Service activities are an effective way to help kids develop character, and kids with special needs are no exception. In a post at Life After IEPs, Mary Mazzoni presents a compelling case for encouraging our kids to participate in service at home and in the community.

Service Activities Impact Quality of Life

Here are a few of the reasons Mazzoni feels service can enhance quality of life. Service helps kids:

• experience themselves as needed by others
• discover their passions and their gifts
• meaningfully practice communication and interpersonal skills
• gain employment skills and practical life skills
• develop relationships with people who share their interests
• stretch their concept of what they can do
• practice responsibility

Service Activities at Home and in the Community

The article provides several ideas and links to encourage service at home. It them moves on to these 6 tips for successful service in the community.

1. Start with your child’s interests. Help define interests by having your child reflect on these questions: What do I enjoy doing? What environments do I prefer? What causes are important to me? What do I want to learn more about?
2. Explore opportunities in your community. Start the research by checking with your local United Way. Engage your child in the process, too.
3. Visit first, start small. Visit a few of the potential opportunities with your child. Then start small with a one-day experience.
4. Before making ongoing service commitment. This includes asking for a written job description, discussing needed accommodations, requesting supervision and support, and arranging for your child to work with another volunteer. 
5. Practical tips. Mazzoni suggests developing a realistic schedule and a checklist of routine tasks, along with several other practical tips.
6. Support your child when the experience ends.

Your Child’s Service Experience

Has your child participated in service at home or in the community? Was it positive or negative? What did you do to make it a success? Leave a comment about your experience below?

Do you like what you see at DifferentDream.com? You can receive more great content by subscribing to the quarterly Different Dream newsletter and signing up for the daily RSS feed delivered to your email inbox. You can sign up for the first in the pop-up box and the second at the bottom of this page.

Photo Credit: www.freedigitalphotos.net