by Victoria Rose Perkins

Created on: October 17, 2009   Last Updated: February 20, 2010

One of he best ways to encourage your teen to get interested in volunteering is, to get them excited about the project and be involved yourself. There are a variety of organizations to choose from. Rather than focus on one, get local information on all of them in your area. Gather up the literature and let your teen select one.  If you volunteer together, this will bring about a wonderful bonding experience between the two of you.

All of us like to feel appreciated and teens are no different.  All of us need to see we are making a difference.  Getting your teen to volunteer will widen their perspective.  It is an excellent way to gain some personal satisfaction and maturity.  Volunteering helps nurture the self.

Use the reward system. Strike a deal. Explain to your teen if they volunteer their time and energy for the good of someone else, through an organization, or local need, you will extend to them an extra privilege of some kind that they would like to have. The deal is they would have to volunteer for a minimum of 2 months. Once they experience the personal rewards and happiness from giving, they most likely will want to continue.

In this world of instant gratification, teens need to experience and know they are doing a great service right from the getgo. They need to see what they are doing benefits others, that they can make a diffference.

If your teen is shy, but makes excellent grades in school, and plans to go on to college, being a volunteer mentor for a struggling student might interest them. Your local SPCA is another fine way for teens to volunteer their time. Most teenagers love animals and when they know they can help a homeless animal, they will good about it and this may encourage them on.

Another way to encourage your teen, is to get them as closely involved in an activity that is related to what interests them most...or might benefit them in some way for future education.

If you are a volunteer yourself, take them along on one of your visits. Let them experience first-hand how much satisfaction and happiness you derive from what you do. It is important for teenagers to see first-hand the results volunteering brings. When they see how your efforts lightens another person/s load in life, this may encourage them to reflect on how their efforts would help out.

There are no shortages of people who need help in some form or another. Volunteering helps round out and mature a teen's perspective on life. Once they see how much happiness there is in giving of their time and energy, and how much it is needed and appreciated, it may become a life-long rewarding habit.

There are organizations designed especially for teens to become volunteers. Check out www.BestBuddies.org/volunteering or www.operationsmile.org/students for some extra ideas. Holding fund-raisers for local charities is another excellent way for teens to help out. Bake sales, car washes, which ever way they choose to help, it must be their decision, in order for them to fully gain the rich emotional benefits that volunteering brings. And, never forget to praise your child's efforts. It will make them even happier.

Learn more about this author, Victoria Rose Perkins.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.