Social Awareness Activities for Kids

Write a letter to someone who could use a bit of encouragement, and increase your social awareness at the same time. Writing to soldiers or to senior citizens can be a good way to start.

What You'll Need:

Everyone loves getting mail -- especially soldiers far from home or senior citizens without families of their own. You can help cheer up these sometimes forgotten citizens by writing short, encouraging notes all your own.

Step 1: Remind the folks you write to that people care about them. Tell them to have a great day.

Step 2: Fold the letter into a rectangle and seal it with a piece of tape. Address it to "You" from "Me," but don't include your real name or address.

Step 3: Take your letters to your local senior citizens home or Red Cross office. They'll do the rest.

Letter-writing lets people know you care. On the next page, find out how to provide animals with some extra tender loving care.

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Animals have rights, too, and kids can help save small animals -- one six-pack at a time. With pop can cut-ups, kids can spread the word and get others involved, too. This social awareness activity encourages kids to think about those who can't talk for themselves.

What You'll Need:

Every year, thousands of birds, sea creatures, and forest animals lose their lives after becoming entangled in plastic pop-can caddies -- those plastic binders that keep aluminum six-packs together until shoppers get them safely home. You can help save animals' lives by spreading the word.

Step 1: Make simple fliers that ask your neighbors to be pop can cut-ups: Ask them to snip those dangerous bits of plastic into harmless strips.

Step 2: Pass your fliers out to your neighbors. Be sure to ask for permission before you post them in public places, such as malls or schools. And always take a trusted adult with you.

Spreading the word about plastic cut-ups helps animals. Continue reading to find out how to help homeless people.

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Edible necklaces make great gifts -- especially for those living in homeless shelters. With this social awareness activity, kids can turn healthy foods like cereals and dried fruits into necklaces and then take them to the shelter.

What You'll Need:

Special snacks are hard to afford when you live in a homeless shelter. So give a needy kid a treat by making and sharing these delicious edible necklaces.

Step 1: Wash your hands carefully.

Step 2: Spoon the cereal and other snacks into a plastic sandwich bag.

Step 3: Use the curling ribbon to tie off the bag. Leave the ends of the ribbon long so you can curl them so they look pretty.

Step 4: Make a long necklace out of more curling ribbon, and tie it to the bag so the bag looks like a large charm -- be sure the necklace is long enough to slip over someone's head.

Step 5: Call your local YMCA or social services hotline for suggestions on where to donate your snacks.

Edible necklaces can brighten a homeless person's day. Continue reading to find out how to brighten a senior citizen's day.

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Making art for seniors encourages kids to brighten the days of senior citizens. From airplanes to animals, drawing a favorite scene and then giving it to a senior citizen makes a great social awareness activity for kids.

What You'll Need:

Many senior citizens find themselves in rest homes far from their own kids and grandkids. You can help brighten their days with a splash of color -- bright and lively artwork only you can give.

Step 1: Draw and color your favorite scene -- anything from animals to airplanes.

Step 2: Add your first name and your age.

Step 3: Glue your artwork to cardboard, and mail it off to a nearby home for the elderly.

If you can share art once a month, your gift will keep on giving. If you can enlist your entire class to join in the fun, you'll inspire dozens of smiles and warm feelings.

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