Comments on: Children and Volunteerism: Making the World a Better Place http://www.raisingsmallsouls.com/volunteering/ Timeless Parenting Advice for Toddlers through Teenagers Thu, 10 May 2012 05:16:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Annette http://www.raisingsmallsouls.com/volunteering/comment-page-1/#comment-51616 Annette Fri, 12 Dec 2008 18:02:06 +0000 http://www.raisingsmallsouls.com/?p=170#comment-51616 Dear Ellen, I really have enjoyed and learnt much from these ideas about volunteerism. More and more I have the idea that one of the most basic lessons for all young children is to learn that everything we create needs to be appreciated and maintained. I observe each day how maintenance is something which is very often missing in education. It can be exciting to create a house, school, company, dance group, football club etc. The great secret however is how are we going to maintain what we have created. Imagine if our children learned right from the first lesson about maintaining everything that they used each day. Cleaning is maintaining health in our bodies and in our minds; tidying is maintaining order and space for better growth; looking after things is the beginning of taking care of the earth's resources in a very real way; repairing things is respecting and loving the original nature of things; feeding and caring for things teaches us about what it is that we really need and value and so forth. I find the whole idea of maintaining life exciting and not in the least oppressive! Volunteerism could also be viewed as maintenance of our society. loving greetings, Annette Dear Ellen,

I really have enjoyed and learnt much from these ideas about volunteerism. More and more I have the idea that one of the most basic lessons for all young children is to learn that everything we create needs to be appreciated and maintained. I observe each day how maintenance is something which is very often missing in education. It can be exciting to create a house, school, company, dance group, football club etc. The great secret however is how are we going to maintain what we have created. Imagine if our children learned right from the first lesson about maintaining everything that they used each day. Cleaning is maintaining health in our bodies and in our minds; tidying is maintaining order and space for better growth; looking after things is the beginning of taking care of the earth’s resources in a very real way; repairing things is respecting and loving the original nature of things; feeding and caring for things teaches us about what it is that we really need and value and so forth. I find the whole idea of maintaining life exciting and not in the least oppressive! Volunteerism could also be viewed as maintenance of our society. loving greetings, Annette

]]> By: Liz http://www.raisingsmallsouls.com/volunteering/comment-page-1/#comment-51615 Liz Fri, 12 Dec 2008 05:24:49 +0000 http://www.raisingsmallsouls.com/?p=170#comment-51615 I have to agree the benefits of volunteering are long lasting. I took my first born son to the nursing home once a week for three years starting from the age of 4 months. I sang hymns with the residents before one of our church's pastors shared a message. I started taking him because of a comment one time when I was visiting my grandmother in her nursing home, "I wish I had a baby come visit me." These residents really enjoyed seeing him week to week for they recognize the preciousness of a young life and appreciate how quickly a baby grows up. Most live in a world where there are not many differences from day to day but the changes from a baby to a toddler as my son grew were theirs to share in as we went week after week. Now I would have to say that this son is still the most caring and empathetic of all my children. So I would definitely encourage moms or dads to look for places where your family can serve together- the benefits are priceless. I have to agree the benefits of volunteering are long lasting. I took my first born son to the nursing home once a week for three years starting from the age of 4 months. I sang hymns with the residents before one of our church’s pastors shared a message. I started taking him because of a comment one time when I was visiting my grandmother in her nursing home, “I wish I had a baby come visit me.” These residents really enjoyed seeing him week to week for they recognize the preciousness of a young life and appreciate how quickly a baby grows up. Most live in a world where there are not many differences from day to day but the changes from a baby to a toddler as my son grew were theirs to share in as we went week after week. Now I would have to say that this son is still the most caring and empathetic of all my children. So I would definitely encourage moms or dads to look for places where your family can serve together- the benefits are priceless.

]]> By: Karen http://www.raisingsmallsouls.com/volunteering/comment-page-1/#comment-51612 Karen Thu, 11 Dec 2008 22:08:19 +0000 http://www.raisingsmallsouls.com/?p=170#comment-51612 Thank you for encouraging us to engage our children in volunteering from a young age! Not only does serving together an awesome family experience, Children who volunteer with their families are much more likely to become life long volunteers - and that's what builds healthy communities! VolunteerSpot has put together a free eBook filled with service ideas for families and groups (Scouts, youth groups, service learning at school, etc.). They also have a free online tool which makes it super easy to signup volunteers - neighbor-to-neighbor, kind of like Evite. www.VolunteerSpot.com Thank you for encouraging us to engage our children in volunteering from a young age! Not only does serving together an awesome family experience, Children who volunteer with their families are much more likely to become life long volunteers – and that’s what builds healthy communities! VolunteerSpot has put together a free eBook filled with service ideas for families and groups (Scouts, youth groups, service learning at school, etc.). They also have a free online tool which makes it super easy to signup volunteers – neighbor-to-neighbor, kind of like Evite. http://www.VolunteerSpot.com

]]> By: Meg http://www.raisingsmallsouls.com/volunteering/comment-page-1/#comment-51611 Meg Thu, 11 Dec 2008 20:07:32 +0000 http://www.raisingsmallsouls.com/?p=170#comment-51611 I really appreciate this article at this time of the year. We have already discussed with our children that for every new toy the receive, we will be giving one old toy to the local children's charity. This will keep the true spirit of Christmas alive and free our home of clutter. Thank you for all the suggestions, I will book mark this page. I really appreciate this article at this time of the year. We have already discussed with our children that for every new toy the receive, we will be giving one old toy to the local children’s charity. This will keep the true spirit of Christmas alive and free our home of clutter. Thank you for all the suggestions, I will book mark this page.

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