How Giving Back Helps Kids Grow
Brownies volunteering with Hugs From Hunter Foundation.
Today’s world moves fast, and teaching kids about kindness, responsibility, and helping others is more important than ever. One great way to do that is by encouraging children to volunteer. Volunteering doesn’t just help the community — it also has huge benefits for kids' health, school success, and future opportunities. Let's take a look at how volunteering can change children's lives for the better, backed up by real research.
1. Volunteering Improves Mental Health
Kids who volunteer tend to be happier and healthier. A large study published in JAMA Network Open looked at over 50,000 children and teens. It found that young people who volunteered were more likely to be in "excellent" or "very good" health. They also showed higher levels of emotional strength, curiosity, and resilience. Teens who volunteered were even about 25% less likely to experience anxiety compared to those who didn’t volunteer. Volunteering gives kids a boost in feeling good about themselves and others.
2. Volunteering Helps Kids Do Better in School
Helping others can also help kids in the classroom. Research shows that students who volunteer often have better grades, especially in reading, and are less likely to fail classes or drop out of school (ResearchGate). Volunteering can teach skills like problem-solving, leadership, and time management — all important for academic success. Plus, doing meaningful work can make kids more motivated and focused on their future goals.
3. Volunteering Builds Social Skills and Empathy
When kids volunteer, they meet people from different backgrounds and life experiences. This helps them develop important social skills, like communication and teamwork. It also teaches them empathy — the ability to understand and care about what others are feeling. According to an article from Parents Magazine, children who volunteer often become better listeners and are more accepting of others. These skills are not only good for friendships but are also critical for success later in life.
4. Volunteering Encourages Civic Engagement
Kids who volunteer when they are young are more likely to stay involved in their communities as adults. A long-term study in Social Science Research showed that teenagers who chose to volunteer (not forced to by a school or court order) were much more likely to keep volunteering later in life. This early experience helps them grow into adults who vote, advocate for causes they believe in, and support their communities.
5. Volunteering Builds Confidence and Self-Esteem
Helping others allows kids to see that they can make a difference. Finishing a project or seeing the positive results of their work boosts their self-esteem and confidence. Feeling needed and appreciated builds a strong, positive self-image. The team at Parents Magazine emphasizes that kids who feel capable are more willing to take on new challenges in school and life.
6. Volunteering Helps Kids Stay Active and Healthy
Many volunteer activities, like community clean-ups or helping at events, involve moving around. This keeps kids physically active. But even activities that aren’t super physical help in another important way: volunteering lowers stress and makes kids happier, which can boost their overall health (VolunteerHub).
7. Volunteering Gives Kids a Sense of Purpose
When kids work to help others, they often discover what matters to them. Volunteering can help them find passions — like caring for animals, fighting hunger, or protecting the environment. Having a sense of purpose motivates kids to set goals and make positive choices. As Parents Magazine points out, kids who feel they have something meaningful to work toward are more likely to stay on track academically and socially.
Conclusion
Volunteering is more than just a good deed — it’s a powerful way for kids to grow into happy, confident, and caring adults. Research shows that volunteering improves mental health, boosts academic performance, builds important life skills, and encourages kids to stay connected to their communities.
By encouraging children to volunteer, we’re giving them tools that will help them throughout their lives — and we’re helping create a better world at the same time.
Interested in volunteering for Hugs From Hunter Foundation? Contact us!
References
Lanza, K., Hunt, B. R., Mantey, D. S., et al. (2023). Volunteering, Health, and Well-being of Children and Adolescents in the United States. JAMA Network Open. Read the study
Kim, J., & Morgül, K. (2017). Long-Term Consequences of Youth Volunteering: Voluntary Versus Involuntary Service. Social Science Research. Read the study
The Effects of Volunteering on the Young Volunteer (ResearchGate)