Importance of Community Service

Community service activities link together the academic, social and emotional components of learning. Personal growth takes place when children make an impact on the community around them. Engaging in 'acts of kindness', children increase their responsbility as a citizen and further develop their sense of empathy and understanding of the different needs people have.

There are endless ways that students can share their caring abilities with others. This can be done by participating in a personal service project, responding to a school need, developing a project that impacts the local community, or creating a way to touch the lives of others who live far away.

It takes creativity and commtiment but the options are endless on how to make a positive impact on others. Some projects need a lot of materials, time and effort. Others are very brief in nature. Both leave the same impact-feeling good about making a difference in the world!

Here are a few books that offer ideas on how your child can touch more lives with their care and kindness.

• The Kid's Guide To Service Projects, Barbara Lewis
• Step By Step, The Mosaic Youth Center Board Of Directors With Jennifer Griffin-Wiesner
• Kids Taking Action, Pamela Roberts
• The Kids Guide To Socal Action, Barbara Lewis
• Service Learning Projects For Elementary Students, Deborah Diffily and Charlotte Sassman