Volunteer at local non-profit agencies. Both children and parents need to make time to volunteer for a local non-profit agency. Together, your family can sit down and decide what agency they would like to help with – a children’s shelter, a health-related agency, the YMCA, a tutoring agency – there are so many to choose from. The benefits for volunteering are immense – your children will feel like they are giving back to the community and really making a difference, while understanding how blessed they are in the process. Plus, it is a fun way to spend the day. Meeting new people, learning new things and spreading joy is what it’s all about.
The creative- (quick tip – pick as many creative activities as your week will allow)
Yard sale. Remember that attic you wanted cleaned out? Well, tell your kids that everyone needs to pitch in and clean the attic so you can hold a yard sale. Together, decide how the money will be spent – a mini-beach vacation, some new outdoor toys, etc. This will definitely get them into the mood for helping you get rid of that unwanted junk. Have them place each item to be sold in categories, and then decide how much it should be sold for. Then discuss how you would persuade someone to purchase each item. The creative part comes in on yard sale day – have your children do the persuading (don’t let them overdo it, give your visitors some space). This will give them a taste of how to be a salesperson, and at the end of the day, they’ll see just how much their persuasive skills benefited them.
Yard art. Find several items around the house or outside (maybe even items you didn’t sell in the yard sale) – twine, rope, old shovels, pitchforks, wood, tin cans, old plates and glasses, screws, etc. Place each item in a pile and tell your children to make a sculpture that will be displayed in your yard. Parents, please supervise your children since some items could be a hazard if they are left alone. And, while you’re at it, make one yourself. It’s too much fun to leave yourself out of the mix. And, you never know, you may just have the next world renowned sculptor on your hands!