10+ Service Projects for Ages 2-6

Art and Cards for the Nursing Home–Many local nursing homes are not allowing visitors and the residents would love some artwork and cheer from the outside. Contact your local nursing home to see if they are open to receiving artwork from your child to cheer up the residents. Click HERE for more ways to serve your local nursing home.
Military Holiday Card Challenge–The Military Holiday Card Challenge has sent over 500,000 cards. The deadline to send in your cards is Halloween but there is no reason why you can’t get started on them now. Put on some holiday music, get out the paper and markers and spread some holiday cheer to our military with a holiday card that thanks them for all of their hard work and sacrifice. Check out their website for card guidelines.
Project Appreciation-Bake a sweet treat for a group of people who serve your community (or buy prepackaged treats). Have your children create a thank you note to go along with the treat. Deliver the treat and let that group know how much you appreciate all they do. Click HERE for more details and a thank you note printable.
Project Fundraiser-Lemonade stands are great for kids ages 3 and up. Their attention span may not be very long but they will like selling lemonade and cuteness to their neighbors. It is a great way to teach them about donating money to a charity cause that your family believes in. Click HERE for more details about how to run a fundraiser.
Project Birthday Boxes-Young children love birthdays and this service project is great to do on their birthday. Explain that some kids don’t get to have a cake and decorations and we want to make sure that every kid gets to celebrate their favorite day. Click HERE for more information about Birthday Boxes.
Park Clean Up–Cleaning up your local playground is a great project for kids 3 and over (we have even had 2 year olds help with extra adults on hand). Make sure you have gloves for them to wear or have them point out trash that you collect for them. This is a great lesson to help young children learn how important it is to keep our planet clean.
Draw Thank You Cards–-Thank you cards seem to be a lost art but are such a valuable lesson in gratitude for our kids. Have you thanked your parent or care giver lately? Have you thanked your teacher, your coach, bus driver or librarian for all they do for you? Did you recently receive a gift? EVERYONE loves mail! Bless one or more people in your life with a card or note thanking them for all they do to help and support you. This is a project for all ages, as the littles can draw and adults can scribe the note of thanks and gratitude.
Visit with an Elder–If you have an elderly person living in your neighborhood or town, see if they would like a quick visit with you and your child. Kids bring so much joy to elders but make sure to time your visit for when your kids are well rested and not hungry! If you can’t go in person, record a video of your child singing their favorite song or telling a joke and send it to the older folks in your life. Help bring a smile to those in your community who may be feeling a little lonely.
Meals on Wheels–A great project for young kids is to have them make “placemats” or cards for your local Meals on Wheels. Check your local chapter and see if they would be interested in this. Kid artwork is always sure to bring a smile to the clients of Meals on Wheels.
Homemade Seed Balls—Miss Rumphius is one of my favorite Children’s books and this project allows you and your family to make the world a more beautiful place, just like she did. This guerrilla gardening project helps to plant native flowers in places that could use a bit of love. Perhaps you have a vacant lot in your neighborhood, or the local road or highway needs some brightening or maybe you want to use these in your own backyard. They are easy to make and take no care once they are spread. Here is what http://www.gardeningknowhow.com had to say about how easy this project is: “The last step in how to make flower seed balls is sowing them. Yes, you can place them carefully over the area to be planted or you can gently toss them one at a time, which is a lot more fun. Don’t bury them and don’t water them.–gardeningknowhow.com” Click HERE to learn how to make your own Native Seed Balls or you could buy THESE.

OTHER IDEAS

Paint Kindness Rocks–This is a fun project for when it is nice outside and you can paint outdoors!
Secretly Leave Treats on a Friend’s Doorstep (Boo for Halloween, Jingle for the Holidays or just because!)
Artwork for Hospice–Creating artwork to cheer up hospice patients is a WONDERFUL service project for all ages. You could paint uplifting paintings, make blank greeting cards with the children’s drawings on the front or paint terracotta flower pots.