Volunteering with 1-2 Year Olds
February 2, 2016 11:08 AM Subscribe
My wife and I both used to volunteer one or two days a month. Since our child was born, it is much harder to find the time to volunteer. Are there any good volunteer opportunities that would work well with a 20 month old? We live in Brooklyn, if anyone knows anything specific to our area.
Our child is mostly well behaved and patient, but that usually only lasts 45-60 minutes before they start getting antsy (if eating out is any indication). Ideally, it would be an opportunity that would naturally be engaging to a young child or that utilized the fact that they are a young child. We are exploring whether there are any retirement homes in our area that would like a young child to visit with the idea it may be fun or a distraction for the residents and all our kid would need to do was be themselves. But we are still looking for other suggestions.
Our child is mostly well behaved and patient, but that usually only lasts 45-60 minutes before they start getting antsy (if eating out is any indication). Ideally, it would be an opportunity that would naturally be engaging to a young child or that utilized the fact that they are a young child. We are exploring whether there are any retirement homes in our area that would like a young child to visit with the idea it may be fun or a distraction for the residents and all our kid would need to do was be themselves. But we are still looking for other suggestions.
A community garden! They're all over Brooklyn.
posted by functionequalsform at 12:21 PM on February 2, 2016
posted by functionequalsform at 12:21 PM on February 2, 2016
I don't have a specific organization in Brooklyn, but I know one thing many non-profits or other social organizations struggle with is how to make it possible for parents to attend meetings or other events without providing childcare. In that vein, perhaps you could look for organizations hosting events or providing services where they'd welcome volunteers that could babysit / man the childcare room so parents could attend? I used to volunteer at a food bank that offered other services like free tax prep and parenting classes, and it was sometimes a struggle for single low-income parents to take advantage of those services because they didn't have anyone to watch their kids during that time.
posted by iminurmefi at 12:21 PM on February 2, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by iminurmefi at 12:21 PM on February 2, 2016 [3 favorites]
If you're involved with a religious organization, they're often looking for childcare volunteers and/or church school teacher volunteers, which would mean you could bring your child along? Obviously that one only works if you're comfortable with the organization.
posted by rainbowbrite at 12:23 PM on February 2, 2016
posted by rainbowbrite at 12:23 PM on February 2, 2016
Faced with a similar situation, I just decided to donate blood regularly. If you go to a place that hosts blood donation regularly (the local Red Cross branch office, Elks Lodges and the like) and make an appointment in advance you can get in and done in an hour.
(And yes, I know there are political issues re: Red Cross, but I decided sick people in the hospital just need blood when they need blood.)
posted by BlahLaLa at 12:34 PM on February 2, 2016
(And yes, I know there are political issues re: Red Cross, but I decided sick people in the hospital just need blood when they need blood.)
posted by BlahLaLa at 12:34 PM on February 2, 2016
Roots of Empathy has baby volunteers; I don't know what their upper age limit is.
posted by The corpse in the library at 3:37 PM on February 2, 2016
posted by The corpse in the library at 3:37 PM on February 2, 2016
Similar to the retirement home idea, what about something like Meals on Wheels? It looks like they have a program for visiting homebound seniors to socialize, and I bet many of the seniors would love it if you brought the toddler along (after checking with them, of course).
posted by insectosaurus at 3:41 PM on February 2, 2016
posted by insectosaurus at 3:41 PM on February 2, 2016
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posted by jillithd at 11:53 AM on February 2, 2016