Teach Your Kids to Volunteer

When you consider the type of activities you want your children to be involved in, keep volunteer projects in mind. Children, by their nature, are very self-centered. You want to expand their interests beyond their own needs so they don’t grow up to be demanding and selfish adults.

You can help them by encouraging them to give away toys they are not interested in. Maybe donate those toys to a thrift store, church or to a friend in the your apartment complex who could use them.  When they get a bit older, have them volunteer in a soup kitchen or other shelter serving food to the poor or homeless. My children participate in shopping for Toys for Tots during Christmas and really enjoy putting those new, unwrapped toys in the bin. It gives them a feeling of community, as well as they know they are helping someone in need.

Photo courtesy of flickr.com