Tea Party Days

No, this isn't a post about the grassroots political movement.  This is a post about finding creative and  fun ways to teach your kids to value other people.  Our homeschooling has always included an element of community service, but some years it has been hard to find a fun project.

So, I was ecstatic one day last fall, when my friend Dana, who also homeschools, invited us to hold a "Tea Party" with her family at the local nursing home once a month.  It's turned out to be the perfect opportunity to teach my kids how to serve others, while enjoying fun and fellowship.

Each month, we choose a different theme, based on the season or a holiday.  So far, the funnest day was our April Fool's Day Tea.  The kids brought along a whoopie cushion, and the residents just loved surprising their friends with it as they came into the room!  Each month, we bake snacks and decorate the tables according to our theme.  Dana has an awesome collection of eclectic teacups and teapots that she packs up to bring every time.  We've discovered that the residents love to play board games and put together simple crafts. All in all, it has been a wonderful experience for our kids and the residents.  What kind of things do you do with your family to encourage serving others?  I hope this post inspires you to start a new project with your kids!