The Ultimate List Of Kids’ Charity Work Opportunities
I recently wrote a post called ‘66 Things To Do Before You’re 6‘ and one of the things on that list was “Do some charity work”.
I think charity work is a great thing for kids (and adults) to be involved in. As parents, it’s our job to teach children about the world and the impact that they can make. Let’s raise a generation that is outward looking; that notices need and seeks to fulfil it.
Children can learn so much from charity work. They can see that other people may not enjoy the same privileges that they take for granted (e.g. toys, clothes, food, family). The act of giving or helping also gives children a sense of pride and independence; they have been able to make a difference to someone. They can see that they have something unique to contribute to the world, which is great for boosting self-esteem.
When kids do charity work, they realise that helping others makes them feel good about themselves.
Crucially, the world will be a much nicer place if we all look out for each other. This is not just about donating things – it’s a much deeper lesson about helping others out and working together for the greater good.
Remember, it’s not just about taking part in official charity events, it’s about showing our kids that they can show kindness wherever they are.
The ultimate list of kids charity work opportunities
40 ways your kid can do some charity work
- Choose some old toys to donate to a local baby/toddler group
- Adopt a pet from the animal centre (e.g. Dog’s Trust)
- Donate some food to a food bank
- Donate some Easter Eggs to a children’s hospital ward
- Drop off some clothes at a charity shop
- Sponsor a child in poverty (e.g. Compassion)
- Make a get well card for a poorly friend
- Give a Christmas present to someone less fortunate through the Shoebox Appeal
- Leave some pennies in the shop counter charity tin (e.g. McDonald’s RMHC slots)
- Do some recycling
- Hand on some old clothes to a smaller friend or sibling
- Donate some books to school
- Attend a local fundraising event
- Reverse advent calendar (choose 1 thing to donate for each day of advent)
- Litter picking (with adult supervision!)
- Use some pocket money in a charity shop
- Visit a nursing home
- Sponsor an animal (e.g. a guidedog or an endangered tiger)
- Pack people’s shopping at the supermarket
- Bake some cakes for people
- Donate some chocolates to a nursing home
- Make an insect hotel
- Wash windows / a car
- Hang someone’s washing out for them
- Attend a peaceful protest march
- Give some money to a busker
- If you have long hair, you can donate it to charity for wig-making
- Pay the Big Issue seller
- Put some bottles in the bottle bank
- Volunteer to look after the new kid at school
- Sell tickets to a show you’re putting on
- Join a “fun run”
- Do some carol singing
- Take a box of food to a church harvest event
- Help the librarian put the children’s books away
- Feed the ducks
- Look after a friend’s pet when they’re on holiday
- Design & distribute and information leaflet about your chosen charity
- Surprise someone with a bunch of flowers
- Save up all the coppers you receive for a year and donate to a charity
18 sponsored events your child could organise / take part in
- Sponsored walk / toddle (number of laps of a bowling green)
- Sing-a-thon (pay per song or per minute)
- Sponsored skip (number of skips with a skipping rope)
- Sponsored hair cut
- Sponsored silence
- Joke-telling (pay per joke or per minute)
- Sponsored TV fast (no TV for 24hrs)
- Sponsored bath in some beans / custard
- Sponsored paint your face a bright colour for a week
- Sponsored pyjama day
- Read-a-thon (pay per page)
- Sponsored walk to school week
- Sponsored jumping day (tie your feet together so you can only move by jumping)
- Sponsored bike ride
- Dance-a-thon
- Sponsored swim (pay per length)
- Sponsored 3-legged day (buddy up with a friend & fasten your legs together)
- Sponsored wig-wearing day
So that’s my list. Have your kids taken part in any charity events? What sort of things did they do? Also if you have any charities that are particularly close to your heart, feel free to tell me about them in the comments section below!
Please note: all external links in this post are examples and do not represent any form of specific endorsement from Lucy At Home
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Getting involved in charity work is a great idea for kids. Mine is not quite two so probably too young to really get it, but I want her to understand the importance of helping out others when she gets older. There’s a great charity in Glasgow where you can donate ‘welcome packs’ to refugees, and another once that donates starter packs of baby basics to new mums that I’ve been involved with. #DreamTeam
These sound like really great charities to be involved with! It’s great to be able to help others out if we can
This is such a great post and I think it’s important to help our kids appreciate how fortunate they are and to help others. Me and Ella are doing a 5k colour run in July to raise money for Ronald McDonald House in Birmingham and she’s looking forward to it despite constant stitches when we go running!! #dreamteam
Oh this sounds fab! I hope your training is going well!
[…] 9. Do some charity work […]
I think it very important for children to be involved in charity work, as well as adults, and it is a great opportunity to give back and be selfless. Such an extensive list you’ve shared – thank you for so many great ideas! #DreamTeam
It’s important for children to learn to give back – and there are some great ideas here. Shared with everyone!
Thank you for sharing!
I love these ideas, I think it’s so important to teach the importance of charity! I’ll definitely be doing some of these with Autumn when she’s bigger. #brillblogposts
I love these ideas. I’m going to suggest a few of them to my kids.
Thanks, John. And thank you for sharing on social media too 🙂
What a wonderful post (I also loved 66 things to do before you’re 6 which in
spired us to go and buy a kite). We have been meaning to take the kids to a locally organised litter pick for a while and you’ve inspired me to get it done – thankyou
Oh it’s so lovely to hear that you were inspired by a post. That’s what blogging is all about – I am beaming!
What a lovely post. I agree that it’s a really positive thing to teach our little ones about being charitable and showing them ways we can do this. Thank you for sharing with the #DreamTeam x
Thank you for commenting, Annette 🙂
such a brilliant and useful list and definitely something i will be encouraging in my daughter x
Thanks for linking to #ablogginggoodtime Don’t forget to join us again next week!
My eldest constantly asks how she can help when she sees charity campaigns on tv etc etc, it never occurred to me how many ways there were for kids to get involved! Think my lot would struggle with the sponsored silence though! Loved this #blogcrush
Haha yes a sponsored silence is a little ambitious!
I love this 🙂 people hear the word “charity” and just automatically assume money or a physical item contribution – but it’s not always that black and white! Yes of course money and items are a vital part but your time is just as important, and I think it’s a great idea to get kids used to the idea of helping whilst they’re young – it’ll just become natural for them as they’re older!
I’ll be looking into my local area to see what we can get involved in! Becky x
Oh yes I agree – time is so important, and just seeing a need and trying to fill it somehow
What a fantastic, comprehensive list. I’m definitely bookmarking this, thanks! #brillblogposts
I’m so pleased to hear you like the list. I think it’s nice to try and have something to refer to for ideas
“it’s about showing our kids that they can show kindness wherever they are.” Lucy, I’m tweeting this because it’s something I’m always saying. Kindness. Can’t be emphasized enough! Children have to be taught to think of others. Wonderful post!