children across |
| actively involved in the community. Here are a few | | | | the country and mails them to nursing homes, |
| suggestions to get you started. | | | | shut-ins, hospitals and other places where people can |
| 1 - Have your child volunteer their time at your local | | | | use a smile. Even a very young child can learn about |
| library. Many libraries have a need for student | | | | being kind and giving to others by donating their |
| volunteers. The volunteers help to read stories to the | | | | wonderful artwork to bring a smile to someone else's |
| younger children and help out at library events. Most | | | | face. |
| libraries have sign in sheets to keep track of student | | | | 8 - A great learning experience that will last a life |
| volunteer service hours. Children can volunteer at | | | | time is to teach your child to be more |
| some libraries as early as sixth grade. | | | | environmentally responsible. Teach your child about |
| 2 - Volunteer at your local animal shelter. You'll have | | | | recycling and alternatives that are healthier and safer |
| to check with the shelter about age requirements. | | | | for our environment. Educate your child about the |
| For the most part volunteers help to walk the dogs | | | | effects our actions have on our planet and how even |
| and socialize the dogs and cats so that they are | | | | little things can have a huge impact. Have your child |
| suitable for adoption. Shelter employees will make | | | | commit to doing at least one environmentally friendly |
| sure that young volunteers are not put in harms way | | | | act on a daily basis. |
| or have them work with dangerous animals. Your | | | | 9 - Have your child join an organization such as the |
| child can also help with fundraising efforts by | | | | Boys Scouts, Girl Scouts, Student Government, |
| collecting blankets, food and other supplies the | | | | church Youth Group or 4-H. Most of these groups do |
| shelter needs. | | | | many community service programs throughout the |
| 3 - Have your child gather up unused toys, books | | | | year. |
| and clothing that no longer fit and donate it to a local | | | | 10 - Help your child find a cause or issue they are |
| charity. Places such as homeless shelters, children's | | | | passionate about such as save the Polar Bears, which |
| homes and battered women's shelters are always in | | | | are an issue my daughter feels strongly about. It's |
| great need for such donations. By doing this it will | | | | very important for your child to understand and |
| enlighten your child to the plight of people who find | | | | recognize issues outside of the realm of their day to |
| themselves in dire circumstances to help them gain | | | | day lives. Brain storm with your child and find out |
| compassion for those less fortunate then themselves. | | | | ways you can help them. Invite other children and |
| Remind your child how happy they will make another | | | | family members to get involved. Set up play dates |
| child by donating their toys to a child who might no | | | | with other children so that they can come up with |
| otherwise have any toys to call their own. | | | | ideas on how they want to help bring awareness to |
| 4 - As a family collect non-perishable foods and | | | | their cause. |
| donate them to a local food bank. During these hard | | | | There are many ways in which your child can |
| times more and more people are finding it harder to | | | | become an active member of your community. The |
| cover their basic needs, including food. Together, as a | | | | key is to find something your child is passionate |
| family, collect a few extra cans of non-perishable | | | | about or that your child enjoys doing and research |
| foods each time you go food shopping and drop | | | | available opportunities for your child to get involved in. |
| them off at a local food bank. This is another great | | | | |