by Dawn Hawkins

Created on: October 14, 2009   Last Updated: February 23, 2011

Volunteering is a very rewarding thing to do with your free time. Teenagers may see it as a waste of time though. It isn't easy to encourage kids to do the right thing sometimes. Teens want to do their own thing and giving of themselves isn't often part of the mix. There are ways to encourage your teen to volunteer though.

Here are some tips to help you encourage your teen to volunteer:

Example- It is always best to lead by example. A teenager is less likely to listen to what you have to say about volunteering if you don't do it yourself. Do some volunteering yourself. This will be a good example for your teen and he/she will more easily believe you when you tell him/her that volunteering is a good thing to do.

It's Fun- There are many ways in which a teen can volunteer his/her time. One of the greatest ways is to be a volunteer firefighter and/or paramedic. These are exciting volunteer positions that will teach your teen about teamwork among many other lessons. Volunteering is a great way to spend time because it can be just plain fun.

It's Rewarding- Volunteering is good for the heart. It gives us something to look forward to. It also helps other people. When you help others, you feel good about yourself and the work you do. Teens should learn the great lessons of reward that comes from giving of yourself. Show your child how rewarding it can be to volunteer in order to encourage him/her to get out there and do it.

Help Find the Passion- Listen to what your teen is passionate about and you will be able to pinpoint what he/she would be great at volunteering for. This is the best way to encourage a teen to volunteer. When he/she can do volunteer work for something he/she is passionate about, it will be much easier to encourage him/her to do it.

Volunteering time is not only rewarding for the person who does it. You can encourage your teen to volunteer by giving him/her an example to go by. You can also teach your child the importance of giving to others freely. It isn't just rewarding for the person who does it but helps others who are in need. Volunteers are needed in many areas of the community. People often don't look for it because they are too busy worrying about taking care of themselves. A teen can learn a lot by volunteering. It is something that will stay with him/her for the rest of his/her life. It has to start somewhere though. If your teen doesn't know about volunteering, it is time you taught him/her about it. Give him/her the gift of giving of themselves.

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