by Mel Bergen

Created on: March 07, 2007   Last Updated: May 02, 2007

Encouraging your child to help in your community will take a two-pronged approach. First, let them see you doing your part and second, allow them to choose to do their part.

These two approaches to volunteering in your community start with the same step considering what you think is important. Whether it is literacy, providing shelter for the homeless, or feeding the hungry there are many ways to offer your time and money.

Once you've decided what community problem you would like to help address, start researching organizations. There are local groups who always need volunteers and financial assistance. Donating gently used toys and clothes can help with fund raisers for many programs. There are national and international organizations where you can "adopt" a child, a community, or an animal.

Once your child sees you involving yourself in the community, it will seem a much more natural thing to do. Ask them to follow the same steps you have in selecting a way to help in your community.

Once they have become involved, help them to see the effects of their gifts. This may be immediate, in seeing people at a soup kitchen eating, or it may be more gradual, as with cleaning up a local park.

Remember that your child may make a choice that you would not. That doesn't make it wrong, even if you feel that their time or money could be used more effectively. The idea is to get him or her into the habit of giving, and to remind you to give of yourself as well.

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