Is Your Teenager Bored?

How About Volunteering?

It is a fact that in the United States, many teenagers and young adults have a considerable amount of "spare time," particularly in the summer and during school breaks. As a parent, you should encourage your child to take advantage of these times by exploring a new interest, planning for future college or career, pursuing a hobby or skill, or by volunteering time for a worthwhile endeavor. Although it is not frequently considered as an option for many adolescents, volunteering can give your child the opportunity to develop interests, challenge capabilities, and identify new strengths and talents.

You may wish to speak to your teenager about the reasons that people volunteer their time.

Volunteering provides teenagers the opportunity to:

Learn about an organization or activity that interests them.

Getting involved with an organization like Special Olympics International will expose your child to a year-round sports training and athletic competition, designed for children and adults with special needs. Volunteer activities could include such tasks as athletic training, fund raising, administrative help and competition planning.

Gain a new perspective on life.

Homeless shelters are located in most cities and welcome volunteers to assist with meal preparation, organizing a food drive or working behind the scenes in the business office. Spending a few hours at a senior citizen's center will expose your child to the world of the "mature adult" and help them become more sensitive to elder challenges and issues.

Beat boredom.

Teenagers can reshelve books at the local library. They can care for abandoned dogs and cats at a local animal shelter. Many state parks offer volunteer programs, where teenagers can be involved in educational programs, trail construction or grounds maintenance. If your teen is skilled at creating or maintaining web sites, many smaller charities and organizations would be very grateful for assistance in this area. Your child could also help by raising money to pay for the website, as funds are limited for these organizations.

Overcome a loss they might have experienced.

Perhaps a best friend moved away, or a romantic breakup occurred. Or, even worse, your child may be grieving over a relative or friend who died. One of the best ways to overcome the feelings of pain and loss is to help other people. Staying busy and keeping the mind focused on others allows your child to deal with, and heal from, the void that has been created.

Help others.

Volunteers at a local Ronald McDonald House prepare meals, do household tasks, and visit with the families of seriously ill children. Habitat for Humanity groups build and provide housing for economically disadvantaged people. The "Reading Is Fundamental" (RIF) literacy programs are always in need of volunteers who can tutor illiterate children and adults.

To locate organizations or associations that can assist you in finding volunteer opportunities, contact:

• Local city government offices.
• Local Chamber of Commerce.
• Local Community Center or Community Service office.
• Local community colleges and universities.
• Local hospitals.
• The United Way.
• The Salvation Army.
• Local churches and synagogues.
• Local newspaper .
• Local police or fire department.
• Local veterinarian.
• Local Parks and Recreations office.
• Local YMCA/YWCA.
• Boys and Girls Club.
• Local mentoring program or Big Brother/Big Sisters of America.
• State or county Employment Development Department.
• Local high school Career Center.

One of the most difficult parts of volunteering can be finding a situation that best fits the personality of your teenager, but it is worth the effort. Volunteering will teach them a lot about themselves and about others, and they will get to know some interesting people in the process. They really will help themselves as they are helping others.

Source

Source: Workplace Benefits. (Reviewed 2008). Is your teenager bored? How about volunteering? Raleigh, NC: Author.

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