Teen volunteering has become commonplace, as many middle and high schools require service hours and many colleges look for volunteer experience on applications. But the benefits are greater than these. Volunteer experiences can have a positive impact on adolescent mental health and overall cognitive development.
Here are some of the benefits teens can expect:
Social Emotional Growth
Teens who volunteer regularly make connections with new friends around a shared interest. Volunteering provides teens with a safe social space away from the sometimes stressful environment at school, while allowing them to hone their social skills with new groups.
Finding and Developing Passion
Teens often feel stressed about their post-secondary plans. Volunteering provides a low-pressure way to try a variety of fields and see where their passions take them. If they volunteer somewhere that interests them, they can also learn from professionals about different types of positions in that field.
Self-Confidence and Self-Efficacy
Teens who volunteer regularly grow in self- confidence and self-efficacy, or the feeling of being capable. Self-efficacy is a key to resilience and it develops when young people are put into situations where they solve problems, take responsibility, and show impact.
Organizational Skills
Volunteering helps teens learn the type of organizational skills that will be transferable to their studies now and to any career they choose in the future. Through volunteering, teens can learn time management, teamwork, communication, problem-solving, and leadership.
Social Responsibility
An important benefit to volunteering is learning that each individual can make a difference within their community. Teens learn about social and civic responsibility while playing an active role in helping solve local issues.
Want to learn more? KidsMatter will sponsor a Volunteer Fair from 5 to 7PM on Thurs., Sept. 18,, at the Fort Hill Activity Center, 20 Fort Hill Drive, Naperville.
For more details, visit kidsmatter2us.org/volunteerfair.
