If you have small children (or if you have spent much time around them), you know how much they love to help. They love getting to do things normally reserved for grown-ups, and they genuinely love doing things to make other people smile. So why is it, then, that when churches plan service projects, they leave out this very important part of their congregation?
I’ve been to a LOT of churches and participated in a lot of service projects and community outreaches, and yet I’m having trouble coming up with a single example of a time when I’ve seen a service project designed specifically for children. Adults, absolutely. Teenagers, sure. Upper elementary or middle school, sometimes. But our littlest ones? It seems like we spend so much time serving them that we completely forget to give them opportunities to serve others, other than teaching them how to share.
Want children who are passionate about helping other people? Who reach out to others as a natural way of life? Who notice and tend to the needs of the hurting around them? Start them out young. I promise they will love it, and it’s so, so good for them too. Here are nine service projects your preschooler can do, seven of which my son did before he ever started school.
1. Visiting at a Local Nursing Home or Hospital
Have a preschooler who is naturally outgoing and talkative? Take them to a nursing home or hospital to visit. So many people at these places are lonely, with no one to visit them or ask how they are doing. A visit from your sweet and friendly preschooler would absolutely make their day.
2. Putting Together Care Packages for Missionaries, Soldiers or College Kids
Putting together care packages is a simple task that a preschooler could really do a fantastic job with, especially if you are set up assembly-line style. It’s a great chance to model service, to help your preschooler connect with others in your congregation and to start up important conversations about what missionaries and soldiers do and why helping them is important.
3. Helping with a Car Wash
Okay, your preschooler might not be able to do a great job washing an entire car by himself, but he’ll sure have fun trying! From the water to the bubbles to making a soapy mess, this is one service activity that is perfect for little ones.
4. Drawing Pictures for Sick Children
Does your child love to color? Put that love to good use. Have your child draw pictures (or begin to write cards if they know how) for children who are sick. The pictures will brighten their day, and seeing your child hard at work cheering someone else up will warm your heart.
5. Neighborhood Help Days
Occasionally, churches will have neighborhood help days, where they go out into the community and help people with whatever they need. Tasks can vary widely, but there is always something that preschoolers can do. For example, they might help pick up trash off of a playground, spread mulch in someone’s flower bed or help pick up at someone’s house.
6. Helping Distribute School Supplies to Schools
We did this last year, and my son had a BLAST! He got to ride on the cart through the hallways, and then go into each classroom and give each teacher a bag of school supplies. He loved seeing what all the big kids were up to in their classrooms as well as bringing everyone their gifts.
7. Help in the Church Office
You might think that small children and offices wouldn’t mix, but your child might just surprise you. My son and I helped out in the church office from the time he was 3.5 until he started school at age 5. He was a fantastic helper anytime we needed something from the printer or supplies from another office down the hall.
8. Ring the Salvation Army Bell Around Christmas Time
Want a worthwhile project your kids will seriously love? Sign your family up to help ring the Salvation Army bell around Christmas time. Your kids will have a ball ringing that bell, and shoppers won’t be able to resist your children’s adorable smiles.
9. Buying Angel Tree Gifts
When it comes to shopping for toys, little kids are experts. Put their “I want” gene to good use by asking them what another child (their same gender and age) would want for Christmas. This is a great way to teach generosity and to start important conversations about helping others in need.
Don’t wait until your kids are older to teach them about helping others. The time to start is now. What service projects have your littlest ones done?
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Brittany
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I love these ideas. My almost 3 year old LOVES to help and is actually really good at helping. She would love helping pick up trash to clean up a neighborhood, as you mentioned in #5. She is a big help to me at picking up sticks in our own yard.
Awww cute. Little kids are so cute when they are helpful–and they would be much more helpful if we’d let them!
You are right they do get left out! 🙁
Great ideas. Pinned!
Stephanie
They do! And they are the best helpers of all! Maybe not the most capable, but the most enthusiastic for sure 🙂 Thanks for pinning and tweeting. I really appreciate it!
Great list! Thanks for sharing the ideas!
Thanks, Debbie. I hope you can find 1-2 that are practical for your family 🙂
These are all wonderful ideas for preschoolers to do to help others! Thanks for linking up at the Thoughtful Spot Weekly Blog Hop! We hope you come by again next week!
Thanks, Samantha! I’m working on my link parties list now, so I’ll make sure yours is on it!
I wholeheartedly agree with your post! My heart is to always be including children in everything…such good ideas to bless others and in turn bless our children. Thanks for writing this!
Well, I don’t know about including children in *everything* lol, but service projects, definitely!
What a blessing to find your blog and I love that it is grounded in God’s Truth! These are great suggestions that even my daughter with Autism can participate in with ease. I want her to learn that even though she has a disability, she can still serve others and God has a special plan for her. I would be honored if you shared some posts at the Saturday Soiree Blog Party @ http://faithalongtheway.com. I am a new follower now and would love to connect further! Blessings!
That’s great! I didn’t even think about children with special needs when I wrote this (oops! sorry!) so I’m glad to hear that they were still appropriate. Because yes, EVERYONE should find a way to serve, even if that way looks a little different for some than others.
I LOVE THIS LIST!!! I have always envisioned my children volunteering, but figured I’d have to wait until they were around 12. Awesome ideas, especially ringing the bells. Thank you. 🙂
Thanks, Neyssa! And no, you totally don’t have to wait. I had the baby in the carrier when we did most of these. 🙂 I want my kids to grow up with service as a way of life and there’s no better way to do that than to start young!