by Leigh Goessl

Created on: March 12, 2008   Last Updated: March 08, 2010

Helping out in the community can be such a worthwhile and fulfilling act. When children get involved in an initiative that benefits the community, they are likely to realize the value of community service if they get involved early on.

One of the best ways to encourage your child to help in the community is to volunteer yourself. What better way to show your child how to be a role model than to encourage them to help in the community by volunteering yourself. Children learn through watching adults and when they see adults help in the community, kids are likely to mirror this behavior.

Family volunteer work not only helps others, but is terrific bonding time too. An optimum time to start is when children are young. Toddlers can be taught to help around the house and this will set guiding principles on how to assist others. For instance, toddlers can help put laundry in a basket or tuck toys away.

If children are exposed to helping others when young, by the time kids reach elementary school this desire to help is likely to continue as they age. It is common to see many kids who excitedly run ahead to hold doors open or offer to help if they see a need, and this is likely due to the fact their parents taught them early on how to help.

There are many ways your can expose your children to helping out in the community in such a way they'll be enthused and excited about helping:

*School Volunteer Programs

Many schools offer programs where students can volunteer for community-type jobs. Kids who get involved often receive a sense of pride, responsibility and accomplishment. If such an opportunity is available, you can encourage your child to apply for one of these positions in their school.

It could be the morning announcements person, clean up, safety patrol or countless other appointed positions. When children take on these responsibilities it is a rewarding and wonderful learning experience.

If you are able to take a proactive role in volunteering for the school yourself, this also helps set a foundation of encouragement. My kids really loved when I came in to help in their classroom, they took pride in it and as a result looked for ways to help others.

*Find a Need

If your schedule does not fit volunteer time within school hours, perhaps you can find other ways you and your children can help in your neighborhood. A good way to get kids involved in helping others around the community is to look for a need.

If there is a snowstorm, take the kids and go help your

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