Getting Kids to Look Beyond Themselves

There is unimaginable suffering going on in our world. The news shows people facing natural disasters, slavery, abuse, accidents, etc. We may not be able to solve these issues, but we do have the power to change the world for someone. Maybe it will be ourselves and our children that we change, but just think about what a whole generation of kids learning how to serve can accomplish.

Teaching kids how to serve can be frustrating, but with entitlement and lack of motivation to get off the video games or instant TV, it has become more important than ever for youth to learn how to look outside of themselves.

My son has been known to announce "I haaaaaaate service!", but if you're now wondering why I thought it would be a good idea to author this blog, I work at a Service Learning school and have the opportunity to be around amazing people doing amazing things all the time. And even though he may hate service, my son knows how to serve. It felt like a win when I mentioned that I was going to fill in for an after school club and my son said, "I can do it for my service project for class." I can't say that he never complained about it, but he spent most of the school year assisting a teacher for two clubs a week. My afternoons freed up and J received a Presidential Award for serving more than 50 hours (that's what you call a double-win). He's actually excited to volunteer at an all day event this weekend, check back to see him working a silly hat and get some ideas for service you can squeeze into a busy life.

J volunteering at an after school club

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Pin It Up!

Who doesn't like to have the hard work done for them? For that very reason, I've made a list of service ideas for you! Lot's of lists actually, such as service for: animals the elderly teens holidays groups parties random acts of service Check out my Kids Learning Service Pinterest board to find links to some amazing service ideas for kids. (I can't take credit for the ideas, other than I put them in one spot, for which you're welcome)

They've Got My Back

This is a cool article from the Parents Magazine blog that talks about benefits for children when they serve, as well as gives some ideas for serving. Thought I'd share. Also I thought I'd share a picture of my "baby" when we made and handed out burritos with the Burrito Project (this one is in Salt Lake City, but the organization is found throughout the U.S.) to people who are homeless. She didn't want to get out of the car to hand them out, but since I wasn't about to leave her alone in the car across the street from the city bus depot, I made her come along. She did great and even commented on how grateful the people that we gave the burritos to were. Volunteer With Your Kids https://www.parents.com/parenting/better-parenting/style/volunteer-with-your-kids/

Confessions of a (not) Perfect Mom

Surprise! I'm not perfect. Yes, I went to the salon the other day and actually sat down and relaxed for an hour and a half (!!!) and have lovely, bouncy curls now, but this is how my life really looked at the time... It was the first time in 6 months I've had my hair even trimmed, and sadly it was obvious, my husband was stuck in a parking lot for 3 hours in a different state because of snow, my children were farmed out: one at swim team, she had a ride home but had to borrow my house key because she lost hers (which incidentally, one guess who got locked out at 7 a.m. the next morning?!), one on the way back from a high school competition, but had no ride home from the school because I was sitting in a salon chair, one away at college but I couldn't remember if she'd checked in to let me know she was still alive (a requirement for her moving away), and the youngest safe and content at a friend's grandparent's house (I usually don't ask if my kids ca...

Kids Learning Service

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