It had been a rough, slow couple of days for my 10-year-old daughter, who had a concussion. The doorbell rang as she lay on the couch with ice packs on her face. In walked her neighbor friend with a bag of my daughter’s favorite candy and a card, and I saw her smile for the first time in three days.
“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” ran through my mind. I wanted to do thoughtful things like that with my kids, too. But let’s be honest: Who has the time or energy? Here are a few ways to serve others as a family—things that take very little time or planning but can make a big impact.
1. Always pack extra to share.
Get into the habit of bringing or packing extra just in case there’s someone to share with. This could be school supplies (especially in August or after the first semester when supplies run low), lunchbox items, snacks, or holiday treats. It doesn’t take much time to throw one more in, and it gets kids into the habit of looking for someone to share with.
2. Create a prayer board.
Hang a chalk or dry-erase board on the wall or stick one on the fridge. Tell the kids to write the name of anyone they know who might need prayer. You could also use our free Prayer List for Kids printable. This keeps people fresh in our minds so we can remember to pray and check in on them. If you’re not into a prayer board, you could make a “Care Board” or title it “Thinking of Others.” This is one of the easiest ways to serve others as a family.
3. Take meals to people.
There’s nothing better than a home-cooked meal when you’re sick or in recovery. This is an idea we do as moms to be an example to our kids. And the kids can, at least sometimes, help cook or deliver food. There’s no need to plan something fancy—just double whatever you were already making for dinner and package up the extra for your friend or neighbor.
4. Stockpile supplies.
Purchase disposable dishes for delivering meals, boxes of blank cards, and small gift bags. Keep them in a place where your kids can get to them easily. Hold off on stockpiling candy and other goodies. Aside from the fact that those will “mysteriously” disappear, it’s best to let your kids pick those out as needed to make it personal. Bringing loved ones their favorite candy and a card with a handwritten message goes a long way!
5. Keep a “Do Unto Others” change jar.
Put a glass jar in the kitchen where everyone can drop in their loose change or a dollar here and there. When it’s full, brainstorm with your kids about who you could spend this money on—a friend in need? A neighbor? Or could you make a donation to someplace you all care about, like an animal shelter. Sometimes money is hard for kids (and adults) to part with, so getting kids used to being generous with money early on is good.
How do you find ways to serve others as a family?
