Simple Ways for Kids to Serve: 12 Ideas Where They Actually Do the Work
Finding simple ways for kids to serve — where they are actually participating rather than watching — is one of the most valuable investments a family can make. Service that involves real personal sacrifice from the child, whether of time, money, or something they love, builds something that passive charity cannot. These ideas were compiled with the help of a neighbor who is exceptionally service-oriented, and each one is designed to be genuinely doable for families with children of all ages.
Why Simple Ways for Kids to Serve Matter
Service builds in children what nothing else can: an orientation toward others, an awareness of need, and the deep satisfaction that comes from making a real difference. The simple ways for kids to serve that leave the strongest impression involve some personal cost. When a child donates a toy they still like, when they earn money themselves to give away, when they spend their Saturday afternoon with an elderly person who needs company — that is when service changes who they are. Start with one idea from this list and see what it opens up.
Simple Ways for Kids to Serve: The Full List
Go through your toys and find items to donate. Clean them up with Clorox Wipes, put all the pieces in a bag together and label it so it is ready for someone to enjoy. Ideally, if the kids are really making a sacrifice, it should be something they still like but no longer play with, not just junk. It is important for them to realize the people they are donating to are just like them and appreciate things that are clean and work well.
Take care of your mail person or UPS driver. The holidays — or anytime — are a great time to show a little extra love to those who are working especially hard. Take some candy bars to the post office, leave a Coke and a note for your UPS driver, decorate your mailbox and leave a gift or gift card for your mail person.
Show love to your teachers. Have your child be a detective and find out what his or her teacher loves, then go together to find a gift that is really personal. With that gift, have your child include a special note of appreciation. This works for all kinds of teachers — school, dance, coaches, church, scouts.
Earn money and donate. It means so much more when the money is their own. Have your kids do small jobs around the house for quarters, then take those quarters to drop into Salvation Army boxes or place in candy machines at the mall so some little boy or girl gets a surprise. Your kids could do jobs for grandparents or hold a toy, bake, lemonade, or hot chocolate sale for a cause important to them.
Spend time with the elderly. There is not a population who loves little children more than the elderly. Take your kids to carol at senior centers, pass out Christmas cards, or read favorite Christmas stories. Have your children interact with them — ask questions, listen, give hugs. My 5-year-old would let them hold him tight for as long as they liked and their face would soften into a smile. It is a beautiful thing to watch.
Serve in the home. One of our favorite traditions: draw “secret pals” during December. Each person picks someone different to serve all week long, in secret. At the end of the week we try to guess who our pal was. It brings such a sweet spirit into the home and eases the contention. Love this tradition.
Give gifts from the heart. For years our family has done a dollar store gift exchange. Each person goes to the dollar store to purchase a $1 gift for each person in our family, including mom and dad. We open these on Christmas Eve, and the warmth we feel for each other is priceless. Everyone is so excited to give and so generous in the way they receive. Proof that gifts from the heart are the very best.
Help neighbors. There is nothing more valuable during Christmas than time. If your kids are old enough, invite a few younger kids to your home and put your older kids in charge of entertaining them while the mom gets some shopping done. You can also kidnap and clean a neighbor’s car or take their garbage cans in all month.
Take care of the homeless. Make sack lunches or plates of warm dinner to take to the homeless in your community. Create blessing bags with essentials in a large Ziploc and take them to an urban area. Make simple fleece blankets and deliver them. Drop new toys off at a homeless shelter. When you head downtown, have each child pack a few coins and dollar bills to give to those who are asking.
Remember those who are often forgotten. In addition to teachers, have your child write a heartfelt note or give a gift to someone who may not often be noticed: a crossing guard, a librarian, a custodian, a lunch worker, a garbageman — someone who might love to be remembered.
Say thanks to a serviceman. As a family, bake treats for the police or firemen. Write notes and include Amazon gift cards to soldiers serving our country. Send a letter to a missionary who is far from home.
Have a “Polite Day.” Together, decide on a day when everyone will be especially polite to each person in their path. Hold doors, help with groceries, clean up, say “Please” and “Thank You,” compliment 10 people, do the right thing without being asked, make a new friend, ask someone to sit with you, smile and say hello to someone who looks sad. Report on how little things can make a big difference.
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Frequently Asked Questions: Simple Ways for Kids to Serve
What are simple ways for kids to serve?
Twelve simple ways for kids to serve where children do the actual work: donate toys still liked but not played with; care for your mail carrier; show love to teachers with personal gifts and notes; earn money and donate it; spend time at senior centers; draw secret pals and serve them all week; dollar store gift exchange; help neighbors with childcare or chores; make blessing bags for homeless; remember forgotten workers; thank servicemen and women; and hold a “Polite Day.”
How do you teach kids to serve others?
The most effective simple ways for kids to serve involve them in every step. Kids who go to the store to pick out the gift, who help assemble blessing bags, who earn the money they donate, who write the note themselves — those kids develop a genuine orientation toward others. Service should involve some personal sacrifice, whether of time, money, or something they love. That sacrifice is what makes it meaningful.
What is a good service project for families with young children?
Three simple ways for kids to serve that work especially well for young children: the secret pal tradition (draw names, serve secretly all week), blessing bags for the homeless (kids help fill and decorate Ziploc bags), and spending time at a senior center where children can sit on laps, sing songs, and give hugs. These are especially powerful because the impact is immediate and visible.
