Growing up, I often heard Fred Rogers say, “Look for the helpers,” and I wanted to become one of those helpers. If you’ve ever watched a toddler “help” fold laundry or a preschooler insist on stirring the cookie dough, then you already know that kids are wired to help. They may not always get it right, and sometimes they end up creating a little more mess than magic, but the desire to help is there. And when we nurture that desire early, it grows into something beautiful. That’s why getting kids involved in volunteer work isn’t just a good idea. It’s a powerful way to help them become the kind of people who love like Jesus.
Our kids have grown up volunteering because they’ve seen it modeled, just as my husband and I saw it modeled. My parents were volunteer firefighters. My husband’s parents volunteered with Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts his whole life with him and his sister. Our parents naturally stepped in where help was needed because they understood the benefits of volunteering. They instilled in my husband and I both a deep sense of volunteerism that we’ve in turn been very intentional about teaching our kids. Our kids started volunteering at a community food pantry when they were big enough to pick up a can of soup, because they were there with me as I volunteered. Then as they’ve gotten older, they’ve sought other ways to volunteer. When kids learn early on that they can make a difference, even in small ways, they start to see the world (and themselves) through a lens of purpose. Volunteering becomes more than a checklist item. It becomes a way of life.
Why Teaching Kids to Volunteer Matters
We live in a culture that often focuses on self. What we want, what we feel, what we achieve is often at the forefront of our thoughts. But Jesus flipped that upside down.
“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45 (NLT)
If Jesus, the King of kings, came to serve, then serving isn’t just a nice add-on to our faith. It’s part of the core. Teaching kids to serve trains their hearts to see others. It develops empathy, builds character, and deepens their faith. It teaches them that love looks like action, not just words. And here’s the sweet part: it can be really fun, too.
What the Bible Says About Serving Others
Scripture is full of encouragement to serve with glad hearts.
“As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” 1 Peter 4:10 (NKJV)
“Don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God.” Hebrews 13:16 (NLT)
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16 (NKJV)
When our kids serve others, they shine. Not to draw attention to themselves, but to point back to the God who placed compassion in their hearts. And that is something worth smiling about.
I’m a firm believer in giving. And oftentimes, kids feel like they don’t have much to give. But that just isn’t true. If we teach kids, from an early age, that they can give from their time, talents, and treasure, then they will never feel poor when it comes to the resources from which they can give. True, they may not have a lot of money in the bank to write a check with, but if they can give an hour of their time, or they can give from their talents… that’s a treasure that beats cash any day!
Age-Appropriate Ways Kids Can Volunteer
As I said, my kids started volunteering at the pantry with me when they were tiny. You don’t have to wait until kids are older to get them involved. Little hands can serve, too. The key is finding opportunities that match their stage of life and letting them be part of the process.
Here are some fun, meaningful ways kids can jump in and serve at every age:
Toddlers & Preschoolers (Ages 2–5)
At this age, kids are just starting to understand what it means to help others. Keep things simple, visual, and hands-on. Teach them that helping others is a way to share God’s love.
- Make cards for nursing homes or shut-ins. Use stickers, markers, and lots of love. Talk about how the cards will bring joy.
- Deliver snacks or flowers to a neighbor. Let your child help pick them out and carry them to the door.
- Pick up trash at the park. Give them gloves and a bag, and turn it into a “kindness mission.”
- Help pack food pantry donations. Talk about how God blesses others through our giving.
“It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts 20:35 (ESV)
Elementary Kids (Ages 6–10)
This is a great age to teach kids the why behind volunteering. Their empathy is growing, and they can begin to serve in more interactive ways. Help them see that serving can be joyful, not just dutiful.
- Collect items for a local shelter. Set a goal and let them invite friends to join in.
- Volunteer at church. They can pass out bulletins, greet people, or help in younger classes with supervision.
- Bake cookies for first responders. Let them write a note of thanks to go with it. If you choose this option, be sure to do peanut/tree nut-free options, too, or call ahead for allergies in the department.
- Join a community cleanup day. They’ll feel proud to see the difference they made.
- Family Mission Trip. Our kids were this age when we went on our first family mission trip to Honduras. They were well able to understand what we were doing on our mission trip and to participate in the activities of the trip. Not all mission trips are designed with kids in mind, but this one was.
“Serve the Lord with gladness; come before His presence with singing.” Psalm 100:2 (NKJV)
Preteens & Middle Schoolers (Ages 11–13)
Preteens are discovering who they are and what they’re passionate about. Volunteering can help them find purpose outside of themselves. Remind them that serving is a way of worshiping God with their gifts.
- Help at a food bank or soup kitchen. Many organizations welcome supervised youth volunteers.
- Participate in church outreach events. Hand out water bottles, help with set-up, or pray with a leader.
- Write letters to missionaries or soldiers. Share encouraging verses and drawings.
- Organize a clothing drive. Let them take the lead!
