How do we, as parents, instill volunteer ethics in our own children? It's simple-set the example. Take a look at the things you do, or could be doing, to help others, then label them volunteer activities.

Do you canvass for a particular charity once a year? Do you decorate the church or community hall for a special event? Do you shovel the sidewalks of an elderly or ailing neighbor? Do you help your community association build a playground or paint an arena? Then you are a volunteer. Now, see how your family can participate in these volunteer activities.

Children, particularly younger ones, learn by following others. You can instill volunteer values by including your children in your own volunteer work.

Gail Irwin Robson of the Volunteer Centre of Calgary remembers fondly how she and her grandmother would decorate her church for the Harvest Festival. "I must have only been about 3 years old, but I used to pass my grandmother the decorations and the tape. Just being able to participate in this activity with my grandmother created a lasting impression."

"The opportunity to spend time together, involved in a common interest, is one of the most motivating reasons for parents to include their children in volunteering." Story Book Theatre Volunteer Coordinator Laura Easterbrook explains, "We have a number of mother-daughter volunteer 'teams' that usher here. They generally start volunteering when their children are 14 years old and many of these young volunteers stay on as adults."

Belonging to a community group or service club can also help to instill a strong volunteer ethic in children. Many groups, such as the Girl Guides of Canada, treat community service as a priority in their exercises. Good deeds are encouraged and acknowledged, which instills pride in their activities and the community.

If volunteering for a particular project or organization seems overwhelming, consider that there are things you can do in everyday life to support the community. "As a family, we believe in the importance of good will, and with a little coaching, we try to help our children make their own choices that will make a positive impact on the community," says National Society of Fund Raising Executives President, Andrea McManus. "My 8-year-old and 7-year-old twins all contribute a percentage of their allowance to a 'sharing container.' Once the sharing container if full, they then decide how this money should be used. For example, one year our children decided to help the Food Bank. So off to the grocery store we went. They did the shopping and, with a little help, learnt just how far a dollar can go if spent wisely, and why to purchase only nonperishable food items. For us, this lesson not only instills a philanthropic value in our children, they learn through hands-on experience how to manage money and make decisions. Our children saw that this activity could really help another family in a time of need. It was a great way to instill volunteer values."

Volunteering has been defined as the selfless desire to help one's fellow man. This is a wonderful way to give your children a sense of community. The benefits of supporting a cause you believe in and the great sense of fulfillment for helping others are delightful to watch through the eyes of a child. You'll be amazed just how easy it is to make a difference and you'll be proud of the valuable life lessons you and your children will experience-together.