Issue Date: February 22, 2004
Volunteering is "in"
Get your kids hooked on helping.
Three teens from Atlantic City were honored last year for their good work on USA WEEKEND's annual day of volunteering. The next event is Oct. 23.
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Imagine, a hot new trend for kids that won't damage their health or encourage indecent exposure and is connected with academic achievement.
According to a recent report from the Independent Sector (a coalition of non-profits and foundations) and Youth Service America, teen volunteerism is not only "in"; it has reached its highest level in 50 years. So much for the stereotype of the self-absorbed teen.
"In the last few years, we've seen more and more young people getting involved in helping others, even beyond what their high school requires to graduate," says Kelvin Davis of Boys & Girls Clubs of America. (Get involved with BGCA, The Positive Place For Kids.)
It's also a great way to meet people, make wonderful life contacts and even help land college scholarship money.
Here are some ways to get kids hooked on helping:
Watch the news together. Stories of human misfortune can open up conversations about reaching out and helping others.
Show by example. If your kids see you volunteering even once a month, it will be easier to get them to.
Get their friends involved. Peers motivate peers. With a buddy, the project becomes more personal and fun.
Bribe 'em. Consider a small gift if they stick with a program for a year. I bet the mental and emotional high they get from helping others will make that bribe a one-time event.
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