- Junior leader for camp. Some camps will have junior leader spots available for middle school students who are too old to attend as campers, but not old mature enough to volunteer as leaders yet.
“And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men.” Colossians 3:23 (NKJV)
Teenagers (Ages 14–18)
Teenagers can serve almost anywhere adults can, and many are ready to take initiative and lead others. Challenge them to be bold about serving with love.
- Mentor younger kids in church or school. Let them share their faith in a way that’s relational. Be sure to provide them with training and mentoring as they mentor others. It is best to use a one-up, one- down method – they mentor one younger student, as they are mentored by someone older.
- Join a ministry team at church – many churches allow middle school and high school students to serve as ushers, greeters, on the refreshment team, etc.
- Join a mission trip or service project. This can be life-changing.
- Use their unique gifts. If they play an instrument, sing, cook, code, or create, find ways they can use it to bless others.
- Volunteer consistently. Encourage them to stick with a cause or organization to build deeper roots.
“Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love…” 1 Timothy 4:12 (NKJV)
Tips for Making Volunteer Time Meaningful
Here are some simple ways to make volunteering a regular (and heart-deep) part of family life:
1. Model it. – Kids are watching. When they see you serve with a joyful heart, it plants seeds that grow.
2. Talk about it. – After a volunteer experience, debrief it. “How did it feel to help?” “What do you think God was doing through that?”
3. Pray before and after. – Let your kids pray for the people you’re serving. Then thank God together afterward.
4. Start small and stay consistent. – You don’t have to organize a huge event. Even monthly acts of service make an impact.
5. Celebrate their efforts. – Acknowledge the heart behind their actions. Let them know you’re proud—and remind them that God is, too.
6. Protect and honor their “NO.” This is especially important if you serve in a leadership position of any kind. Protect your kids’ right to say no to any/all requests for volunteering of their time. If they are forced to volunteer, it is not volunteering; it is an assigned chore, and it is one for which they will become resentful. I have a kiddo that has absolutely no desire to serve with children and has been asked more than once to serve with kids. I have protected that child’s right to say no every time. Why? Because that child does not have to serve with kids. I have another kiddo that jumps at every opportunity to serve with children. I proudly support BOTH of them as they volunteer in the position that are best suited for their interests!
A Heart That Lasts Beyond Childhood
The goal in raising helpers isn’t just to raise kids who help with projects. It’s to raise kids who carry the heart of a servant into adulthood. When our children experience firsthand what it feels like to make someone’s day better, to share Jesus’ love through action, to see someone smile because of something they did, it sticks. When that happens, serving becomes less of a to-do list and more of a way of being. It becomes woven into the fabric of who they are.
A Prayer for Raising Young Volunteers
Lord, thank You for the hearts You’ve entrusted us with in our children. Help us raise kids who see the needs around them, and who step in with kindness and courage. Teach us, as parents and mentors, to model service with joy. Help us speak life and purpose over every small act of love. Let every moment of volunteering plant seeds of compassion, empathy, and grace that last a lifetime. And may our kids grow up to shine bright for You, wherever You lead them. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Let Your Kids Pioneer Change If Their Passion Leads
Do your kids passionately care about a cause that doesn’t currently have someone championing it? Let them be the ones to Do Hard Things. You may think that they are too young, but Alex and Brett Harris’ first book, Do Hard Things, is a great way to challenge your teen to rebel against the low expectations of their peers and Start Here is kind of the prequel that answers the “How do I get started?” questions. We’ll be reading them in our house. Even if they don’t need to become the pioneers themselves, they can blaze trails wherever they go!
And when I say “let your kids pioneer change,” I really mean help them, if necessary. Give them as much autonomy as they can handle, and then help them be successful as they passionately serve in an area that matters to them, IF this is how they are wired. If it’s not, don’t push them to be change makers. The only change that will occur is the pigment in your hair will rapidly decrease as you go grey… or bald… or maybe you add some wrinkles… either way… not good.
Let’s Raise a Generation That Serves
Here’s the thing. You don’t have to have it all figured out to start. You just need a willing heart and a little space to say, “Let’s do this together.” The most powerful lessons our kids learn about love, humility, and faith are taught by us. Those lessons are often taught in living rooms, parking lots, parks, and church lobbies, where little hands and big hearts come together to make Jesus known.
So go ahead. Grab a trash bag, a cookie sheet, or a card and some crayons. Help them serve, stumble, smile, and grow. And let them see that joy doesn’t just come from being helped. Joy and satisfaction come from helping others. That’s a legacy worth leaving.
My oldest daughter has found a passion for serving children through volunteering. In fact, this summer she is logging nearly 70 hours as a volunteer with kids camps, and she thinks she wants to work with special needs kids when as a career. Sometimes, kids find their passion in serving. And that is a beautiful thing. My youngest daughter volunteered as a junior leader this year as well and is showing strong leadership skills that we’re so incredibly proud of.
