community service for a 13 year old?

Question

my son wants to do community service, but all of the volunteer opportunities need him to be atleast 16.any advice?

Answer 1

your son can get a work permit in his high skool if they give those out i know some skools do
he can go to
-shelters
-church

Answer 2

It really depends on what type of service he wants to do. First Kudos to him for wanting to help. The age requirement thing is a by-product of our lawsuit-happy society who want to sue every time something goes wrong.

Some things he can do on his own, can be as simple as picking up trash in a local park or cleaning up a green space. One thing that could make him feel good, clean up the area and get some attention to problems, would be a ciggarette butt clean up. When cleaning up an area, make a collection of butts. A semi-busy intersection is a good place (but be careful of cars) - or just a frame of time in a certain area. Keep a collection of the butts and make a pile when he's done.

Or fill a tube with the collected butts. He'll be amazed at how many he finds. The local news or newspaper will eat up the story also. When he shows off part of his collection and some trival fact like 'there were enough butts to fill a paper towel tube the height of the ---- (insert building - local courthouse, Empire State building, to fill the back of a pickup truck, etc."

Answer 3

Well bravo for your son! Not too many kids like to do that kind of stuff. I would suggest taking a friendly pet dog (if you have one) and going to the local nursing home and visiting the elderly. They looove dogs and kids. If you don't have a pet maybe you could just go up there and talk to some of them that are alert. They enjoy the company! This will truly be a rewarding experience and you know them older folks... they are full of interesting stories!

Answer 4

This ia a laudable effort on the part of your son. He need not join any community to help the less priveleged.He can do this right from home.Helping to teach an unfortunated kid who is not getting good grades, spreading SMILE, helping an aged to carry their packets... a little act of kindness goes a long way to beautify our society.God Bless You, boy.

Answer 5

that's so much like me, i want to but you have to be older to go in one of the city's programs. but there are loads of other things. there are programs where whole groups of people clean up creeks and beaches, and there's no minimum age. he could also spontaneously just go clean up trash in a park or something, without a formal program. and in his school there are probably community service clubs that do all kinds of awesome things that he can join. at my school there are loads of community service clubs. and animal shelters have oppertuinities like that, to clean stuff and even play with the animals. maybe he could help out in a day care, i do that and i'm 13 and it's great. also, tell him that one of the best things he can do is to smile at people, strangers he sees on the sidewalk and everyone. it can really brighten someone's day.

Answer 6

Wonderful kid...the person who brought up the library had a good idea. Perhaps he can volunteer to re-shelve books. I remember doing this as a kid and it was a great way to become familiar with the library.

Answer 7

Do clean up Jobs around your community, adopt a highway, you can help him get started, Mow grass for the handicapped or the financially troubled who really can't afford to pay someone to mow their lawn.

Answer 8

You might check your local animal shelter, mine has a program with kids where they spend time with the dogs and cats, just petting them and playing with them.

Answer 9

Maybe a retirement home. He can read or just spend time with the elderly.

Answer 10

volunteer at the public library, day camp...