What are some examples of projects families who want to build a better world can undertake?

You can start with a one-time activity, like volunteering at a school bake sale, or take on a longer-term commitment, such as working at a recycling center every Saturday morning. Some families become environmental activists, work in wilderness areas or parks, or help with animals at the humane society or the zoo. Others volunteer in museums, theaters, schools or libraries. If your family is interested in social service, consider helping out at a homeless shelter, nursing home or food pantry. You can also get involved in political campaigns or work for human rights. The possibilities are endless.

What age should my children be before we start volunteering together?

Any age. You can even do projects with an infant. Put your son or daughter in a stroller and walk to raise money for Alzheimer’s disease or breast cancer. Ask a local nursing home if there is an older person your family could “adopt,” then visit with your baby every week or two. As your children get older, the possibilities just multiply.

What are the benefits to families of doing good together?

There are so many ways it helps kids and strengthens families. It teaches children important values such as community responsibility, compassion, empathy and gratitude. It encourages communication between family members and leads to important conversations about attitudes, beliefs and social issues. Plus, studies indicate that volunteering enhances everybody’s well-being. And, of course, the benefits to the communities and individuals a family serves are enormous. But most of all, it’s just a fun way to spend time with your family.

Most families are already overwhelmed with school activities, work and sports. Why should doing good together be a priority for these busy families and how can they manage to fit one more commitment into their already overbooked lives?

It’s true. Most families are stretched to their limit. But that’s one of the best reasons to volunteer together. Whether you volunteer only occasionally, or regularly, it’s an opportunity for you and your children to spend time together doing something both worthwhile and fun. In addition, while parents traditionally focus attention on their children’s physical and academic development, most of us put little concerted effort into teaching our kids the importance of caring for others and being good citizens. Taking on a community service project together is an opportunity to share those values with children in a concrete way. What could be more important? And it doesn’t have to be time consuming. It can be as simple as spending a Saturday picking up litter at your local park or doing yard work together for a neighbor who is elderly or disabled.

Can you give some specific examples of simple ways busy families can make doing good together a part of their lives?

It’s a mistake to believe that it has to be an enormous time commitment. One example of a simple and fun project is to visit a website Make a Child Smile. You’ll find a brief biography and photos of children with serious illnesses. You and your kids can read the stories, make cards for the children and send them your messages of hope. It’s simple, doesn’t take much time, and it allows young children to practice their writing and creative skills while making a positive difference in the lives of others. Another possibility is to start a collection. Your family could collect food, mittens, toys or anything else you think might be needed by a local school, shelter or food pantry. Talk to the agency, tell them your plan and then ask relatives, friends and neighbors to contribute. Advertise your collection in the local paper or pass out flyers. Have the whole family go together to donate the items. There are dozens of other examples of similar projects that are simple, fun and make a positive difference. You can find them in  The Busy Family’s Guide to Volunteering by Jenny Friedman (Robins Lane Press, 2003), or check out the projects page of this website.

What tips do you have for raising a child to be the kind of person that cares about others and wants to make a difference in the world?

That’s an important question. There are a variety of things parents can do. First, point out the consequences of both kind and unkind behavior your child exhibits. For example, if your daughter sends a get-well card to a friend, explain how comforted that will make her friend feel. But remember to explain how your child’s hurtful behavior affects others as well. Second, have your child “practice” caring. That means arranging opportunities for your child to do good deeds. Volunteering together is an ideal way to accomplish that. Finally, read books together that will stimulate discussions about important values and social issues. For example, reading the book Uncle Willy and the Soup Kitchen by DyAnne DiSalvo-Ryan (Morrow, William & Co., 1997) to your 4 to 8 year old provides the ideal opportunity to present the issue of hunger and homelessness to your child in an age-appropriate way. There are books on many issues from civil rights to environmental protection for kids of different ages. (See Books and Websites) Reading together will naturally lead to important questions about the problems we face, and what we can do to help solve them. Maybe your children will come up with their own ideas of what they can do to help.