Note: This post was originally published in 2010.
In addition to helping those that are in need, serving others will teach your kids empathy, responsibility, and team work. Win-win! Here, I’ve listed 10 simple mission project ideas to get you started. Tweak them to fit your family and community.
1. Make cards and deliver them to a local hospital or send them to missionaries you support. What kid doesn’t love to paint, glue, or draw? They can combine their art skills with an encouraging word or scripture and begin a lifelong habit of encouraging others. Be sure to check guidelines with hospital, many have limits on decorations or wording you can use. For instance, our local Pediatric unit asks volunteers to avoid writing, “Get Well Soon” and similar comments since many of their patients are terminally ill.
2. Assemble ready-to-go packs for the homeless. Fill brown paper lunch sacks with water bottles, wipes, non-perishable snacks, wash cloths, and an encouraging card and perhaps a couple of dollar bills or fast food gift card. Keep these in your car at all times so when you come upon a homeless person, you can have a pack ready to offer them.
3. Bake goodies for a hurting friend or neighbor. Learning early on to offer comfort to hurting or sick friends will help your kids become more compassionate and more aware of hurting souls around them while helping change the world, one person at a time.
4. Hold a clothing drive or coat drive for a local shelter. A few years ago, our church had a ministry that provided quality clothes to school children. My daughters and I made up a flier and passed it around our neighborhood, announcing that we would be back the following Saturday to pick up any donations left on porches. The next week, we were overwhelmed by the response! While we got to help out a terrific ministry, my girls also struck up conversations with many of our neighbors about the church and the ministry.
5. Knitting or sewing for soldiers, babies, or the elderly. Check out Citizen Sam, The Preemie Project, or The Red Cross for ideas.
6. Begin a prayer ministry. My six year old brought a notebook to church recently to collect prayer requests. What a great ministry! Kids can collect prayer requests from friends, church members, and family in person or by email and commit to praying for them each day or on certain days of the week.
7. Secretly adopt a family. Choose a family to adopt for the year and find little ways to anonymously bless them. Offer to babysit, send gifts on the holidays, bring dinners, have them over for fun times, send a grocery gift card. Keep their specific needs and lifestyle in mind.
8. Volunteer at a local food bank. We were blessed with the opportunity to volunteer at a local food bank with kids as young as 6 years old. You can sort food, clean shelves, organize, clean the bathrooms, help with paperwork, and more.
9. Put together a program for a nursing home. Can your kids perform a song, a skit, or play an instrument? I was even part of a fashion show at our local nursing home back when I was a teenager. Many of these homes have activity directors that put on simple parties and gatherings for residents. See how your family can help! A homeschool group we were part of used to go caroling at nursing homes at Christmas time. Be creative!
10. Bless those who regularly serve others. Bring breakfast to your Sunday school teacher, offer to wash your worship leader’s car, present a prayer warrior with a hand-decorated journal, bring the church secretary hand-picked flowers, make cookies for your teacher, local fire station, or veterans group.
If you’re new to this idea of doing mission projects as a family, try to pick things that will suit your kids. What are their gifts? Are they artistic? Have them make cards for sick children. Super organized? Volunteer at a local clothing ministry or food bank. And don’t forget to consider their personality. A shy child might prefer to do acts in secret while an extrovert may enjoy performing at a nursing home.
While keeping your kids’ preferences in mind, remember that it’s okay to do things outside of their comfort zone, too. After all, that’s how most of us grow and learn what we’re capable of.
What kinds of service projects do you do with your family?
Laura says
I’ve no kids but would still consider doing some of these – they’re so simple and effective.
Lynda Schultz says
Great ideas. What a wonderful way to teach kids to think of others and serve the Lord by serving others.
Angie says
Thank you for these great ideas! It has been on my heart to get my daughters more into volunteering. I think it is such an important lesson in life to give children to give compassion and they certainly learn to be more grateful!
Amy @ Filled With Praise says
Thank you so much for all of these great ideas. I am looking forward to doing a few of these with my kiddos.
Blessings,
Amy
Tara McClenahan says
Such fantastic ideas to implement! I recently helped my little man clean out his toys to donate to another little boy that didn’t have any toys! He wanted to give ALL of them away! He’s only requested one of the donated toys since then. 🙂
Thanks for the ideas!
Marsha says
Angela, such GREAT ideas! And not just do do with children. So many practical ideas. Thanks so much.
Lisa says
Great ideas! I’m a christian school teacher too, and these are great inspiration to me!! thanks for sharing!! 🙂
LisaShaw says
I love this!!!! Thanks for sharing!
Dana Wilson says
Sometimes the simplest things are the best in service to others. Thank you for thoughtful post!
mamala says
As we have always said, “When I die, I want to leave a wake of buoyed hearts, and changed lives”, this it the prescription.
Kudos Ang.
Traci says
These were great ideas!! Thank you so much.
Joseph Nally says
– If your kids play music, let them play for someone who can’t get out very often. Someone old, sick, etc.
becky @ our sweet peas says
Thanks for these ideas. They are inspiring!
Shelli @ Hopefully Devoted says
I see this is an old post, but it just popped into my reader today (a very cool God-thing, I’d say!). It is so fitting for my “For the Least of These Fridays” link-up. These are GREAT ideas! If you have anything like this to share in the future, please consider linking up.
.-= Shelli @ Hopefully Devoted´s last blog ..If =-.
Kaye says
Love this post…especially the second one hit close to home, as we frequently see homeless people during our week.
I’m going to share this in my weekly roundup that posts tomorrow. Thank you for posting a great read!
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