First of all, I am SO pumped that you want to volunteer at your kid’s school! People like you are a blessing to schools, staff, students… and especially your child.
Oh. But you’re stressing about how you can help while working a full-time job?
Worried there’s nothing for you to help with as long as you’re caring for younger children at home?
Or maybe you’re trying to figure out how to squeeze volunteering in between your many other life commitments?
Don’t be discouraged!
Whatever your schedule, if you want to get involved with your child’s school, there are loads of opportunities available.
This is a list of volunteer tasks separated by “in the classroom,” “at school,” and “from afar.” So, no matter where you are, or what your availability is, if you feel called to volunteer at child’s school, this list will point you in the right direction.
10 Ways to Volunteer in the Classroom
If your schedule permits you to work in the classroom, here are some of the tasks you can expect to assist with:
1. Help with centers, projects, activities and parties occurring in the classroom.
2. Assemble materials for upcoming crafts or projects.
3. Read aloud to students.
4. Organize supplies or student work for the teacher.
5. Work in small groups or one-on-one with students.
6. Arrange and display student work in the classroom.
7. Make photocopies or do laminating.
8. Help students with computer projects.
9. Chaperone field trips.
10. Be a room parent and coordinate parties, donations and gifts for the classroom and teacher.
10 Ways to Volunteer at School
If you can’t make it to your kid’s class, here are some things you can help with around campus:
11. Volunteer in the office by making photocopies, assembling paperwork to go home and other administrative needs.
12. Assist the librarian with book returns, organization, fixing damaged books and more.
13. Use your skills and interests to help a specific club or elective. These may include sports teams, a community garden, music, art, makerspace, etc.
14. Work alongside campus supervisors to monitor students during recess.
15. Attend any and all meetings: Back-to-School Night, Open House, and Parent Teacher Organization or Association (PTO or PTA) meetings so you know what activities and events are coming up that require volunteers or assistance.
16. Volunteer at events such as book fairs, jog-a-thons, school carnivals, assemblies, science fairs, etc.
17. Assemble materials and construct decor needed for school programs, events or displays.
18. If you’re bilingual, act as a translator for flyers, posters and parents.
19. Take photos or videos of school events and noteworthy dates that need to be documented in the yearbook.
20. Join the parent board (PTO or PTA) and help organize and plan school-wide events and fundraisers. There are a lot of positions on the board that require differing time commitments, so you can likely find one that fits your schedule and availability.
10 Ways to Volunteer from Afar
Many working parents think there isn’t a need for them if they can’t volunteer at school or in the classroom.
But that is SO not the case!
Here’s how you can help at your kid’s school without actually being at the school:
21. Manage the school or PTO/PTA social media sites or websites.
22. Prepare materials for a project for your child’s class (cutting, hole punching, assembling, etc.). Ask your kid’s teacher if there’s anything you can do from home to help him or her.
23. Make baked goods for bake sales.
24. Shop for supplies and donations for events or the classroom.
25. Create props, decorations, flyers or posters for events such as school carnivals, talent shows and more.
26. Be the Chair or Coordinator for programs that don’t require you to be on campus (collecting Box Tops or memberships for example).
27. Help your school make its goal by marketing the latest fundraiser to your friends and family.
28. If there’s something your school needs (a crosswalk installed, for example) and you’ve talked with the staff already, make requests to your school board and/or city to see if they can help. (Consider copying the principal or another staff member on any correspondence so they are aware of the steps you’re taking.)
29. Research grants or donations from businesses and local professionals.
30. Wherever you are, market the school. Tell your friends what you like about your school when you’re out for coffee, chatting on social media, or wherever! Spreading the word about why your school is awesome helps staff feel recognized and can potentially bring more resources to the school.
#31: Still Don’t See What You’re Looking for? Use Your Skills and Know-How to Fix That.
Perhaps one of the best ways you can volunteer at your child’s school is by offering the school community something nobody else can.
You have a special and individual set of skills and interests. If you notice a hole or a gap at your kid’s school in an area that you are proficient in or passionate about, why not fill it?
- No music program but you love to play? Help start a music program or a club.
- No school newspaper, but you’re a writer? Start an after school journalism class.
- No soccer team but you used to play in high school? Ask if you can run a soccer club at lunch time.
- Passionate about engineering but don’t see a place for that at your kid’s school? See if you can volunteer in the makerspace (if your school has one) or donate appropriate materials for students to tinker and build.
- Don’t see enough being done for our troops overseas and you’re a veteran? Organize donations for care packages or a touching assembly for Veterans Day.
- Good at graphic design or web development and notice your school parent board doesn’t have a website yet? See if they’d like your help creating one.
You get the idea.
Sharing your knowledge and interests with students offers them an opportunity they may not get from anyone else. Plus, how rewarding is it when you see others learning about subjects so close to your heart? Especially when you taught it to them?
Before you go, let me leave you with this:
It takes a loving, thoughtful and giving person like yourself to volunteer at your child’s school. The school and your child will undoubtedly benefit from your support and generosity. I hope your experience volunteering is as fulfilling as mine has been!
If you need additional help getting started and finding a position that won’t overwork you and lead to burn out, you may find my Parent’s Guide to Volunteering at School post helpful.
And Now, Over to You…
I’m curious how you plan to volunteer at your child’s school!
As a school volunteer for the past several years, my favorite ways to help at my kids’ school include:
- Volunteering in the classroom,
- Working on the yearbook and
- Being a Room Parent.
Tell me how you want to volunteer at school in the comments below! (Or, if you’re already a school volunteer, tell me your favorite way to help out!)
Stay mindful, even when your mind’s full,
Chelsea
