Volunteering can benefit volunteers as much as it does the people and organizations they help. Not only does volunteering create a sense of purpose and connection, research suggests it can also improve both physical and mental health.
A recent large-scale research study found that volunteering was associated with better overall health and well-being in children and adolescents. The study, published in JAMA Network Open in May 2023, used parent report surveys for more than 50,000 children between the ages of 6 and 17.
The study showed that children and teens who had volunteered in the past year were 34% more likely to be in excellent or very good health and 66% more likely to be rated as flourishing by their parents than kids who hadn’t volunteered. The study also showed that children and adolescent volunteers were 35% less likely to have behavioral problems and kids 12 and older who volunteered were 25% less likely to struggle with anxiety than their peers who didn’t volunteer.
Just like adults, kids gain a sense of purpose from volunteering and feel good about helping others. Children and teens who volunteer also develop greater self-confidence and a sense of competence. Since success in volunteering doesn’t depend on academic performance in school, having athletic ability or feeling at ease socially almost all kids can find a way to volunteer that helps them feel successful and accomplished.
Looking for ways to help your child volunteer? Here are some age-appropriate ideas for toddlers through teens in the Upper Valley.
■Help your child pick flowers, tie them in a bundle and give the bouquet to a friend, family member or neighbor.
■Encourage your child to share toys or invite another child to play with them.
■Toddlers love to help: Let them help you put recyclables into a bin or perform a task to help a friend or family member.
■Have your child draw pictures and deliver them to a friend or neighbor.
■Make dog or cat toys for animals in shelters and them drop them off with a bag of food or cat litter.
■Put a summer lemonade stand to good use: Let your child pick a nonprofit organization and help them learn about it. They can then set up a lemonade stand and use it to collect donations for the organization.
■Help your child create simple crafts or drawings and deliver them to residents in a nursing home.
■Go on a walk around your neighborhood and pick up trash on the side of the road.
■Help your child organize their friends for a beach cleanup day.
■Help your child start a school supply drive: Have them reach out to their local school, Listen or the Upper Valley Haven to see how best to distribute what they collect.
■Let your child collect old sheets, towels, blankets, cat or dog toys or pet food from friends and neighbors for donation to a humane society.
■Have your child go through your cupboard for unopened boxes or cans of nonperishable food items and donate them to an Upper Valley food pantry.
■Contact a local soup kitchen or food pantry to see what kinds of volunteer opportunities are available.
■Help your child organize a bake sale, car wash or other fundraising event to raise money for causes they are passionate about.
■Offer to rake leaves, pick up sticks or mow the lawn for a neighbor.
■Help your child coordinate a neighborhood garage sale and donate the proceeds to a nonprofit organization.
■Have your child check out volunteer opportunities at Upper Valley humane societies.
■Many seniors struggle with technology: Teens can offer their tech know-how to help older adults with smartphones, computers and social media. Teens can reach out to older adults they know or volunteer at a senior center or assisted living facility.
■Have your child check with elementary and middle schools about opportunities for tutoring or mentoring younger students.
■Collect and deliver supplies for a neighbor or friend who has just had a baby or is ill.
Like everything else, kids learn attitudes about volunteering and helping from their parents. Make volunteering a family activity. Some possible family volunteer opportunities include:
■Adopt-a-highway programs.
■Charity runs or walks.
■Green Up days.
■Community gardens.
Encouraging your child to volunteer will certainly benefit your community. It might also bring you a healthier and happier kid.
Tonya McMurray is clinical director at The Family Place, a Norwich-based parent child center nonprofit organization that provides support to families with young children.