One of the major goals of Sunbeam Kids is to help kids to build confidence that they can make a difference by offering them tangible opportunities for hands on projects.
With Martin Luther King Jr. Day yesterday there were many reminders of his inspirational words and actions to create lasting social change. While most of us may not have the broad scale impact on our nation that Martin Luther King, Jr. did, it serves a good reminder that our dreams do not need to stay dreams. When we see an opportunity we can do something about it, and we can teach our kids to be people of action when something isn’t right or when they see an opportunity to make things better.
Sunbeam Kids is happy to be an outlet to enable this kind of hands-on learning for our kids. In fact, Sunbeam Kids itself was born out of the desire for parents with young kids to have more age -appropriate opportunities to expose kids to volunteer projects. While the founding board members had prior nonprofit board experience, none had started a nonprofit before. But they saw a need and took action. There is a song that says “If not us, then who? If not me and you right now, it’s time for us to do something” – that sums it up!
It is a special gift that we can give our kids to give them the confidence that they can dream something and then actually bring it to life. Whether it’s building a lego creation from concept to toy, or helping plan and then make dinner, or sharing ideas for helping others in the community then making it happen (we can help with this one! Just share your kids’ ideas)…giving them the gift of knowing they can make things happen, or “dream it and do it”is priceless.
In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. we’ll add this book to our reading list and share here. It is a good one because it is told from his son’s perspective of what it was like to live with a leader of dramatic social change. While it was not always easy, his son weaves a beautiful tale about what it was like to live as Martin Luther King, Jr.’s son.
What change or opportunity have you been wishing for but are unsure how to implement?
What chances could you give your kids to show them they can influence things in their life–now and in the future? We’d love to hear your ideas!
Sunbeam Kids, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that organizes and promotes volunteer projects for kids & families
