Lifestyle

Spring Break: 5 Ways to Have Fun While Giving Back

March 13 2023

While spring break is in session, many children will be playing with friends, attending a day camp, swimming, and getting a much needed break from the daily grind. But with some extra time on their hands, spring break also provides an excellent opportunity to give a portion of their time in service to the community. Whether your child is three or thirteen, there are plenty of ways they can get in on the fun of giving back this week.

The lesson of giving back doesn't have to wait until older teen years. Giving children the opportunity to intentionally think and act beyond themselves helps build empathy, as well as learn how to work as a team with others toward a common goal. It can also be a great practice in understanding a particular process and carrying out instructions outside the classroom through a different context. Depending on the nature of the good deed, it can also lend itself to relationship building and sharpening communication skills.

Giving back doesn't necessarily have to involve an expensive mission trip abroad or a drive across town. There are plenty of local ongoing needs that your child can help address right here in your own community. Here are a few ideas to help your child kick off their own campaign of giving this week.

Closet Clean Out

As our children grow, so does the amount of clothes in their dresser drawers and closets that no longer fit! Carve out a little time one day this week to help your child sort through their clothing and shoes to pick out the items that they cannot wear anymore. Let them know that their unneeded items will be donated to a local charity so other children who need them can wear them. Take a look at the clothing donation centers in your area and together, determine where you want to drop off your items. Load everything up in your car that afternoon and drop it off before too much time passes and the bag becomes a long-term fixture in your vehicle. It's okay, no judgement - we've all done it. This way, the lesson will resonate with your child when you go to the nonprofit together and offload your items and you both can feel good knowing that they are going to a good cause.

Help a Neighbor

Do you have an elderly or physically challenged neighbor? Team up with your child to offer a helping hand in their yard. With so much pollen falling and lots of weeds popping up, there is a lot more yard work to do these days. Maybe your neighbor could use some help with organizing their garage or putting away Christmas decorations in the attic that haven't made their way up yet? What might seem like a simple task to many could be an insurmountable project for our elderly or physically challenged neighbor.

Make Cheerful Cards for Seniors

With many senior living centers in the area, run a search for facilities in your area then share the results with your child. Select a few and call them to see if they would be interested in receiving well wish cards. Ensuring to make enough for each resident, your child can come up with a unique design to replicate, create a unique design for each card, or even purchase a kit of blank cards to hand write an uplifting message inside. If purchasing any supplies, your child can use a portion of their allowance or perform a few extra chores around the house to earn the cash needed to buy the cards. Deliver the cards with your child and take a commemorative photo of them during drop off.

Plan a Community Food Drive

With Easter around the corner, it's a great time to collect food to donate to local charities for distribution to our neighbors in need. Once you and your child have selected a charity to donate to, help them get in touch with your HOA to organize a food drive at the park or recreational center in your neighborhood. Be sure to request donations of items specifically requested by your charity of choice. Pick a date and time for donations to be brought to the selected meeting point and haul them off to the nonprofit's warehouse.

Trash Pick Up

Pick a local park or nature trail area to pick up trash. Simply grab a few trash bags, wear rain boots and a pair of gloves then get to work! Although many parks and amenity-rich drainage areas are routinely maintained, there's always something to pick up. Be sure to accompany your child and inquire with corresponding authoritative groups to ensure whether or not you need special permissions to carry out this act of kindness.

Giving back doesn't have to take much time, it's usually free and it makes the giver and the recipient happy. It's a win-win! However you encourage your child to give back this spring break, get in on the fun with them this week. Who knows, you just might start a new tradition or help your child ignite a new passion.

By Tiffany Krenek, My Neighborhood News

Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.

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