As excited as kids are for summer vacation to begin, they eventually reach a point where everything they could do with their time just seems boring. The kind of boredom that has caused more than one parent to suggest handing out extra chores to relieve it!
There is actually a fun activity your kids can do that should relieve their boredom and serve someone else in the process. Gather your bored children. Explain that the Bible talks about doing good things for others in secret. Their mission….should they choose to accept it…is to do as many acts of service for others as they can without getting caught.
The average child loves books like Harriet the Spy and the Boxcar Children. There’s just not much call for children who solve mysteries in your average community. So the idea that they can sneak around and do some sleuthing and service will sound like an adventure if it is presented to them with enthusiasm.
Set whatever limits for safety and expenses you wish. Decide the time period over which the service projects should be executed. Encourage your kids to do some sleuthing to find out the ways they can best serve the people they choose without giving away the secret that they hope to do those things for that person. The age and maturity of your children will impact how involved you need to be in the process. The more they control the service projects though, the more fun they will have and the more they will learn.
Make sure to create some reflection time later. Talk about what they learned from the experience. What went well? What would they do differently next time? What did they learn about serving others and sharing their faith? Who knows? This could be an annual summer tradition for your family!