Metropolitan Mama

Part III: How To Volunteer With Small Children

May 10, 2011 By Stephanie 10 Comments

standing in advance nc Part III: How To Volunteer With Small Children

There are some seasons in life when it might not be the best idea to make an outside commitment to a non-profit.

Perhaps you are car-less or sleepless or you have a wee newborn or a busload of kids.

Don’t be disheartened. There are plenty of ways you can give to your community…from your little house in Anytown, USA.

You can:

knit socks for premature infants.
donate breast milk.
foster a child.
put together packets for the homeless.
spread the word about your favorite charities – via Facebook or Twitter.
organize a lemonade stand, bake sale, or yard sale…with all of the proceeds going toward a needy family or a 501(c)(3) in your area.
deliver a meal to someone who is housebound, elderly, ill, pregnant, or with a new baby.

ALSO – Remember that service to your family matters most of all. I often meditate on what Mother Teresa reiterated time and time again: “Love begins by taking care of the closest ones…the ones at home.” As a parent, you may feel like you’re not really serving…but, oh, you ARE. As you brush teeth, give baths, read stories, go on walks, listen to questions, and love intentionally…you are changing the world in the biggest and most important way. You are making an un-eraseable, irrevocable mark on your child’s life. Never, ever take that for granted.

* This is Part III of a three-part series on How To Volunteer With Small Children. [Read Part I and Part II].

What other ideas do you have for how parents can volunteer with small children?

Filed Under: Philanthropy Tagged With: volunteer from home, volunteer with babies, volunteer with preschoolers, volunteer with small children, volunteer with toddlers

Part II: How To Volunteer With Small Children

May 9, 2011 By Stephanie 3 Comments

4 year old volunteer Part II: How To Volunteer With Small Children Our family volunteers with non-profit organizations about 3 days a week. We typically spend between 1-2 hours at any given place. At first, I was terrified of that prospect. I thought it might be a little much for two very active little girls (ages 2 & 4).

The reality, however, is that our girls usually enjoy the new environment and the hustle & bustle of completing a project.

Of course, things aren’t exactly Utopian. We’ve learned to expect imperfection and to laugh at little snafus that come up.

We’ve also learned that these 4 things make volunteering with babies and toddlers MUCH easier.

1. Try your best to schedule volunteer projects when your kids are freshly fed and rested. After breakfast tends to be a good time for our young ones, but take your own child(ren)’s temperament and nap schedule into consideration.

2. Bring a backpack. Include diapers, wipes, extra clothes, extra underwear, a wet/dry bag, a snack, and/or a bottle of water. It’s also a good idea to bring along a few coloring books and crayons in case you end up waiting for a project coordinator or instructions.

3. If possible, include your spouse or another adult (grandpa, grandma, your sister, etc). It’s much easier if volunteering involves the entire family. The more adult hands, the more peaceful the project will be.

4. Understand what you are contributing. We recently put together boxes at Manna Food Bank. Our 2-year-old worked slowly, lifting the heavy cans with all her might. Our 4-year-old was a little more adept, but I found that I was supervising for most of our morning – making sure that no one got conked in the head or run over by other volunteers.

Would I say then that what we gave was insignificant? On the contrary!

Volunteering is much more than just completing small projects. It’s awareness as you talk about the experience to friends. It’s encouragement for the staff as they see young ones at work. And let us not forget the impact that service has on a child’s mind and heart. Your child may not remember the details, but the impression is sure to last a lifetime.

Stay tuned for practical ideas on how to volunteer from home!

* This is Part II of a three-part series on How To Volunteer With Small Children. [Read Part I and Part III].

Filed Under: Philanthropy Tagged With: volunteer with babies, volunteer with preschoolers, volunteer with small children, volunteer with toddlers

Part I: How To Volunteer With Small Children

May 7, 2011 By Stephanie 16 Comments

sitting on a log Part I: How To Volunteer With Small Children Our daughters are 2 and 4. In the past 90 days, my husband and I have volunteered with over 30 organizations…with our little ones, without childcare. On average, we volunteer about 3 times a week with a structured organization.

Prior to traveling the country to give, I always wanted to give back to my community, but I wasn’t sure how it would work logistically with tiny tots. I am much more confident now (A) that it can be done AND (B) that it is worthwhile.

Here are three pointers to help get you started on your journey.

1. Take a tour first. Part of the fear associated with volunteering with small children is that the organization won’t smile kindly on having a bubbly baby, a restless toddler, and/or a precocious preschooler around. There’s only one way to find out! Call an organization in your town and say that you are a potential volunteer that would like to take a tour to learn more. Be sure to mention that you will have your children with you for the tour. As you listen and ask questions, you’ll get a better idea about what the organization does, how they respond to children, and if there are service opportunities available that work with your schedule, your interests, and your children’s ages.

2. Sign up – on trial. If you find an organization that you are passionate about, pick a commitment that works for you. Choose once a week, twice a month, or once a quarter. Most organizations will be happy to have you – regardless of the frequency.

3. Expect imperfection. There will sometimes be potty training pauses, declarations of boredom, and fights over who-gets-to-sort-the-GIRL-clothes. But you’ll probably find that on MOST days, your children will be excited to serve. They will enjoy being in a new environment. They will know, from somewhere deep inside, that they are making a difference – even at under three feet tall!