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Volunteering: Let's Get Started!

An Excerpt from The Busy Family's Guide to Volunteering: Doing Good Together

By Jenny Friedman

Finding a cause that appeals to every member of the family, locating an organization that welcomes kids and preparing children for the challenges of volunteering takes thoughtful consideration and legwork. This chapter provides the practical tools your family will need to begin its quest.

First, you'll want to find an opportunity that suits all of your schedules, ages, skills and personalities. Each family member will have his or her own ideas. Encourage all of your would-be volunteers to get involved in selecting the volunteer opportunity. The more each individual feels he or she has helped make the choice, the more committed everyone will be to making it work.

Consider these questions when beginning your search:

Is your family active and physically fit? Maybe that could point to park service work or an outdoor environmental project. Is your teenage daughter skilled at working with children? This may suggest volunteering at a crisis nursery or mentoring a young boy or girl. Also consider your family's personalities. If your preschooler is outgoing and affectionate, she'd probably enjoy spending time at a nursing home. A shy child might be happier with a more behind-the-scenes job.

Most families volunteer because they want to teach the values of service and community involvement to their children. But what else would you like your children to gain? Do you want them to learn tolerance of those who come from different races or cultures? Then you might want to host a foreign student. Perhaps you'd like them to understand that not everyone has the material advantages you have. Then consider work in a homeless shelter. Think about the impact you'd like the volunteer work to have on your family members as you go about narrowing your search.

Want to see more?

• The Volunteering Family: 10 Ways to Make Giving Matter
• Volunteering at Your Child's School: You Do Have Time!
• Teen Volunteers Make a Difference for Themselves, and Others
• Parents on the Field: Volunteering Your Time in Team Sports
• Talk about it!