5 Significant ways for children to contribute to community service and initiative projects.

While food and donation units support charitable organizations, it is often difficult for children to understand that their contributions contribute something (especially if mom or dad buy something and leave cans in the school or church).

The best way to instill a commitment to service is to start at home. Encouraging young children to acts of kindness, such as helping a family member who has had a bad day or caring for a pet, can teach younger children, including the power of care. As children grow, you can help develop empathy and support for good causes with these five tips:

Give the children a vote: sit down as a group and discuss if there are any individuals, organizations or causes that are especially interested in helping. What talents and abilities do you have as a family to be more beneficial? Even small acts, such as the donation of food and blankets for the shelter of animals, have a meaning for children, of course if they decide that cause.

Start at the local level: While there are numerous worthy global charities, it can be easier for young children to see the value of helping people in their neighborhood. Shoveling snow or pulling weeds from an elderly neighbor (even if you have to help in the effort), or making an errand for a sick friend will have an immediate impact of your child on your neighbor. Use the satisfaction that this experience brings as a starting point to talk about how to serve in a wider community.

Hosting a service party: show children that bonding strength can have a big impact and can be fun. Invite neighborhood children to your home, a park or community center to participate in a service project. Use the web to investigate the needs of local service groups and find an activity that is appropriate for the age group. Younger children can make thank-you cards for service members or decorate bags for distribution. Later, they will be able to prepare lunches and simple bags for distribution in shelters for the homeless. When the children have completed their service project, they meet in a circle to talk about how they will benefit from their service and what other problems their "power kid" can address.

Talking about your projects and putting words to your feelings will make your experience more meaningful. Keep the fun of tone and reward by playing or singing songs and thanking the children for their efforts. The service is as much about the process as the product, therefore, it creates the desire to do more.

Serve the Earth: it has no mountains of scale or brave tropical forests to help save endangered species in the world. Start closer to home, with activities such as making a bird feeder for your own backyard, cleaning up garbage in your neighborhood, or other activities that help the land. Older children can participate in projects such as eliminating invasive plant species, contact your parks and recreation department to find out how.

Research suggests that families working as volunteers forge stronger bonds. In addition, children who are involved in community service develop greater self-esteem and are less likely to engage in risky behavior in adolescence