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11/2/21 blog post

how children can benefit by giving back

When your child spends time volunteering in the community, they’re actively helping others, but they’re also helping themselves. Giving back is good for kids (and adults), and it may help them boost their mental health in a variety of ways.

Because children may often hear they aren’t old enough to do certain activities, they may think they can’t make a difference in the world until they’re adults. But kids can advocate for a cause that’s meaningful to them right now, or they can devote themselves to organizations whose ideals mirror their own. They may be thrilled to realize they have the power to help others and give back to the community.

When children volunteer for causes that matter to them, they’re likely to:

  • Improve their moods. Giving back can be enjoyable, especially if your child can see the impact their efforts have on others. If they make friends while volunteering, they may look forward to participating again with their new friends in the future. Volunteering also helps to reduce stress levels and improves life satisfaction.
  • Boost their self-confidence levels. Kids who volunteer often learn new skills, become more certain about their leadership abilities, improve the way they communicate with others and become more self-sufficient.
  • Become more empathetic. Volunteering and working for others help build skills related to empathy, such as taking the perspective of others and thinking about what their needs are. As they work for a cause they care about, they may become more compassionate and generous as well.



How to help your child start giving back

Some families, schools and organizations encourage children to volunteer their time or advocate for causes that are meaningful to them. You can inspire your child to get started, even if you’ve never volunteered before. Try these three ideas:

  1. Find out what your child is passionate about. Do they love baking? Reading? Caring for animals? There may be organizations in your area where they can volunteer their time or talents to make a difference. They’ll be more inclined to participate – and stick with it – if they choose an activity they enjoy and find personally rewarding.

     
  2. Make it a family event. Young children typically can’t volunteer without being accompanied by a parent or guardian. Become engaged in the activity instead of sitting on the sidelines or dropping them off. Your child may become even more motivated to improve the world if they see you’re helping to further a cause they find significant.

     
  3. Commit time and resources to the cause. When you regularly set aside time for giving and advocacy, your child will realize that you prioritize helping others. If your child finds something they’re passionate about and participates on an ongoing basis, it may inspire them to continue giving back well into adulthood.



Download our On Our Sleeves Giving Heart activity to help motivate and inspire your family to give back to the community. You can donate gently used clothing, toys or nonperishable food to local charities or even friends or loved ones in need. Share your giving stories by using #OnOurSleeves on social media.

The mission of On Our Sleeves is to provide every community in America access to free, evidence-informed educational resources necessary for breaking stigmas about child mental health and educating families and advocates. For more information, visit OnOurSleeves.org.

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