#5 of 10 Family Bonding Activities

[MamaMandee]

Volunteer

It's absurdly easy to get caught up in day-to-day problems. When we're consumed with a million little worries, we forget how good we really have it.

Volunteering as a family is an excellent way to foster a sense of self-worth, help improve the lives of less fortunate families and give back to the community. Whether you make it a weekly, monthly or quarterly event, consider giving each family member the opportunity to choose the cause you support. Your pint-sized daughter might want to help out children her own age by volunteering at the local pediatric hospital, or your teen might prefer to build a house with Habitat for Humanity. Truly ambitious families might choose to forego a traditional vacation in favor of a volunteer-based one, such as a church mission trip to Haiti or other areas devastated by natural disaster. Such eye-opening and rewarding experiences might help your teen stifle his moans about the injustices of driving Uncle Ed's old station wagon.

[Lindalou907]

Well said. Volunteering is so good for families! I had to force my kids a couple of times to do the right thing but now that they are adults they are awesome humans.

[GypsiSky]

Volunteering is awesome! My mom let me (hmmmm.... Made me, lol) volunteer as a child. My kids love helping with charities and such.

[momofsixangels]

My kids and I used to go visit a nursing home and bring them goodies and homemeade ornaments and cards.We raise money for alzheimers and raise items needed for a dog rescue.We also  get things donated(clothes food blankets etc) for a homeless man and his  dog

[hugss]

Great idea :)