Do you volunteer? Why not get your children interested in a cause that is close to your heart? Introducing young people to volunteering helps them learn empathy, compassion and helping others. It is also a great way to build ties with your community.
Volunteering as a family can be a great outing that is out of the ordinary and good for the soul. Where do you start? By choosing an activity that your child will enjoy, that will allow them to develop their skills, and that will be accessible to them.
Walking the neighborhood dogs
Does your child love animals? Suggest a day of volunteering at a shelter to take care of the residents, or simply walking (with you) the dog of a neighbor who can't go out or who doesn't have time. It's a small gesture that will certainly please and will help create a sense of belonging and mutual aid in the neighborhood.
Distributing Valentine's Day Cards to Seniors
Giving a card or coloring page is a great way to show affection to someone else, even if the child doesn't know that person.
Have your child color, draw, or make cards for Valentine's Day or any other occasion and distribute them to the tenants of his or her grandmother's (or great-grandmother's) residence. She could even be your accomplice in this good deed and provide you with each person's name and preferences, so that the cards are personalized.
Help maintain the community garden
More and more neighborhoods have community gardens. The movement is growing, but it requires the help of volunteers to maintain it. That's good news: gardening is an easy and interesting activity for little ones. Encourage them to get their hands dirty and grow their own vegetables by participating in this movement!
Clean the river banks or neighborhood streets
In the spring, when the snow melts, a lot of waste resurfaces. It's time to roll up your sleeves and organize a clean-up operation, in the streets of your neighborhood, on the grounds of your primary school (or daycare center) or on the banks of the river.
There is no responsible organization in your area? No worries. Why not organize the activity yourself by inviting your neighbors and friends via Facebook?
Visiting lonely people
Does your child like having playmates? Kill two birds with one stone by offering him a card game… with elderly people! Spending an afternoon with lonely and/or elderly people will not only be appreciated by these people, who will be able to tell him their stories, but also by your child who will have the opportunity to socialize with strangers, have fun and receive multiple attentions.
It's also a great way to create unforgettable memories and spend time with grandparents and great-grandparents.
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Looking for supervised and recurring volunteer activities? Find out more! To join volunteer groups, visit jebenevole.ca or contact organizations in your area (sports associations, schools, support groups, etc.).
A word of advice: if your child is young, start with a short-term activity and don't commit to a long-term or multiple roles. Take it step by step!
Please note that due to current health measures, several organizations have temporarily suspended their volunteer activities. (But you can still organize your clean-up operation in your neighborhood! ;))
Good things to take with you during volunteer activities
A nice greeting card always makes people happy. At Charlotte et Charlie, you will find a beautiful selection of cards with illustrations created by Quebec artists.
Get your little one interested in gardening with a giant magnifying glass from Moulin Roty . They will be able to observe insects and plants up close, in order to become a real budding botanist.
A cookie workshop at grandma's? Forget the pot of flour, the multiple ingredients and all the fuss. Just bring a printed sugar paste roller from ScrapCooking and follow the instructions to make pretty and delicious cookies in a few easy steps.
Children (and adults!) love easy-to-understand and colorful card, board or strategy games , such as battle games. Here's a tip: choose a game that your child already knows. They can then explain it themselves on the spot.
Another classic that brings generations together is the puzzle . A good tip is to choose a model that will be at your child's height, but that will require a little help from an adult.
We love those from the Janod company, which make us dream and travel.
Happy volunteering!
