Swimming, baseball games, snow cones… volunteering? We don’t normally associate volunteering as a summer activity unless your child is in high school earning volunteer hours for school honor societies or to record for future college applications. However, volunteering is a great summer pursuit for gifted kids- and all kids- of any age.
Volunteering is a form of service learning, which is when teachers combine instruction in various content areas and service. There are many benefits for gifted students who experience service learning such as leadership development, exploration of an interest area, authentic learning, and fulfillment (read this 1996 article from the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development for a good overview of gifted students and service learning). Though service learning is typically a curriculum feature used in schools, why not share this opportunity with our gifted kids during the summer?
I will be honest here- we did not practice what I am suggesting. All three of our boys started their volunteering journeys in high school, like many students do. However, starting volunteer opportunities for students when they are younger is an idea I wholeheartedly promote now.
Allowing your gifted child to choose an organization or project that meets their interest areas is key. How do you help your child choose? Each community will have different opportunities for different age groups. For example, our youngest son LOVES dogs, and his volunteering in high school was at our local humane society. They have a junior volunteer program for ages 14-15, then other volunteering opportunities beginning at age 16. But what about opportunities for kids younger than 14? A quick google search found several good suggestions:
Possible volunteer opportunities include assisting at animal shelters, participating in food drives, helping with neighborhood cleanups, or creating care packages for those in need. Younger children can also engage in age-appropriate activities like writing cards for patients in hospitals or collecting items like toys and books for shelters.
I particularly like the last two suggestions because these are things you often see taking place in elementary, middle, and high schools, so kids are likely familiar with these activities. They are “low-bar” entry activities in which to participate- almost anyone can do them. For example, writing cards to nursing home patients or participating in canned food drives, book drives, sock drives, etc. are all activities that any aged child can access.
A few other examples of volunteering that come to mind for me are:
- Assembling Blessing Bags at home,
- Organizing a neighborhood book drive or clean-up (organizing is a higher-level of engagement than participating),
- Pulling weeds to beautify your church’s property, or
- Collecting old towels and blankets for use at your local animal shelter.
Overall, volunteering or conducting any other form of service will be extremely rewarding for your gifted child and for you. Depending on your child’s age, it will take commitment on your part to help him or her; however, it will be worth it! So, have you ever embarked on a volunteer or service project at home with your child? What was it, and how did it go? Please drop a few lines or a pic in the comments so we can all get more ideas from each other. Happy helping! ~ Ann
Teaching for Talent 