Ways to Support Your Child's School Even If You Have Very Little Free Time

Most parents would love to be able to spend several hours a week or more volunteering at their child's school. However, most mothers and fathers simply don't have that amount of time available. Luckily, there are several ways in which you can actively support your child's school even if you have a minimum of free time. Here are some suggestions on how you can use the small windows of time you do have, to effectively make a difference at your child's school.

Do Volunteer Work at Home. There are always tasks to support the school that can be done from home during the year. You can make phone calls to pass along information to other parents, or compose and send email blasts to recruit volunteers for fundraisers. Fliers can be collated and stapled together from your dining room table. A few trays of goodies can be whipped up for the bake sale while you do a few loads of laundry. Don't be shy about letting the PTA know that you would love to help out, but that you will need to offer your services from home. I guarantee they will find several projects you can do while also overseeing things at home.

Share Your Talents. Are you a skilled Video Technician? Offer to come in to record an assembly or two. Run off copies at home to share with the administration. Have a DJ business on the side? Volunteer to spin the tunes for the holiday dance. Took some great pictures at the Halloween parade? Email them to the yearbook committee. If you are a master crocheter, let the PTA know that you would be available to help out the Crochet club once or twice a month. No matter what your special talent or passion is, there is surely a way in which you can enrich the students' lives by sharing it with them as often as you can.

Give Up a Lunch Hour to be a Playground Aide. Many school systems have seen their budgets drastically cut in recent times. This has resulted in less paid positions at the school, and a reliance on volunteers to fill in the gaps. If your child's school has a lack of playground aides, they may be desperately seeking parent volunteers to keep an eye out on the kids while they socialize and play. Try to spend one lunch hour a month at your child's school to assist in monitoring the playground. Not only will your child love having you there, you will surely enjoy this time as well.

Support the Fundraisers Whenever Possible. It is not feasible to make a purchase each and every time a new fundraiser is happening, but do your best to give when you can. More than ever, schools are relying on the income that is generated from these events and sales to provide the children with trips and supplies no longer covered by the budget.