Guest post by Dan Gilbert

Today, most parents find it extremely important to raise children who are compassionate and consider of other’s feelings. Unfortunately, many parents are finding it hard to know how to teach their children compassion and promote activities to help others, such as volunteering. Teaching children they can help save the world as early as preschool may seem like a hard task to accomplish, but it certainly is possible with these suggestions from Primrose Schools- the Leader in Educational Child Care.

Participating in volunteer activities can help children learn that they can help others and have a positive impact on their community, “Giving back is an important year-round habit to establish with young children,” stated Dr. Mary Zurn, vice president of education at Primrose Schools. “Volunteering plays an important role in the development of character. It teaches children that they can do things that positively impact the world around them. Even young children can learn to become active participants in their communities.”

Below are four helpful tips for parents who are interested in teaching their children the importance of volunteering:

1) Make personal goals and motives in regards to including your children in volunteer projects. Volunteering can be an excellent way to spend quality time with your kid. Choose a project that is significant to your family and get started!

2) It can help to explain to your child the reason that volunteering is so important. Keep it simple to help your child clearly understand and appreciate volunteering.

3) Be sure to pick volunteer activities that are appropriate for your child’s age. Most children can start volunteering as young as age 3 when they begin to be more social and capable of following instructions. When choosing an activity, try to keep it local so that your child will better understand its importance.

4) When looking for the right volunteer opportunity, be sure that the volunteer organization has experience with families and children and are open to allowing children to help. Additionally, be sure to make sure that your child can have a specific job when volunteering. Most importantly, find an organization that will set a good example of helping others so that your child can grasp the idea and importance of volunteer work.

In the long run, a compassionate child will mature into a caring and compassionate adult. Volunteering can be a wonderful way to teach your child the importance of positive behavior and helping others. With the above tips in mind, have a family meeting to make a plan to help out your community.

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