Hello Everyone! I hope all is well with you today! It’s November’s Tween Meme today and I thought I’d touch on a topic I discussed earlier this year. That topic is Volunteering.
The Tween and Teen years are filled with new challenges and new emotions. It’s the first time our young people are testing their boundaries, which makes these years exciting and frightening at the same time.
So, it’s not surprising that they make some incorrect choices. :) In the past, I’ve said that parental involvement and keeping kids active in sports are ways to combat some of these negative choices. I still believe that parental involvement is very important in developing positive behaviors, but what about the kids who aren’t interested in sports? Some kids just don’t have any inclination in that direction.
Well, I’ve thought about this and I’ve discovered a solution. :) That solution is volunteering. That’s right. I came across a wonderful organization that encourages young people to volunteer and I’m very impressed by it.
In fact, I’m working with them on a project and I’m very excited about it! But, there will be a whole blog post about that as soon as we get all the details ironed out. :) So stay tuned for that. :) The organization is called VOLUNTEENATION and here’s the link to their website. Check it out! http://www.volunteennation.org/. This is a national organization which means they have volunteer opportunities all throughout the United States.
I’m sure you all have heard one of the best ways to combat depression is by helping others…I believe this applies to tweens/teens as well and that’s what volunteering is all about.
What I love about this organization is that young people are working with other students that are the same age. They aren’t at home closed off in their rooms brooding about their problems. Volunteering takes their focus off of their issues and gets them moving in a positive direction. In my opinion, this could lead to more fulfilling friendships because they’re working together toward a common goal.
Another positive effect this type of organization has is that there are certainly instances where young people can utilize/learn leadership skills as well as team building skills. This expertise is necessary for the working environment.
Maybe if we got our kids involved in volunteering we’d have fewer disasters like Columbine and Newtown. Food for thought, wouldn’t you say?
I can’t say enough about this organization; it’s getting our young people headed in the right direction.
Thanks for reading my post today! I’d love to hear your thoughts! Please leave a comment and let me know what you think!
