MY LIFE: 4 things I’m doing to keep my kid busy and give back


Photo courtesy of Creative Commons, used with permission from Carissa Rogers

It’s summertime, and that means cries of “I’m bored!”, right? But what’s a chronic illness parent with low energy supposed to do about this problem? Find things for your children to do that don’t require much effort on your part. As a bonus, these five suggestions help make the world a brighter place.

  1. Buy origami paper and have your children make a bunch of simple origami animals. Take the lot of them to a hospital or homeless shelter so the kids have something to play with. I bought this paper and it should last quite a while since it’s got 1000 sheets in it! The only downside is these are small sheets, but if your child is just learning origami you don’t want big sheets anyway.
  2. Use printer or construction paper and ask your children to make cards for residents of a local nursing home. We all know how many of these people never get visitors, and knowing someone cares might mean a great deal to them.
  3. Go to the dollar store and buy some pet supplies for a shelter, then bring them there and offer to help clean, walk dogs, or whatever else the shelter needs help with.
  4. Also at the dollar store, buy some treats for children and adults alike and bring them to your local food pantry. Oftentimes the people who get supplies from food pantries don’t get fun stuff. Just remember not to buy things that require eggs, milk, etc to prepare. If you prefer to buy things most food pantries never have enough of, here’s a wish list from our local food pantry:
    1. cereal
    2. peanut butter or other nut butters
    3. canned tuna and chicken
    4. canned soups, stews and chili
    5. canned fruits and vegetables
    6. beans, canned or dry
    7. boxed macaroni and cheese
    8. pasta and rice
    9. spaghetti sauce
    10. baby food, formula, and diapers

And there you have it! What things do you like to do with your children during the summer? Tell me in the comments section below!