How to Engage Children in Service through Schools

Often, opportunities for children to serve, especially between the ages of 5-12, can be limited due to specific jobs, transportation, times, dates, age and experience. In addition, when service organizations do come to schools to recruit, some schools discourage involvement because they take away from the child’s academics. Currently, the best way to incorporate service and academia is through servicelearning, a method used to incorporate service into schools allowing children to serve while using the skills they developed in the classroom. Service-learning is a key player to instilling the value of service within each child. Below are some simple guidelines to help the service-learning process within schools.

How to start service learning within your child’s school if it is NOT being practiced

• Be educated: Be aware of both the schools learning policy/teaching requirements AND with the community’s service opportunities for the age group you are working with. Policy and procedure are imperative to effectiveness.

• Be patient: Speaking with the teacher directly could open a doorway to service-learning immediately. Going around back doors to school board meetings and speaking with the principal are effective for implementing permanent change, but they also take time. If this is the schools first year with service-learning, try working with your child’s class to create a positive experience. Through this example you will have greater accreditation when speaking with leaders within your schools community.

• Be open-minded: in the instance that your school does not accept service-learning into their curriculum, be open to other venues to create the service learning experience for your child as they grow and develop. Youth programs such as the Boy Scouts, 4-H, YMCA, etc…along with various faith-based organizations within your community can serve as the place to find other service projects.

• Be ready to work: often teachers are not opposed to new ideas as much as they lack the manpower to implement a major production. With new ideas you must be prepared to recruit other parents and adults, hold meetings, help with training, and work with the children. When teachers see you are an asset you have a greater chance of making a difference.

How to help with service learning in your child’s school if it IS being practiced

• Be assertive: Go directly to the teacher and express your interest in service learning and offer to help. Help write grant applications for up-coming service projects, go to the community to ask for support, etc.

• Be helpful: If a parent-helper organization is already in place help to recruit other parents, bring ideas to the meetings, get to know the children and work WITH the teacher. If the organization is NOT, create one through recruiting other passionate adults.

• Be aware: As a parent-helper be certified in first-aid, van driving, (in case transportation is needed – this can prevent lawsuits) meal preparations and other certifications that will assist you in your quest to be of assistance. Be familiar with child safety laws and adult/child ratios when supervision is taking place.

• Be an example: Service learning will make a lasting impression on your child. Be the example that illustrates the importance of service through getting involved in their school.

Success Stories

In Connecticut, first and second graders formed a partnership with local senior citizens to recycle school supplies to Nicaragua. In California, two third grade classes worked together on a brochure titled "Cool Places for Cool Kids" to be distributed by Ojai's Chamber of Commerce. The students toured their town, took pictures, wrote text and created the graphics for this child-friendly publication. In California, Mr. Madrigal's 5th grade class completed service-learning projects such as a brochure on pesticides. They researched, wrote and produced through funds provided by Go-Serve as part of a Caesar Chavez grant.3