Including Service in a Busy Life (pt 1)

J volunteering at a First Lego League robotics competition

Teaching our kids how to serve can take time and effort, and who doesn't have a busy life? Serving doesn't mean we need to stop everything and spend a large chunk of time (or money), it just means we need to use some creativity. One of the best ways to do this is by finding opportunities in things we are already doing.

Every year our school hosts a First Lego League robotics competition. This year my two youngest girls competed on teams (Cosmic Caribou and Robo Kitties, could they be any cuter?) while I volunteered. Needing a large amount of help, teenagers are welcome to volunteer and J loves to spend the day with his friends, the snacks, and silly hats (a requirement for volunteers!). So, while this event actually took an entire day, it was somewhere most of us needed to be anyway. It didn't take any extra time or effort, and kept him from sitting around at home playing video games all day.

• Are there any events that you attend that include volunteers? It's worth asking if your children could help (this would be more applicable to older kids if you aren't also volunteering. J started volunteering at this event when he was 13).
• Think about community, church, or school events. 
• Having kids help with family events is a great place to start learning how to serve. 
• Can they help grandparents set up for a family dinner they will be hosting? 
• How about plan and run an activity or game at a family reunion? 
• As parents we love when our little ones are entertained. Older kids (even as young as age 9 or 10) can run activities for younger kids as long as parents are nearby so they are just entertaining (distracting!) rather than babysitting. 
• I have a lot of students that serve by doing things for family members in need (age, health, etc) such as cleaning, mowing the lawn, babysitting cousins, even just visiting lonely grandparents. Raking leaves from the giant tree in my aunt and grandma's yard is a tradition that my kids have loved doing. Serving outside of nonprofit organizations or formal events can still be an important way for our kids to learn to serve. Make sure to point out what they are doing is serving others and why it is important.
• Think about other activities that your family attends or participates in that your kids might be able to help with, especially if it's an activity that your child used to be a part of but has aged out (such as J and robotics). 
• Older kids can help mentor younger sibling's sports teams, just ask the coach if there is anything they could do to help. For instance, maybe they can have half the soccer team practice kicking to each other while the coach concentrates on a specific skill with a small group.
• Recitals (piano, dance, voice, etc.) often take extra time and work on the teacher's behalf. Ask if older kids can help decorate, set up chairs, fold programs, etc. 

• Do you volunteer anywhere? Find out if you can bring your kids with you. Even places with a minimum age for volunteers will sometimes allow younger kids if there is an adult with them.
• If volunteering at the event isn't an option, are there any things that your kids can do to help prepare for the event? Oftentimes, there are things that can be done at home in a small amount of time, such as: making posters and flyers to hang up or pass out beforehand, making signs for different parts of the event, cooking treats, preparing games or activities that can be used, earning money to buy prizes or other items that can be donated. Even getting the word out can be important. Since kids often have more time on their hands than we do, most of those ideas can be done while we do other things. For young kids, they will need a hand with these, but can still be a part of the service by: picking colors for posters/flyers, choosing and helping bake treats (or choose one from the store), helping come up with fun ideas then gather and pack them up to take, earning money by picking up toys, etc. then choosing what to use the money for. Make sure they are the ones to give the money to the organization or to the cashier to buy the supplies.

Next week I will include simple ideas for service that can be done for nonprofits from home, in just a few minutes here and there, or while you are doing fun (?!) things like making dinner.

The robotics team formerly known as the Pyru Pudus
(A is on right)

Two of the three Robo Kitties (G is on left)