VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN

National Network for Child Care's Connections Newsletter

Ellen Vigil
Assistant Director of Operation
Laurance Armour Day School, Chicago, Illinois

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As school-age child care providers, we must offer activities that are at the right level for the children. Older children need new challenges and opportunities. One way to challenge older children is to provide volunteer opportunities.

The key to success is to carefully plan your volunteer program. We followed the steps listed below to develop a volunteer program for older children in our center. The day care center serves children from four months through 12 years old. Our school-age children participated in the infant, toddler, and preschool classrooms. Each child participated for one month in a classroom. They participated in activities at specific times. The supervising teacher completed a brief evaluation form at the end of this time. The school-age staff and the child read the evaluation together and talked about the experience from the child's point of view. The child could then move on to a new classroom. Volunteer programs within centers can be hard to arrange. Sometimes, older children are counted in the staff-child ratios. Or there may be restrictions on using children as volunteers. Check with your state licensing office for guidelines. Keep in mind that you can design a volunteer program in many different settings. You may want to contact the library, an office, or a home for the elderly.

The steps in developing a volunteer program follow.

1. Develop program goals. What do you want the children to gain from the experience? Keep the goals simple. Use a vocabulary the children can understand. For example, the goal may be "Read a story at group time." Goals help children know what is expected of them. They will also help you evaluate the success of the program.

2. Organize the program. Careful planning will make your program successful. Use the following questions as a guide in planning.

Where will the child be assigned?

Who will be the supervising adult?

How long will one assignment last for a child?

Who will define the job tasks for the child? What exactly will the child do?

What safety factors must be considered?

How will the child's participation be evaluated? Will you give the child written feedback or simply talk with the child?

3. Set up guidelines. Children must know what is expected of them. They must also know what will happen if they do not act appropriately.

4. Gain support. Present your program plan in writing to your director. With their approval, show the plan to the adults who will supervise the volunteer experience and to the children's parents. Meet with those who will supervise the volunteers to discuss the program in depth. Assure them that you will meet with them regularly to assist with problems that may arise. Send a letter to parents. Tell them about the program, what their child will gain, and what support you will need from them.

5. Motivate the children. A successful volunteer program begins by motivating children to want to help others. Plan activities that will help children learn the importance of volunteering. Discuss volunteer organizations in your area, and invite volunteer coordinators to speak on the importance of volunteer services. Explore how volunteers help others during disasters, such as fires, floods, or earthquakes. Children will learn two important things from these activities. First, they will learn what it means to volunteer (giving your valuable time to help others). Second, they will learn that volunteers are rewarded by the satisfaction they feel in helping others.

6. Prepare the children. Introduce the volunteer program you have selected. Identify those who are interested. Provide orientation workshops on the responsibilities of a volunteer and what to do in case they have a problem. Arrange for children to visit their assigned placements briefly before actually participating.

7. Develop a recognition system. Self-satisfaction is the goal of a volunteer program. But children, like adults, will need ongoing encouragement during their participation in the program. Put photographs of the volunteers on the bulletin board. Write about the program in the school newsletter. T-shirts for the volunteers also work well. Plan an awards ceremony at the end of the year. Invite the children, parents, and supervising teachers. The children in our program received a gift certificate from a local store. The parent board donated the money for the certificate.

8. Evaluate the program. All programs can be better. Consider things that went well and problems that came up. Learn from your mistakes. Make changes based on what you learned. Each center must form and shape a program that meets their children's needs.

Our society benefits greatly from the work of many volunteers. One of the greatest gifts we can give to children is the desire to help others. Consider offering volunteer opportunities in your program.