Raising Kids That Care: 21 Volunteer Ideas for Kids

Imagine a neighborhood where kids are helping seniors with their groceries, planting trees together, and organizing fundraisers to support those in need. When we think about volunteer ideas for kids, those are the heartwarming scenes that come to mind.

But when it comes to actually coming up with ideas or finding where to do them, it’s not so simple. 

Do you just send your kids to the grocery store and say, “Wait till you see someone who might have a full cart!”?

Do you just send them out to the street and say, “Raise money for some good cause!”

Or do you just send them to the nursery for seeds and say, “Dig holes and plant trees!”

While volunteering is a great thing – Feeding America says it can help us live longer, spend more time together as a family, and even make us happier – it’s not alway so obvious where to begin, especially with kids.

Still, we all want to help nurture their commitment to the community, and not just because we might need help with our own groceries in a few years! To help your young ones get started volunteering early and often, we’re sharing 21 age-appropriate volunteer ideas for kids that will spark a lifelong habit of compassion and empathy.

Volunteering is not just an activity; it's a valuable life lesson that helps kids develop crucial skills, including teamwork, leadership, and empathy. 

When kids engage in volunteer work, they learn to appreciate the value of their actions and how even small efforts can make a big difference in someone's life. 

Additionally, volunteering can boost their self-confidence and self-esteem, knowing that they have the power to bring joy and support to others.

In addition to those great personal development rewards, we’re big believers in using real-live medals to help celebrate their efforts. 

That’s why we created the Early Achievers IRLA Pack, a set of five challenge medals that are designed to inspire kids to their very best selves. Their rewards include:  

• Do something kind for someone
• Go to the museum
• Read 3 books
• Go to the doctor or dentist
• Ride a rollercoaster

Because while volunteering can and should be its own reward, it doesn’t hurt to have a little hardware to go alongside it!

Without further ado, we’d like to share 21 volunteer ideas for kids (and a few you can join them for, too!).

1. Garden Guardians - Kids can get their hands dirty by tending to a community garden, nurturing plants, and learning about sustainable practices. In addition to creating something delicious they can taste in just a few months, they just might develop a bit of environmental awareness, too.

   
   

2. Reading Buddies - Organize a reading session where kids read stories to younger children, fostering a love for books and storytelling. Besides paying it forward for all the bedtime stories they got over the years, these reading groups (see if your local library will let you put one on) have the benefit of helping improve your child’s reading and communication skills.

   
   

3. Clean-Up Crew - Host a neighborhood clean-up day, where kids collect litter, promoting a cleaner and greener environment. Focusing on parks and public spaces will help them see how their efforts help out the whole community.

   
   

4. Crafts for a Cause - Put together craft sessions to create handmade gifts for seniors or hospitalized children. These can be tied to holidays – like Halloween sweets packages or Valentine’s Day cards – or impromptu sessions to help brighten someone's day.

   
   

5. Paws for Effect - Volunteer at an animal shelter to care for and play with furry friends in need of love. For many kids growing up with animals, it can be easy to think of them as a fixture of the household. This helps them develop empathy and compassion for animals in different situations.

   
   

6. Caring Cards - Make greeting cards for soldiers or healthcare workers, expressing gratitude for their service. The practice of expressing appreciation also helps your young ones develop a bit of mindfulness, as they pay closer attention to all those who make the community as special as it is.

   
   

7. Tech Mentors - For your tech-savvy big kids, help arrange an afternoon offering assistance to seniors in using smartphones or computers. These brief encounters help to bridge the generation gap through technology.

   
   

8. Trailblazers - Participate in a community walk or run to raise funds for a cause close to their hearts. Just as important as participating in the walk itself can be volunteering at these community events. Helping to give out water at aid stations or hand out goodie bags at the finish line shows that there are different ways to give back.

   
   

9. Tidy Toy Box - Donate gently used toys to children's shelters, spreading happiness to less fortunate kids. To make this more of an event, help to organize an event with their class or grade level to show the impact of involving more of the community.

   
   

10. Cooking for a Cause - Help prepare and serve meals at a local soup kitchen to provide nourishment for the unhoused. Depending on their age, this can also include assembling grocery bags and care packages.

    
    

11. Conscious Community - Host a recycling drive in the neighborhood to promote eco-conscious habits. This helps to encourage recycling and waste reduction.

    
    

12. Soothing Sounds - Kids with musical talents can perform at nursing homes, bringing joy to the elderly residents. Through this they also start to understand how they’re able to use their unique abilities to make a difference.

    
    

13. Science Explorers - Have your STEM-minded teenagers organize science-themed workshops for younger children, making learning fun and engaging.

    
    

14. Kindness Rocks - Decorate rocks with uplifting messages and place them around the community to spread positivity. This is a nice reminder that not everything we do has to have a direct recipient. There’s value in creating good for the community, too.

    
    

15. Upcycling Artists - Help your budding artists create artwork from recycled materials, then organize an art sale to support a local cause. 

    
    

16. Community Storytellers - Kids can interview elders in the community and document their stories for future generations. While not volunteering in a traditional sense, this has the extra value of preserving history.

    
    

17. Health Ambassadors - Organize a health fair to raise awareness about wellness and healthy habits. They can even do this at a local farmer’s market and feature artisans and products from the community.

    
    

18. Helping Hands Car Wash - Host a car wash fundraiser and donate the proceeds to a charity of their choice. Though you may need some big kids to help reach the tops of SUVs, this joint volunteer activity for kids is a great way to teach financial responsibility and fundraising skills.

    
    

19. Nature Buddies - Participating in nature conservation efforts builds on their love for the outdoors and teaches them their role in making parks accessible for all.

    
    

20. Language Learners - Assisting non-native English speakers in improving their language skills has the benefit of also being a meaningful cultural exchange.

    
    
21. Creative Workshops - Older teens can host workshops to teach arts and crafts to children in underprivileged areas, sharing the gift of expression while also learning to be appreciative for what they have at the same time.

Encouraging kids to participate in these volunteer ideas not only makes them thoughtful and compassionate individuals but also strengthens the bond within families and communities. After all that, getting a medal is just icing on the cake!