“We can change the world and make it a better place. It is in our hands to make a difference.”
-Nelson Mandela
This summer Kids in Service will be focusing on a Summer of Gratitude. We will slow things down, savor the season using our senses and look for creative ways to bless others with kindness. Acts of kindness often have a ripple effect, that we never see. One kind deed has the power to inspire a chain of kindness where hundreds or thousands of people may be blessed as a result. This is the MAGIC of Paying it Forward and you and your family can do that this summer.
August is a month of transition for many. Gratitude is a very grounding practice for both adults and children. Consider starting a gratitude practice (or continue one you have already started) as you work through the transitions of this month. Click on an image below for more information about the project ideas, book recommendations and resources. Be Safe and Be Well!
Looking for a way to start a gratitude practice in your home this summer? Click on the image above for some easy suggestions you can start todayKids in Service NH will be virtual this year and we’d like to invite ALL families (near and far) to join in on the fun! Kids in Service virtual meetings are FREE and will officially begin in October. We will have KIS Junior videos (ages 10 and under) that will be posted monthly (October-May). KIS Teen/Pre-Teen videos will be posted every other month (October, December, February, April). We have some great lessons and activities planned for this year and we hope that you will join us! Click the photo above for more information.Kids in Service would like to introduce you to brand new author, Tia Guay. Tia is a 16 year old high school student from Connecticut who wrote a book to raise money and awareness for the non-profit organization, the Thirst Project. The Thirst Projectworks with young people to raise money to build fresh water wells in communities around the world that do not have access to clean drinking water. Tia heard about the global water crisis during a school assembly and wanted to help. She set a goal to raise $12,000, the cost of a well for a village, during her four years of high school. To purchase Tia’s book The Long Walk, click on the photo above. A portion of the proceeds will go toward Tia’s $12,000 goal to raise money for the Thirst Project.Camp Kindness is a FREE “camp” experience that you can download and try out with your family this summer. I wanted to create a “camp” experience, centered around service and kindness, that families could do together. It is organized as a 4 day week but you can easily spread the days out and do one a week for a month long program or schedule in the activities when they fit into your summer. This camp is for EVERYONE and can be easily modified for all ages.Racism is a sensitive and very big topic and I am by no means an expert. I am a parent, like many of you, trying to raise kids to be accepting and kind individuals who stand up for what is right. I always turn to books and movies as a springboard for greater conversation with my children and there are some great suggestions in this article. My hope is that you will find something in this list that will help you, as you navigate this important topic with your children of all ages.Are you looking for a service project that you and your kids can do this summer while at home? Click on the image above for a list of over 10 projects that allow for social distancing!
Click on a box below to check out books that go along with that theme. CLICK HERE for a Kids in Service Book List printable that you can take with you to the local library or bookstore.
All of us want to find time in our busy lives for service projects. We know how important it is to teach our children the valuable lessons that go along with serving others (empathy, kindness, gratitude, courage, selflessness etc.) but unfortunately those well meaning service projects are the first thing cut off the to-do list… Continue reading 10 Quick Family Service Projects
