Involving children in giving back encourages compassion and perspective.
As I sit here, it is hard not to think about just how blessed so much of us in our country are. And I know that we all believe in the importance and the value of giving back, connecting with communities at home and abroad. We know what good it can do in those communities. We know how good it can make us feel. But sometimes we forget what good it can do for our children.
Finding great community service for children can:
- Help build team building experiences and self esteem of less fortunate children and families
- Motivate youth and fill their spiritual “gas tank”
- Give your son or daughter a new perspective on your community and the role fitness and gymnastics plays within it
- Give everybody a chance to make friends and have fun!
So many of instructors and coaches get into working with children because it allows us not only to do what we love, but because of the natural joy that comes from seeing children succeed and be happy. Sure, we give something to them – some knowledge, some skills – and we get something back (and not just class fees…).
Yes, giving back and participating in charitable programs can make us feel the same way and it can make the children we introduce to these programs feel the joy of being a part of positive change too.
At Gymtastics, we believe that from little things big things grow. We see it in the gym and we see it with the children who participate in our Play-It-Forward Projects. Through these projects, we bring sport and active play programs to children in need all around the world – including in Canada. We aim to help children and youth who participate in our projects reach their fullest potential, while building self esteem, self confidence and acceptance.
To the children at home who participate in these programs, bringing joy and activity to other children who are not so different from themselves – well, in them we see a change too.
It also teaches children about sharing, but gives them a deep awareness of the experience of other people. Seeing the ways we are all the same, yet demonstrating, often for the first time, how different everyone’s life experience and situation can be.
When you enable children to give back to communities, you empower them. You show them they can make a difference. And that when they try to make a difference, they will succeed.
At Play-It-Forward, it is part of our mandate to have the impact of the program continue on past our time there; to give communities the tools they need to create sustainable programs, to create and encourage new leaders to rise up. When we involve children in the running of these programs, we know we are
- Making a difference in their home life
- Creating experiences that really are life changing for young people
- Giving children the tools to be leaders themselves.
From Darlene “The Bean”
Learn more about Play-It-Forward Projects and see what play can do.
