There are many life lessons to be learnt by engaging in community-based activities. This is especially true for children who have much to learn about the world around them and how to build strong relationships. I have teamed up with an independent school in Cardiff to explore the benefits of community involvement in further detail below.
Encourages Compassion
Compassion is something that your child will need to practise; it’s not something they can learn just by having it explained to them. Community involvement is an opportunity for your child to empathise with others and give back. They might volunteer at a food bank, for instance, and learn how fortunate they are that they are able to eat three nutritious meals a day as not everyone is as fortunate. This type of community work teaches children to truly consider the struggles that other people have to go through and therefore encourages them to be kinder and more helpful.
Teaches Various Skills
Through community work, children are able to develop various key skills that will serve them well throughout their education and beyond. For instance, if they work at a charity shop, they will become more confident talking to people, and will develop customer service skills that may help them get a job when they’re older. Even doing something like helping a neighbour with their gardening is a chance for your child to learn new skills. The more skills they develop as children, the more likely they are to find success as adults.
Allows Relationships to Flourish
By engaging in community activities outside of their school commitments, children are given the chance to meet people that they might not otherwise come across in their daily lives. As a result, they are able to build strong relationships which can further heighten their confidence and allow them to experience a sense of belonging.
Aids University Applications
If your child would like to attend university in the future, it’s important that they engage in meaningful activities outside of school that they can write about in their personal statement. By getting involved in community-based activities, your child will be able to demonstrate that they have outside interests and are able to manage their time effectively. This will certainly benefit them when the time comes to apply to university and jobs thereafter.
Any thoughts on community involvement? Share them below!
*Collaborative post