Raising Kids Activities Volunteer Opportunities for Tweens By Jennifer O'Donnell Jennifer O'Donnell holds a BA in English and has training in specific areas regarding tweens, covering parenting for over 8 years. Learn about our editorial process Jennifer O'Donnell Fact checked by Fact checked by Sean Blackburn on June 10, 2020 linkedin Sean is a fact checker and researcher with experience in sociology and field research. Learn about our editorial process Sean Blackburn Updated on June 10, 2020 Print Hero Images / Getty Images Raising children who are civically minded isn’t easy, especially in a culture that seems to reward materialism. But you can expose your child to volunteerism and encourage your preteen to give back in a number of ways. When kids volunteer, good things happen. By volunteering or by helping others, your child learns valuable life skills, but they also learn how important it is to support organizations they care about and causes that interest them. There are many ways your child can make a difference. Start with projects that they can incorporate into a preteen’s busy schedule, and then add bigger projects that require more time. You might also want to consider volunteering together. That way you can spend quality time together, and set a great example for your preteen and teens. Below are a few ideas for kids' volunteer opportunities or community projects. Some of these your child can tackle at home, others are for school, your neighborhood, or the community. When considering volunteer jobs, think about the time commitment required, and your family's schedule, your tween's homework load, and other daily demands. Have fun picking your projects and know that your child is learning a lot about helping others and making a difference. Below are just a few suggestions for volunteer jobs that your tween might enjoy. Volunteer Ideas for Home Help younger siblings clean their rooms, brush their teeth or finish their homework Play with younger siblings when they are bored Volunteer to make a parent or a sibling lunch for work or school Help a parent finish a chore, such as snow shoveling or raking leaves Make cookies or brownies for a sick relative Turn the backyard into a sanctuary for birds, butterflies, and other wildlife Feed, groom, and care for the family pet Write a letter to an elderly relative or get a group of kids together to make cards to deliver to a local nursing home Be responsible for cleaning up a bedroom, playroom or a family common area Do things without being asked, such as hanging up your jacket or changing the cat’s litter box Volunteer Opportunities and School Before your child tackles a project for his or her school, be sure to have your tween ask teachers or the school principal for permission, advice, and suggestions. Help teachers set up their classrooms at the beginning of the year Help teachers pack up their classrooms at the end of the year Be a patrol guard at a bus stop or on the school bus Help the school librarian shelve books or assist students when checking books in and out Make safety posters to display around the school Organize a school supply drive for students who cannot afford to buy their own Tutor younger children when they need it Bring assignments to friends or classmates who have missed school due to illness or a family emergency Volunteering at Church Watch younger children during the church service Assist adult volunteers at a vacation bible school Create and decorate a bulletin board display Send welcome cards to new church members Organize a supply drive for the Sunday school teachers Bake cookies for the church staff Help maintain the church gardens Volunteering in the Community Organize a food and toy drive for the local animal shelter Help stock the local food pantry Volunteer to help a younger neighbor with homework Make Valentine cards for the residents of a retirement home Participate in a local clean-up day Make brownies for new neighbors Join a local service organization Ask for donations to a local homeless shelter rather than gifts at your next birthday party Donate proceeds from a lemonade stand to a charity of your choice Purchase gifts for a needy family during the holiday season Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Get expert tips to help your kids stay healthy and happy. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit