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CLICK PDF TO DOWNLOAD THE VOLUNTEER ACTIVITY FOR THIS MONTH

Think about how much more impoverished our communities would be if all of the volunteer services disappeared. This is a lesson that children can be taught early and take with them into adulthood.

 

For example, volunteers are critical in:

Helping families (daycare and eldercare)

Improving schools (tutoring, literacy)

Supporting youth (mentoring and after-school programs)

Beautifying the community (beach and park cleanups)

 

TOP 10 REASONS TO ENCOURAGE YOUR KIDS TO VOLUNTEER

 

1. Volunteering helps foster empathy.

 

2. Volunteering helps develop a sense of self-efficacy.

 

3. Volunteers gain experience working with other people.

 

4. Volunteering develops new skills.

 

5. Volunteering provides the opportunity to explore new interests and develop new passions.

 

6. Volunteers learn a lot.

 

7. Volunteers actually make a difference in other people's lives.

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8. Volunteering encourages civic responsibility.​

 

9. Volunteering offers you a chance to give back.

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10. Volunteering is good for you.

 

While this is the last reason for volunteering on this list, and may not be the most important, it is good to know that research has consistently shown that acting altruistically has real benefits. Volunteering provides physical and mental rewards; it has been shown to:

 

Reduce stress: When you focus on someone other than yourself, it interrupts tension-producing patterns.

 

Make you healthier: The moods and emotions that frequently come through volunteer services like optimism, joy, and a sense of self-efficacy can contribute to strengthening the immune system.

 

Make you happier: Human beings are social animals. Working closely with others in a common pursuit for the benefit of our fellow creatures can fill us with a sense of purpose, and that can lead us to feelings of satisfaction and true happiness.