Giving hugs. Preparing meals. Praying. There are so many ways that kids can serve on their own, or with the help of their parents. We all know it’s important to raise our children to serve others, to be the hands and feet of Jesus. But is that easier said than done? Last year, I shared 7 Ways that Kids Could Serve Others, but today, I want to share 7 more ways that kids can serve others.
Participate in Operation Christmas Child. Every year, many churches across the nation collect shoeboxes filled with toys, clothes, school supplies, and gifts for children who live in underprivileged countries. It’s very easy for children to relate with other children, and by explaining to your kids that these gifts are going to kids who have less than them, they’ll tend to be very helpful and generous. To make it easier for my son to relate to, each year, we decide to prepare a box for a boy and a girl his age– basically, I explain that this is for children his age, and he should choose things that he would like to receive. We typically include new underwear and socks, school supplies like pencils, crayons, and paper, and special toys, like small dolls, cars, balls, and other gifts that fit inside of a box. You can find out more about Operation Christmas Child here or on their official website here.
Collect food for the 15 Can Challenge. In the previous 7 Ways Kids Can Serve post, I mentioned the way that kids could serve others by being involved at their local food pantry. But often, many food pantries have age restrictions that prevent children under a certain age from serving by sorting or helping. However, that doesn’t mean kids can’t serve others with food. The 15 Can Challenge is an idea that each week in the 15 weeks leading up to Christmas, you purchase a canned good to give to your local food pantry. The concept is that most families go to the store once per week, and that generally, buying a canned good each week would only add a few cents to a family’s grocery bill. You can expand on the idea by challenging your child to pick a meal each week (like buying peanut butter and jelly for sandwiches one week, and spaghetti noodles and sauce the next) to purchase items for. Either way, encourage your child to think of shelf-stable foods they enjoy, and provide those for other children. Alternately, in the summer, many communities offer backpack snack programs, where you fill a backpack with things like applesauce, granola bars, and other shelf-stable snacks to help kids who don’t have food for the summer. Encourage your kids to try this, as well, for service opportunities year-round. Further, food pantries typically always need donations; many get an abundance near the holidays, then are sparse the rest of the year. Consider making the 15 can challenge a year-round goal that you participate in. You can read more about the 15 can challenge here.
Donate books to the local school or library. Do you have an abundance of books at home? Perhaps you have duplicates that you received as gifts, or are ordering from a school book form. When you go to purchase books, consider buying 2 copies, or checking that box on the Scholastic book order form that donates books to kids in need. Or, take very gently used copies to your local school or library. Often, teachers purchase books out of their own pocket, and that makes it hard for them to buy as many as they’d like to have in a child’s classroom. Encourage your child to pick out some of their favorite books and buy them to donate, or look through books they’ve outgrown to donate to their previous classes. Ask if your local library has a donation option, or check with local shelters– many times, kids in shelters or going through foster care would love the embrace of a good book during this part of their life.
Pickup Trash at your Local Park. Trash cleanup is a great way to serve, but often, we would rather our children not be doing cleanup by a busy highway or street. Inquire with your town’s park board to see if you can pick up trash at your local park as a volunteer. Many parks departments especially need help after events or festivals in the park, and trash cleanup can be very rewarding in the way that hard work and service is good for kids to try. Pick their favorite park, so they feel good about helping to keep it clean. Perhaps you can even plan time to have a picnic or play on a playground after the work is done!
Have a “donation holiday.” Have you ever considered donations in lieu of gifts for a holiday? Perhaps your child has a particular cause that is near and dear to their hearts? Instead of choosing toys for Christmas or a birthday, perhaps your child can decide to collect gifts for their cause of choice– maybe monetary donations to a society they really support, or items. If your child is a huge animal lover, collecting toys and food for a local animal rescue may be an option. Not wanting to do this for a holiday? Perhaps create a holiday in your own family to give or collect donations for a local charity, donate your time to your chosen cause on a set day each year, or get together with friends and families to celebrate and serve with a local cause. Not wanting to commit fully? Perhaps in addition to selecting a tangible gift for each member of the family, your family will consider also giving a donation of goods or money to a cause each member of the family is passionate about.
Ding Dong Ditch someone. No, not in a mean way! But if you know someone is feeling down, consider leaving a fun gift on their porch to cheer them up, anonymously. Have a friend feeling under the weather, drop soup, crackers, and tea on their porch, ring the bell, and RUN! Anonymous giving is a great way to encourage your children to give selflessly, and not worry about what they’ll get in return. Of course, if you know someone would prefer you didn’t ring their doorbell, there may be other ways you can donate to them anonymously, but if your friends and family are good sports about it, a giving Ding Dong Ditch is never a bad thing. A few tips: make sure your kids are with you when they do this, rather than going solo, and only do this to the homes of people you know– not strangers! It’s a dangerous world out there, so give carefully and responsibly when you’re trying this method.
Babysit (or mow the lawn, or cook, or…) for free. Do you have a child who is a talented babysitter? One that’s really great at mowing a lawn? Find someone to bless– perhaps a single mom who could use an afternoon off– and encourage your child to ask if she can help out. For free. Giving time is as important as giving money or goods, so when your children can serve with their time, or do a job they’d otherwise do for payment for free, then that can be a real blessing to someone who needs it. Also encourage your child to serve in church– perhaps you have a nursery or coffee ministry or other service opportunity where your child can be of service. If your church has multiple services, and you don’t want them to miss out, consider seeing if they can attend one service and serve during another in the nursery. Or, see if your child is willing to mow the church yard, and ask your pastor if it’s okay. Perhaps your church has a ministry available. Whatever your child’s talent, see what they can do to serve. Perhaps you have a skilled musician on your hands– encourage them to offer a free class or clinic to children who may want to learn. Giving these services free is a great way to practice and hone their talent while giving to others.
How do you encourage your kids to serve? Let me know in the comments below!
Looking for more? Here are 7 ways to pray for your child, 7 more ways for kids to serve others, and 5 ways to show your child love (without the words “I love you”).
