Kids Learning Service

Sometimes we need to move to creative ideas, fun activities, or full on bribery to get kids to do service. It's not the best reason for kids (or any of us) to do service, but it gives them the chance to learn how to step up and serve. Hopefully they'll also gain some meaningful connections that will change their attitude about it along the way. Here are some suggestions for getting them started: Service can be hard work, reward yourselves with a treat that is somehow special to what you are doing. After we drop off the box we deliver from the food bank each month, we head over two blocks to  Thirst  for sodas and popcorn (after all, they have happy drinks & treats). It was also started by an 18 year-old, so we like to support his gumption.  Throw a party!  Service project party - choose a project and have your kids invite friends over to work on it. We did this once for the  Festival of Trees , a fundraiser for Primary Children's Hospital. My daughter...

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)

If you haven't heard yet, I'm going on a trip this summer. Take a guess where it's to: a. Seattle, b. Korea, c. Vietnam, d. Hong kong. Drumroll please...all of the above!  My friend and I signed up to join a Global Community Leadership trip to vietnam with Youthlinc . We'll be teaching story telling conferences and visiting with people to write narratives that share their stories. I'm really excited to have the chance to do leadership, service, and work towards my degree in such a beautiful place.  Seattle and Korea are just layovers, but I'm adding Korea to my list of countries visited (if I touch the ground there it counts, even of it's only for 4 hours). We even added a couple of extra days to go to Hong Kong ( ) because I lived there as a missionary a million years ago but haven't had the chance to go back. My 12 year-old is jealous she can't go with us so she's starting to save money to go on a humanitarian trip with Youthlinc to ...

Picture it: students (and a few adults) lined up in front of a school assembly. Their ponytails are cut off in sync, and there's suddenly a group of volunteers with short hair standing in front of hundreds of people, and dozens of ponytails are donated to  Wigs for Kids  to be made into wigs for children with cancer. Every year, this assembly kicks off a spring of cancer awareness and fundraising.   Gemma has been growing her hair out all year to donate at the assembly next month. By last week she couldn't handle her hair anymore, but still wanted to donate it. Imagine her delight when I told her that we could get it cut now and send it in to Wigs for Kids OURSELVES! Friday was the big day...she donated 12 inches and loves to run her fingers through hair that isn't all tangled.