Many children have a natural love of animals and one way to help them build responsibility is to encourage them to seek out jobs that involve pets. Once kids are seven or eight, it is good to have them begin helping take care of the family dog or cat, but there are also jobs outside the home that kids can do for pay or on a volunteer basis.
Dog Walking
Kids can offer dog walking services to neighbors who don't have the time or physical ability to exercise their dogs.
Dog Washing
During the summer, kids can purchase dog shampoo and grab a hose and offer to wash neighborhood dogs in the driveway or backyard.
Pet Sitting
People are always looking for someone to care for their pets while they are away on vacation, and this can be a wonderful job for kids as long as the home is within walking distance or a parent can drive the child over for regular visits.
Animal Shelter
Animal shelters look for volunteers to help feed, walk and clean the animals. Depending upon the regulations of the shelter, younger kids can volunteer with parents and older kids by themselves or with friends.
Stable Care
Kids with an interest in horses can volunteer to muck out barns at a local stable. Some stable owners offer free horseback riding lessons or credit towards boarding a horse in exchange for work.
Tags: kids volunteer