There are so many ways to help others. This year, people could use help more than ever. Since the season of giving is coming up, that makes it the perfect time to get the kids involved with acts of kindness, whether big or small.
While it might seem like a hefty feat, the truth is, kids get a lot of joy out of helping others. Whether it's through giving a special gift or doing something that lightens someone else's load, that warm and fuzzy feeling that comes from supporting others isn't just reserved for us adults. Kids can totally get on board with doing good deeds.
But in even better news, those good deeds don't have to cost anything, and they don't even need to require a ton of effort. Like the saying goes, it's the thought that counts. Kids are some of the most creative people around, and chances are they'll have tons of good ideas of their own. But just in case, here are seven ways to encourage kids to help others this holiday season.
Introduce them to volunteer opportunities.
There are so many places to volunteer, and many of them don't require big commitments. From soup kitchens to tutoring a younger student, kids can make a big impact, too. But one of the easiest ways to encourage kids to volunteer is to introduce them to opportunities in their wheelhouse. If they have been taking ballet for years, find out if the studio they practice at needs older kids to help out the instructors or help with the younger kids. Most nonprofit organizations, in particular, will welcome any helping hands they can get. Doing so can also be a huge learning experience for kids.
Look to helping those in your own community.
More than likely, there are people in your own community who could use a hand. Do you have elderly neighbors who need help with their pets? A mom who could make use of a mother's helper a couple of mornings a week? One of the easiest ways to get kids involved is to find out which people you already know (or could get to know a little better!) would be overjoyed by having a neighborhood kid help them out, no strings attached. It also helps foster great relationships between neighbors.
Help them think of craft ideas, and donate the proceeds.
From craft projects to baking ideas, kids are chock full of so many ideas for how to pass the time. Utilize their own creative ideas and turn them into good deeds. By using whatever special skills they have, whether it's making necklaces or finger-kitting socks, all of those hobbies can be turned into opportunities to hold sales and find a cause to donate the proceeds to. Plus, kids love being entrepreneurs — and seeing the fruits of their labor go to a good cause.
Have them put together kindness bags.
One of the toughest parts of the holiday season is knowing that not everyone has a warm place to sleep or a family to come home to. We can't give everyone we see on the streets a home, but we can help the homeless in some small yet significant ways. Keeping kindness bags in your car filled with items like a warm pair of socks, a winter hat, a granola bar, and a bottle of water can make a huge impact on a person's day. Kids will love helping to put the bags together and seeing the look on someone's face when they hand them out.
Have them recycle old clothes and toys.
Even for adults, it can be hard to part with our beloved items. But with new clothes and toys coming into homes all over the globe during the holiday season, it's a great time to clean out some old stuff. Instead of throwing out things kids no longer use, have them donate their items to good causes, like shelters or nonprofits. It's great to get in the habit at a young age of parting with things we aren't deeply attached to, and it's important to see how items we no longer use could be helpful to other people.
Introduce them to the causes close to your heart.
There is a lot of sadness in the world, and we don't want to frighten kids by introducing them to too much, too soon. However, it's important to talk to your kids about the causes that matter to you in a way that is age-appropriate. Shielding them from too much won't help them grow up as compassionate individuals who care for others.
So give them a little bit at a time, and make it easily digestible. They might just take an interest in the things you care about, too. Whether you're passionate about the environment, helping the homeless, supporting women's rights, or minority communities, it's really amazing to see your kids begin to care deeply, too.
Challenge them to come up with their own ideas.
The most amazing thing about kids is that their minds never stop turning. Once you start talking about how to help others, more than likely they'll have plenty of their own ideas — ones you probably never would've thought of! They might want to start a babysitting group, a weekly dinner swap, or a GoFundMe page that friends, family, and neighbors can donate to. Whatever idea they have, let them run with it, and help out however you can. One of the most empowering ways for kids to help out is to do so in a way that is meaningful to them. So if the ideas come from them, they are far more likely to really care about the ways they are helping others.
