I live in one of those throw-back neighborhoods. The kind that you see in “Leave It to Beaver” reruns. Everyone knows everyone, and the kids spend much of their time at one of the many Kool-Aid houses on the street. The only difference is that the moms exchange wine rather than recipes and our grass is not quite as green because of the football games that take place in the front yards.
The kids in our neighborhood are getting together to create a volunteer project in conjunction with the Slant 45 initiative. Slant 45 stands for “Service Learning Adventures in North Texas” and it is the largest education initiative ever undertaken by a Super Bowl Host Committee. Kids across the area are coming up with different service projects to address needs that they see in our community.
Our first meeting was last week. The kids sat around and exchanged ideas while one jotted them down with a marker and some poster board. Some of the more creative ideas included saving extinct (or nearly dead) animals – with the emphasis on rhinoceroses. There was also a request for increased safety measures for the squirrels that wind up as road kill on the street.
We haven’t made our final decision where the kids will focus their efforts – but at least they are working together towards a higher purpose beyond baseball and video games.
Here are some quick tips for getting your kids involved in volunteering:
1. Establish a Monthly Family Volunteer Day
As with most major lessons in life – it starts with us. The moms and the dads. Kids will follow our lead. By having a volunteer day – just once a month – will make an impact on the kids, help a cause, and offer much-needed quality time together.
2. Find a Charity that the Kids are Interested In
Let’s face facts – if it’s not interesting to the kids – the process will be much more painful. Kind of like dragging them to the dentist or piano practice. If the kids are interested in the cause – they will give YOU the motivation to keep volunteering- even after an extra tough day at work.
3. Keep an Open Mind
Now I’m not saying that parents should agree on a charity that supports the ongoing development of video games – I do think we have to be open to not only the charities that interest your kids – but also the methods that they want to take to raise the money. It may take three hours of your shrinking time to put up the lemonade stand for the $4 it raises – but it is worth the memory and the lesson!
4. Invite Other Kids to Join In
Progress is made in numbers! Gathering the neighborhood kids and getting them involved is a great way to make a big impact. Plus – it keeps the kids interested and involved!
