Great Community Service Ideas for Kids (and Grown-Ups, Too!)
Believe it or not, knitting projects make great community service ideas for children and adults alike!
If you're looking for community service ideas for a group of kids -- whether it be a classroom, church group, Scout pack, or what have you -- knitting is a great opportunity! In addition to providing community service ideas, knitting teaches kids valuable skills, improves eye-hand coordination, and gives them a real sense of accomplishment when they master the skills. Learning to knit will give you a ton of community service ideas and a fun project to do as a group!
Knit, Knit, Slip, Whoops
Believe it or not, children as young as eight can easily learn to knit with a little assistance. You're definitely going to want assistance, though: about one adult to every three kids is the minimum you'll need at first. Once some of the kids master the skills, they can take over by assisting their peers, but for now you'll drive yourself nuts if you try to do this on your own. If you can get helpers who already know how to knit, so much the better!
Some helpful tips for teaching kids to knit:
-If you have a large group, use chopsticks instead of knitting needles. They're cheaper, and some kids find them easier to use since they aren't pointy.
-Before you try any community service ideas, have each child knit a practice piece they can keep. Coasters make perfect initial projects (or washcloths, if you prefer).
-Expect the learning process to take a while. Some kids will catch on quickly; others might take a little longer. Girls seem to master the eye-hand coordination quicker than boys.
-Speaking of boys, the great thing about teaching knitting to this age group is that the boys don't have gender stereotypes or preconceived notions about what they're supposed to do. They'll be excited to learn how to knit!
Putting Your Skills to Work
Once you know how to knit, there are many community service ideas you can do. Consider donating items to local food banks (they can always use washcloths!) or each knitting a square for a blanket for a local shelter.
Afghan squares make perfect community service ideas for classrooms. Set up a "knitting center" for kids to use when they finish work early. Find a charity that takes afghan squares (such as Blankets for Canada or The Homemade Afghan Project). Start the square yourself to make sure it's the right dimensions, then leave it out for the kids to work on.
Kids love community service ideas, and they'll be thrilled to learn knitting and help others at the same time!
