Teach Social Action

Take the time to teach your children about becoming active in a community service project. Even if you, yourself have not participated up to now, here is your chance.

Teaching children to be proactive promotes confidence, self-esteem, pride, compassion and generally builds character. This is a great way to spend time with your child while doing a greater good. Consider getting your childs class, club or his/her group of friends involved.

Here are ten things to consider while deciding on a community service project with your child. These steps have been adapted from the book "The Kids Guide to Social Action" by Barbara A. Lewis. This book is available here at greenfeet.com

1. Choose a cause.
Take a look around. What needs repairing or sprucing up? Does your child or the group have any special interests or are they passionate about something? This is a good place to start.

2. Do your research.
Use surveys, the telephone, and newspapers to find out what people think or what opinions have been voiced about your cause. Write letters (the book leads you step by step through this process).

3. Brainstorm possible solutions.
Get your child and any other group members talking and thinking about what they could do to solve the problem. Kids are amazing at this process. They tend to think of things we never even imagined - including the obvious.

4. Build coalitions of support.
Find people who support your cause. Survey your neighborhood, ask teachers, city officials, legislators, etc. This is a very important step. The more support you have, the more power you have to make a difference.

5. Work with your opposition.
Ask your group who might be opposed to your cause - and why? It's best to identify potential problems before you run into them and then you're able to devise plans to overcome them. You'd be surprised at how much you can accomplish by working with your "enemy" and not against them.

6. Advertise.
Television, radio and newspaper reporters love stories about kids taking action. Many times you can get free press and air time for a worthy cause. Just explain what you are doing and ask. The worst they can say is no. (Of course, the kids should be doing the asking!)

7. Raise money.
Brainstorm how you can raise money. Consider donations, both in the form of cash and goods needed to perform your duty. Some projects may not need money. But, if so, just brainstorm, brainstorm, brainstorm.

8. Carry out your solution.
Just DO IT! Enough said.

9. Evaluate and reflect.
Is the kids' plan working? Evaluate the project and its progress. Modify or change the solution if necessary. What has the group accomplished? This is where they reflect and note their achievements.

10. Don't give up!
Encourage the kids not to listen to those who try and discourage them. Only quit when the group thinks it's time to do so. If they believe that their cause is really important, don't let them give up but encourage them to explore other options. Problem solving means weeding out all the things that don't work until they find something that does.

This is an amazing book. Here at greenfeet.com we truly believe our children are our future and would like to remind you that you are your childs best role model. Set good examples and encourage your child to do the same.

If you don't have a child of your own, donate your time to the local school or children's organization. By donating just an hour a week, you can use this book to help guide a class or group through a project. It won't take up much time and can literally change someone's life.