Teenagers and too much free time can be a deadly combination. When teens find themselves with large chunks of free time, they are prone to sitting on the couch playing video games or watching TV, or trying to liven things up by experimenting with drugs or alcohol.
Instead of trying to fill up these hours with more schoolwork, yet another extracurricular activity or forced quality time with their family, encourage your teenagers to get involved with volunteer work. Giving back to their community can work wonders for your teenager’s self-esteem, improve their grades and give them something to look forward to instead of spending yet another weekend mindlessly staring at a screen.
Volunteering has been shown to have many positive effects on high school students. Teens who volunteer as few as two hours each week experience higher self-esteem and greater resiliency, and are 50 percent less likely to use drugs, alcohol or cigarettes, according to an article by Ann Pleshette Murphy on ABCNews.com.
More than 70 percent of teens say that volunteering gives them a new perspective, allows them to do something for a cause they believe in and is an important activity to the people they respect, according to America’s Teenage Volunteers, a survey conducted for the organization Independent Sector.
The survey also noted that teenagers experience growth in the following areas as a result of spending time volunteering:
Ways to Get Your Teen Involved
Some teenagers may be really excited at the chance to offer their time to a local organization or cause. Others may look at you like you’re crazy when you suggest it, and resist the idea. The key is to get your teens involved with a volunteering experience that they will enjoy and look forward to. Here are some ways to do that:
Find an Organization That Interests Them. When it comes to getting your teens involved in volunteering, the most important thing is to find an activity that interests them. Whether it’s their love of pets, affinity for senior citizens, desire to protect the environment or an interest in computers, there is likely to be a volunteer opportunity that is right up their alley. Volunteering is also a great way for teens to explore careers that they are interested in through opportunities such as offering time at a hospital, tutoring younger kids or helping out at a local animal shelter.
Use Motivation. If your teens are resistant to the idea of volunteering, give them some motivators. Let them know that volunteering can help them get into the college of their dreams, and provide a way for them to meet people other than those they see every day at school. Reward them for the time they spend volunteering by giving them a break from their chores or taking them to a movie.
Find Out if Their School Gives Volunteer Credits. Many schools offer students credit for volunteer hours. Find out if your teen’s school has a volunteer program that will offer credit and help find appropriate opportunities. Knowing that they will have to spend less time in classes in order to complete their volunteer hours may be a great motivator for getting your teens involved. Some schools, like Bromley Brook boarding school for girls in Vermont, have relationships with local organizations that frequently employ student volunteers.
Make it a Family Activity. Trying to convince your teen to get involved with volunteering, especially if they are shy, may be difficult. Help them get started and boost their self-confidence by making it a family activity. Gather the family once a week to volunteer at a local soup kitchen, or take one day out of the month to help clean up a park or beach. This is a great way to help strengthen your family bond while encouraging your children to give back to their community.
Get Their Friends Involved. If the last thing your teens want to do is volunteer with their parents, encourage them to pair up with one of their friends. That way your teen won’t feel alone and reserved about getting involved with a new group, and may look forward to the regular time spent with a good friend.
Let Them Experiment. If your teens are unsure about where they want to volunteer, or volunteering at all, let them know they can try it and decide if they like it or not. If they don’t like where they end up donating their time, encourage them to try something else that they may like more, but never make them feel guilty. It may not have been the right fit, or the right time, for your teens.
Don’t Make it an Obligation. Don’t ever make your teens feel like they have to volunteer — that will be the surest way to keep them from doing it. Explain to your teens the benefits of volunteering, why you think it would be good for them and the options available. If teens know that their commitment is voluntary and that they get to pick an activity they enjoy, they will be more likely to volunteer.
Not every kid is going to be interested in volunteering, but do what you can to encourage your teen to find a positive activity (such as volunteering) to participate in. Helping your teens get involved in their community will reap countless rewards that will leave your teens feeling more confident, fulfilled and ready to succeed.