Winter Kid-Friendly Volunteering
Kids’ lives are packed with after-school activities, sports, and lessons, but many would love to contribute to a meaningful difference in the world that they can witness. Just like any good habit, it is valuable to teach kids to be active volunteers early on in their childhood. Acting altruistically has real benefits for mental health and personal development—not only during the holiday season, but year-round.
A very young child may not understand the exact meaning of "volunteering,” but kids as young as three can feel and learn the value of helping people and places in need.
In Norway, we have a tradition called dugnad centered around volunteering, helping, and supporting the community. Dugnad has been part of Norwegian culture for a long time, and it is all about giving back. Traditionally, it involves maintenance work, spring cleaning, building and refurbishing projects, gardening, and raising money and support for local, national, and international causes.
We always love that feeling you get when you’re making the world a better place! It’s also a fantastic way to make new friends and to learn new skills.
The act of regular volunteering develops a lot of new skills in children. From practical planning, organizing, and problem-solving to expanding physical and mental comfort zones, all these new experiences are fundamental for the personal development of a child.
Most importantly, volunteering fosters empathy in kids. It’s such a valuable skill to be able to imagine what other people may be going through or feeling. Once that sense of empathy is triggered, it leads to a raised willingness to be of help. That’s when children start developing a sense of self-efficacy. Volunteering can provide experiences that affirm a young person’s sense that they can make a difference through their own efforts and skills.
How to involve children in volunteering?
Children love copying what their parents are doing, so set a great example of being a volunteer yourself. Find something fun that interests your child or family’s dynamics. It can be helping at the local animal shelter or wildlife rescue, cleaning up the park or the beach near you, donating clothes and toys that are not needed anymore, or be as simple as helping your neighbors. To turn those nice acts of kindness into a habit, do them regularly and include them as a part of the family schedule.
We know that family life is busy, especially around the holidays, but volunteering can be a thoughtful bonding tradition to follow with your family, no matter how regularly you practice it. Make it bigger by engaging your friends and extended family in your causes.
Start with exposing children to important social issues, such as homelessness, animal rescue, or taking care of the environment. By showing who and what needs help, kids can choose how they would like to make a difference. And that will set the foundation in knowledge and enthusiasm for future volunteer activities.
In the winter season, what are ways your family can volunteer?
Initiate a canned food collection in your community and donate them to local food banks.
Learn how to knit to make warm hats, gloves, scarves, and socks for people in need.
Prepare packed meals from untouched holiday leftovers and donate them to homeless communities. (link to food waste article)
Start composting to make the most out of food leftovers that can't be donated and find local facilities that can take advantage of your compost.
Foster animals in need, donate food to animal shelters, and help with walking dogs.
Participate in or organize park, forest, beach, and other community clean-ups.
Create bird feeders for the local birds who have a harder time finding food in the winter (link to that article).
Clean up at home and donate clothes, toys, books, and other items you don't use anymore.
Contact nonprofit organizations you like and ask how you can help.
Visit volunteer websites like VolunteerMatch.org to explore more kid-friendly opportunities.
We are curious to know how your family supports the local community by volunteering, so please share them with us on social by tagging @KvaroyKids!