Comments on: April Carnival of Natural Parenting: Parenting Advice

By: Karen

Karen — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 23:13:52 +0000

A local food pantry here always needs help sorting food and separating it into portions for delivery. They welcomed our group of moms and toddlers who committed to helping once a month for couple of hours. The kids really enjoyed it, and it was an opportunity to talk with the older children who had questions about who needed the food, and why.
Good luck!

By: Darcel

Darcel — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 21:31:30 +0000

I was also going to suggest retirement homes/assisted living places. They love seeing children there.
I think it’s great that you volunteer. That is something I did growing up, and would love to get back into with my kids.

By: Candace @ NaturallyEducational and @Mamanista

Candace @ NaturallyEducational and @Mamanista — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 02:48:56 +0000

Form a Kids Care Club. Most of the activities are geared for 5+ but there are some you can make work with a group of toddlers.

Do school supply/book drive and have the kids stuff backpacks with supplies and come with you to drop them off.

Plant flowers. Little ones love that kind of volunteering!

Bake cookies and bring them to firefighters. Bonus: getting to hang out with the firefighters.

Make lemonade and bring it to an outdoor event where older kids are doing a clean-up. Giving lemonade to people who are cleaning up the park or beach is a great way for younger kids to help!

Spring time is perfect, too, because you can volunteer outside. I get a little nervous, especially around health clinics in the fall and winter with the little ones…but in the spring there are so many wonderful things to do.

By: Brooke

Brooke — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 21:20:55 +0000

Dang. I really like the Joy’s Dolls, but they’re not taking any orders, and I sure as heck don’t sew. There are a few heavy dolls on Etsy, but Joy’s are my favorite as far as looks go.

By: Joni Rae

Joni Rae — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 19:22:00 +0000

Volunteering is AWESOME! We’ve made dinner for the residents of the local Ronald Mcdonald house, and we’ve also helped wit our local UU church’s suppers and our homeschool org’s events. We also did a park clean up and a couple of Earth Day Beach clean ups.

Those all work well with my littles.

By: Sheryl @ Little Snowflakes

Sheryl @ Little Snowflakes — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 03:17:03 +0000

Like Amber, I also volunteer with La Leche League. I definitely recommend it! I find it to be very toddler friendly. My son loves coming with me to the meetings – he loves seeing all the babies and we usually have a big box of toys in the middle of the room for him to play with. I also bring lots of snacks to help keep him occupied.

By: Emily

Emily — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 22:56:09 +0000

I just had a whole long comment and somehow it got lost. Annoyed. I’ll try to re-write it later. =(

By: Zoey @ Good Goog

Zoey @ Good Goog — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 22:41:53 +0000

If you are struggling to come up with volunteering ideas you could always work on projects with donating to charity. You could do up an old piece of furniture to donate. Or he could help you sort through clothes to donate. Or you could put together presents/gift baskets on holidays.

By: Amber

Amber — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 21:55:37 +0000

I volunteer with La Leche League. I’m not sure if it’s what you’re looking for, but it is very toddler-friendly. And it fits in with what matters to me in my life right now, which is helping mamas and babies. :)

By: Earth Mama

Earth Mama — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 21:23:14 +0000

What a fun and positive question!

Why not organise a volunteering opportunity yourself, instead of trying to find an already established group? You know your little one’s limitations and interests and with all of your experience it seems that you could create the perfect situation yourself..?

Perhaps you could even involve other mothers with babies?

~crafting circles for needy children/families
~baking and cooking circles to take food to brand new moms
~regular walks with elderly neighbours
~adopt a roadside and plant flowers or herbs

Thanks for such a lovely spirit, I can’t wait to hear what you come up with!