Better to Give Than Receive
Source: TweenParent
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You've heard the old adage that it's better to give than to receive. While you may not have been able to convince your younger child the worth of this idea, the tween years are the perfect opportunity to introduce the notion of helping others. Developmentally ready to be empathetic and capable of following through on a project (with some support), tweens are ready to experience the joys of giving.
Engage your pre-teen by letting them choose a project or activity that interests them. Help them figure out where they would gain the most satisfaction and where they could have the most impact. For example, would they prefer to help people (perhaps those that they have an attachment to, such as family, friends or neighbors)? Or, maybe they'd be more interested in working in the larger community. Many children feel strong connections with animals; there are lots of opportunities to get involved in helping animals. There are so many options!
Toby Leah Bochan's article, "Get in the Giving Spirit", has some great ideas to get you started. We're sure you'll come up with even more that are specifically suited to your child's interst and talents. For help finding additional opportunities contact volunteermatch.org.
