Encouraging Children to Participate in Community Service

Community Service Ideas for Kids

by Mina Frannea

The holidays are a time of the year when people are often inspired to volunteer their time to those in need. As parents, my husband and I hope to instill in our children the importance of community service and the concept of “giving back”. Children learn a lot by watching so we try to set examples by giving of our time to school activities and various community organizations. This has helped our children accept service related activities as a normal part of our lives.

If you are interested in exploring volunteer opportunities that your child can participate in with you, look for tasks that aren’t too complicated, are age appropriate and relevant to interests or skills that your child enjoys.

Depending on a child’s age (minimum age requirements may apply), he or she may be able to:

Plano, Texas Named as One of Top 10 Cities to Raise a Family

Plano Texas Names one of Top 10 Cities by Home.com

Cities with low crime rates and exceptional schools top list of best places for kids

 

Raising a family is an incredible undertaking, and finding the perfect city for your family is an important decision for many parents. Locating the right combination of a perfect school, family friendly activities and a home for the entire family can be quite a feat. Searching for the right home for your family begins with picking a city and reviewing the surrounding neighborhoods and their offerings. Homes.com, a leading real estate listing site, researched some of America’s favorite locales to uncover the top 10 family friendly cities.

The Homes.com “Top 10” series is designed to guide consumers through every phase of life, from choosing the perfect place for summer vacation, to discovering the best cultural cities. The latest list of best places to raise children highlights cities across the country that are family friendly and offer great educational, cultural and work opportunities.

Top 10 Family Friendly Cities

5 Reasons Volunteering Benefits Your Family

Encouraging Family Time Through Volunteering

How Volunteering Can Help You Spend More Time With Your Kids

by Nick Carroccio

Our daily lives are filled to the breaking point with work, chores, and school. All these activities sometimes fall short of the fulfillment we crave. May I suggest you can find that complete satisfaction by volunteering for our children? There are few things in this world as fulfilling as seeing the excitement, pride, and a great big ear to ear smile on a child’s face.

As a young boy, I was blessed with very involved parents. They made time in their schedule for things we could do together. There is no doubt in my mind that my dad had as much fun in Boy Scouts as I did, and that the time together brought us closer. Thanks to my parents I derive that same joy with my children and with being a volunteer.

Today as a parent I get to pay it forward with my daughters. My oldest took an interest in my tournament Bass fishing. When she asked to go fun fishing with me the first time at the age of 3, of course I was happy but thought it would be one time and out. I was happily surprised when she not only had fun but asked to go again.  Just when I didn’t think it could get any better, my 4 year old has started fishing as well.  Of course “catching” is more fun than fishing but the time we spend together is priceless.

A natural extension of spending time with our own children is volunteering for the benefit of children in our community.  In case you need some, here are 5 great reasons to volunteer: