Many organizations could use their help

My son just turned 14. In the past three years, he has volunteered at two different senior centers, calling bingo, playing games and serving lunch. He even got his food handler’s license. He also volunteers at the Valley YMCA, and he has been in four plays at the Valley Community Center. The mother of an acquaintance of his said to me, “Boy, I wish that my son would do constructive things like that.” I held my tongue. It is not up to her son to do these kinds of thing; it is up to her to guide him into these kinds of things.

The role of parents in teaching their kids respect and empathy was described in a Newsweek article on msn.com:

“Now, a growing number of psychologists, educators and parents think it’s time to stop the madness and start teaching kids about what’s really important — values like hard work, delayed gratification, honesty and compassion.

“The risk of overindulgence is self-centeredness and self-absorption, and that’s a mental health risk. You sit around feeling anxious all the time instead of figuring out what you can do to make a difference in the world.

“Kids who have no responsibilities never learn one of life’s most basic lessons: that every individual can be of service to others and that life has meaning beyond one’s own immediate happiness.”

We’ve all heard this before, worded differently but with the same basic idea, from Dr. Phil, Oprah, and even Jerry Springer. The gist is that kids are idle, and they need guidance.

It’s the parent’s job to do two things: First, know where their kids are and whom they’re with. Second, involve them in your community, and they will learn to appreciate and respect it.

There are many organizations that would love your child’s help. At the Spokane Valley Community Center, your child can help with the food bank, the clothing bank, coats for kids, Christmas distribution, or answer phones. For $10, they can take a class at the center and get their food handler’s card, enabling them to volunteer in any kitchen.

The SVCC provides one-on-one training and is always open to new ideas. It accepts referrals from churches, schools, probation officers, counselors and parents.

You could expose your kids to the performing arts at the Theater Arts for Children, which is located at the SVCC. They could do lights, work on a set or even act. (The latter has been known to help with self-esteem.)

Another place to contact is the United Way. There you will find at least 150 opportunities to volunteer. The list goes on.

Many schools now are making community service a graduation requirement. Bravo for the schools in their attempt to teach kids the importance of helping others, but shouldn’t that value system already be in place? Still, it’s good to start somewhere.

Volunteering will help to channel your child’s energy, and it looks very good on a resume. Call these places and get your child involved. It will benefit them greatly and, in doing so, it will benefit the community and the future.

If you think that it will be difficult to get your kids to volunteer, remember that you are the parent and that you know best, and (again from Newsweek) “children need limits on their behavior because they feel better and more secure when they live within a certain structure.” Also, experts agree that “too much love won’t spoil a child, but too few limits will.”