Parents Start Here

I grew up in a home where volunteering was very important. As a family, we did alot with our temple. As a youngster, I donated alot of toys and clothes. As a teenager, I was a candy striper and I helped tutor children. As an adult, I continued to donate my time and other resources.

I want to instill “volunteering” in Baby Boy Sprout. I want him to understand that he can impact a life, positively.

In the beginning, it was very hard to find organized volunteer opportunities for preschoolers. After much research and no luck, I decided to create something for us. So, I’ve been working on several volunteer projects where he can do most of the work.

My first step was to figure out who we wanted to help. I thought of who he could connect with. So, I thought of children, which led me to hospitals.

Our first project was donating toys and supplies to the children at Children’s Hospital. The Hospital requested that donations be new. They even provided a wish list. So, with money in hand, Baby Boy Sprout and I hit the Dollar Tree. We were able to purchase bags full of coloring books, crayons, reading books, Disney puzzles, decks of cards, pencils, paper pads, Checker games, and the list continues.

I explained to him that we are not shopping for him but for children who are working hard on getting well at the hospital. Baby Boy Sprout asked all kinds of questions, “why are they sick? Does the Mama and Daddy stay with them? What about school?” and so on. I answered with age-appropriate answers. He was very excited to help the children. He thoughtfully picked each item.

Since we were having a good time doing good work, I asked other families to join us. The support was amazing. Bags of toys were donated.

Baby Boy Spourt and I drove to Children’s Hospital to deliver our gifts. On the drive, the questions continued. Will the children go home soon? Will they like the toys we bought?

He felt so proud when he delivered the gifts. Each gift had a story and he shared just about each story with the Volunteer Coordinator. When we left, he said he wanted to “help the children again”. In addition, Baby Boy Sprout added the children at the Hospital to his bedtime prayers.

Our second volunteer project involved the local Assisted Living Facility. We made holiday cards for the residents. Baby Boy Sprout was in his element. He loves arts and crafts. Again, we invited other children to join us and we had a total of 120 cards to deliver! I was amazed and very happy.

I talked to Baby Boy Sprout about the residents and why they lived away from family. It’s a tough talk but it’s all a part of life.

With bells and reindeer antler headbands, we headed to the Home to deliver our 120 cards. Five of our friends joined us and each child was embraced by residents. They were very touched and happy to have visitors - especially young children. Smiles and hugs were had by all.

Yes, even a 4 year old can volunteer and positively impact lives.
What are some of your volunteering experiences? How do you talk to your children about volunteering? - Mama Sprout

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