My kids are so busy. Should I still encourage them to do volunteer work?

Sports are great for physical well-being and learning to work as a team, the arts enable kids to find their creativity and express themselves and volunteering is wonderful for the heart and soul and makes your child whole.

Making time to volunteer is important because when kids use their talents and time to help others, it empowers them. Volunteering is an opportunity to assert their positive qualities, improve upon and learn interpersonal and social skills and to connect with people of diverse cultures and economic situations. It develops self-esteem and self-confidence. Volunteering will not only make them feel good about themselves, it will also improve the communities they live in and help them become good citizens.

• Looking for ideas on how to get your adolescent or young child interested in volunteering? Click the links above!

• Check out our ages and stages guide to volunteering opportunities.