Volunteering - Build Bonds and Confidence this Summer

 

Tweens and Teens: Improve Family Communication

There is so much chaos in the family these days – from 2 – 3 jobs for mom and dad, kids sports, after-school activities, church -- that sometimes it’s hard to step back and re-center on family life. Have we become a group of individuals swirling in different directions, sharing the same driver and sometimes eating the same food under the same roof? Or are we truly a unit, with cohesive purpose, with a center in which the whole family finds connection?

Parents of tweens and teens especially begin to feel the burden of this “drift” as kids grow more independent and family life feels less central to who they are. Re-centering with a purpose is important to help keep communication lines open and make sure there is real meaning to family life.

Volunteering as a family is one way to re-establish and strengthen the bonds of family and teamwork that can get lost when life gets hectic. Many families already make a point of holiday service to the needy during the holidays – but what if that spirit of giving become a regular part of family life? What about a monthly work day at the animal shelter? Or regular service toward trail restoration? Literacy outreach? Imagine the positive feeling of family unity that could so easily be established by working as a team to help others.

Many children are required to accrue service hours in school as part of their overall curriculum. If that service can be combined with a family mission – whether it’s the importance of a certain cause or a pathway to career exploration, children quickly learn that service isn’t just the school’s idea of something that’s important, the family prioritizes it too.

To make regular family volunteering work, all the members need to participate in selecting one or two causes or groups where they will regularly volunteer. If mom is into the art museum but everyone else wants to help families in crisis, the family could compromise on a smaller commitment to art and a bigger one to family shelters. There are so many different ways to contribute and doing it as a family gives it the stamp of family commitment.

Here are some more great family service and volunteering ideas for this summer:

Families into green causes can support their passion by volunteering at a recycling center or doing fundraising for a Rainforest preservation project.

Sporty families can coach and support low-income kids at a youth league.

Families who love the outdoors may volunteer for trail clean-up, or to maintain an urban garden or local organic farm.

If you’re a musical family, help roundup instruments for kids whose parents can’t afford them or give concerts at a local nursing home.

Technically-skilled families can support nonprofits by offering support for their websites, blogs and facebook pages.

Inspired to get involved as a family but stumped for a project? VolunteerSpot.com offers a free eBook to spark ideas: Family-Friendly Service Ideas from A-Z.  Have each family member write down one group of interest or cause they’d like to support, then call and find out what kind of “family package” they could offer in return for a committed period of service. Not only will you be building lasting family bonds, tweens and teens will be gaining confidence and perspective as they focus outwardly and learn that they can make a difference in the lives of others.