100 Simple Service Projects for Children ($19.95) helps parents encourage a generous and giving spirit in their children. Children can make a difference!
It begins with easy, doable projects to take place in the home. It is true that everything begins in the home, kindness and giving included.
My children offered to clean my van and helped around the house.
The next chapters cover giving of oneself in the community. My children gave some of their clothing and toys to our church's flea market. My older children are volunteer helpers during classes at our church and over the summer as they are needed. Kiddo #2 will be a group leader at VBS. We also donated books to our library.
The last chapters introduce the reader to giving on a national and international level. I like that information is provided to help discern legitimate charities from scams. This is unfortunate but necessary.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I have printed a hard copy and will continue to refer to it. My children range in age from 9-15 and it appealed to each of them. I think adults could benefit, as well. There are so many ideas and suggestions for volunteer opportunities, many of which are creative and wouldn't ordinarily come to mind. :-)
I also reviewed Freedom Ride ($29). This is a book geared toward teens and addresses issues they may face and questions they may have.
There are three sections in the book:
1) How to get started: building a sincere and awesome relationship with God
2) How to behave: keeping it real all week
3) How to grow: getting beyond the self-esteem wars
Although geared toward a youth-group, the activities were easy to do as a family at the dinner table, during evening prayer time or even with a lesson during the day.
There are activities on prayer, just "talking" to God and developing a relationship with Him. The compassion challenge was a good one on learning how to put oneself in another's shoes. I really liked the cards and journal ideas in the last chapter.
With a little improvising (for a family setting) and preparation ahead of time (some supplies needed), this book will give you and your teens much to think about as they grow physically and spiritually.
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