Children, with their boundless enthusiasm and energy, make fantastic volunteers. Discover the benefits of encouraging your children to make a difference by getting involved in voluntary projects designed especially for kids

Anyone who has had to put up with their children moping around the house and moaning about how bored they are can appreciate how frustrating it is. No surprise then that more and more parents are encouraging their children to volunteer.

Volunteering for kids isn't just about giving them something to do in the long holidays. By giving up time to engage in community-minded projects, kids can gain vital skills in working with other people, and experience first-hand the active role we all play in creating a healthy society.

How to sell it to them
The parenting guide Laying Down The Law by Ruth Peters recommends the softly-softly approach. Start small, perhaps by organising a garage sale and giving the proceeds to charity, or looking for a one-day project they can do.

Talk to them about what they could do and emphasise benefits such as meeting new friends, having fun and the shared exhilaration that comes from working towards a common goal. Make sure you come to an agreement about how much time they can spare - perhaps just a one-day project, a holiday, evenings or a weekend scheme.

The trick is to find something they're interested in. If they're lucky, they may even find their future career. Jess Sutton got involved in local hospital radio when she was 16 and is now embarking on a journalism degree course. 17-year-old Helen Leach volunteered as a peer mediator for the volunteer organisation Bully-Free Zone at her local school when she was fifteen and found it influenced her future career. 'The whole experience improved my confidence and taught me how to talk to people and control situations' says Helen. 'As a direct result I am now planning a career in youth work, as a counsellor or mediator.'

Give them an inch...
Anyone who doubts that children can make an active contribution should check out the Free the Children website. This inspiring Canadian organisation is run for and by children, and was founded by a 12-year-old boy when he first heard a story about child slave labour.

The fact is that young people can and do make a difference in the world. And by harnessing their interest at such a young age, you too could be making a positive contribution to society.

An investment in the future?
Volunteering also adds clout to the CV and can be the difference between being accepted by a university or not, or being taken seriously by an employer. Why? Volunteering demonstrates commitment and staying power. Many voluntary positions also come with award and recognition schemes that look good on the CV: the government-funded Millennium Volunteers for 16- to 24-year-olds awards certificates for over 100 hours in voluntary work, with an Award of Excellence for completing 200 hours in a year.

Similarly, the Youth Achievement Award by UK Youth offers the chance to gain skills and qualifications, including NVQ key skills and a BTEC in Peer Education. Thousands of young people have also gained confidence and direction through the Duke of Edinburgh Awards Scheme.

Where to look
Luckily there are hundreds of organisations that cater for the younger volunteer, ranging from sports coaching, mentoring, environmental issues, music or dance, and youth leadership. Whether your children have one day to spare, one month or weekly shifts, with all the resources on offer they can find the right work to fit their agenda.

First stop should be Worldwide Volunteering for Young People, a not-for-profit organisation that provides instant access to information on the wide range of volunteering opportunities, both here and abroad.

Those with good Internet skills can check out YouthOrg UK to offer their skills as a virtual volunteer, while British Trust Conservation Volunteers run a number of conservation projects throughout the UK designed specifically for young people.

Also worth checking out is The Prince's Trust Volunteer Programme, which offers people aged between 16 and 25 the chance to take part in 12 to 26 week adventurous volunteer courses designed to enhance their skills and confidence.

With a little research, you should be able to find something that enthuses both you and your children. The great thing about volunteering is that you call the shots - and what could appeal to teenagers and children more? Whether it's mediating in conflict, helping out at soup kitchens, DJ-ing or planting trees, from web design to bungee jumping, volunteering speaks volumes about the kind of person you are. Talk to your kids about it today!

Do you want to know more about opportunities for children? Why not chat to other iVillagers on the Entertaining the Kids message board. Take a look at some of the LIVE discussions taking place on the board right now: