Friday, April 17, 2009

Aloha Friday


Today we're following An Island Life's example and asking you, the readers, a question. Here it is...

What types of volunteer, service, or random acts of kindness activities can a two-year-old participate in?

This was fairly easy to figure out in Mozambique, but we're having a harder time here in Oregon, thanks to liability issues, etc.

22 comments:

Bran said...

she could go through her old clothes and toys with mom to donate to a homeless shelter.

pick out non perishable items at store in in cabinets to give.

go to a nurshing home and visit with/sing songs to the elderly, we do this every month or two with several different families and it's such a blessing to us and the residents.

make cards to send to http://www.makeachildsmile.org/featured_kids.shtml

Lori said...

what about having her color pictures to send to service men and women overseas? Or to a nursing home or hospice center?

So Smrt said...

Here are a couple of ideas...

Go to thetoysociety.blogspot.com. People put little homemade toys out in the world for someone to find. I made a toy and Emma helped me deliver it. She whispered happy things to it on the way!

I did this one at Christmas...set a dollar amount, I did $40. Then go to a consignment shop or even Salvation army and have your little one help you pick out baby clothes. Then bring them to a charity that works with mothers in need.

:)

Prasti said...

if you do a meals on wheels type of service, can you bring esme along to deliver the meals? or what about visiting elderly folks @ nursing homes/skilled care facilities? i have been considering doing something like that w/ emma so that she can make a tangible connection w/ the "helping others" idea. but i don't know how open some places would be in bringing a little one...something i still need to check on.

Amy said...

Wow, I think so many people who already commented have GREAT ideas! I'm intending to use some of them with my twin 2 year olds!

I often buy sale items at the grocery store and deliver them to our church's food closet. There are many families who come to our church for help to meet their basic needs. If your church doesn't have something like that you could always give to the local food bank.

Jennifer said...

Help choose clothing or books/toys for children in shelters or pick out a brand new gift to take to a child who is sick in hospital.

Help pick out foods at the grocery store to deliver to a shelter/pantry.

Help make cookies for a Blood Drive.

Help bake for an elderly or ill neighbour?

PMKU said...

Color A Smile collects crayon drawings from school children.
Every month we distribute these drawings to Nursing Homes,
Meals on Wheels Programs, and Individuals all across the country.

www.colorasmile.org

ShEiLa said...

Lots of ideas already posted were ones I had as well.

If I think of some new ones... I will post again.

BaronessBlack said...

Hi there!
My two sponsor puppies to be trained up as guide/assistance dogs.
They get very excited about the newsletter that comes every quarter, and when we see a guide dog when we're out and about.
I feel that it helps them learn about disabled and differently-abled people, and how we all need some help sometimes to retain our independence and dignity!
Plus, the puppies are cute!

Damselfly said...

Hmm, well, Fly went with me to church to help pack toiletries into baggies to send to Haiti after a string of hurricanes last summer.

I think if kids see you helping others, even if they're a bit too little to do much help, it rubs off on them and they grow into people who want to help others too.

But of course you already know this. :)

grammy said...

You can take cookies to the firemen (o: I read all the kickin and screamin. Why? Like I don't experience it enough around here...but there is comfort in numbers I guess.

Staci A said...

I didn't read all the other responses, but you could visit at a home for the elderly, or send photos to them. Maybe have her help pick out supplies for kids at a domestic violence shelter and drop them off together.

I am Harriet said...

My kids use to donate their books to shelters. We'd have drives at our playgroups.

Claremont First Ward said...

I think sharing with others without being asked is HUGE for a random act of kindness.......helping to prepare food for others.

Almost anything you do that they assist you with.

janetfaye said...

I love all of the ideas posted especially about helping pick which toys to donate.

annies home said...

donating old toys and clothes would be somewhere you could start

Laski said...

These are GREAT ideas! So creative!

She could "donate" her crafts to a nursing home . . .

I'm coming back to see what other ideas people come up with!

sues2u2 said...

You've been given some amazing ideas & I have nothing more to add. Wait. We would pick little daffodils & give them to the old lady's who lived by my grandparents. While they hated them in the yard some of them hadn't receive something like that from a child in a long time. It made their day!

Anonymous said...

Bring the baby to a nursing home and every single resident will rejoice.~Mary

Pamela said...

Taking a walk through a local retirement center in her easter dress.

dani said...

j, i think all my thoughts have been covered!!! i think it is wonderful that you are thinking of ways esme can give of herself to others.
you are such a good mom!!!
much love,
dani

Michie said...

My roommate has gotten us going as a foster family for animals from the SPCA. We are on our second set of having a Momma cat and kittens in our house, taking care of them and getting them ready for their "forever home." I think it's been great for my four year old daughter to learn about the animals and help them get to a safe and happy home.