How to get the whole family involved in helping the victims in Haiti.

The last few days the news has had non stop coverage of the unbelievable disaster in Haiti. Chances are your kids have seen and heard some of those stories. While it is wonderful for a family to give to proven charities, kids often times want to help out too. Here are some ways you as a family can raise funds to be donated to a charity.

1. Cash in bottles and send all the money to one of the bigger charities like Salvation Army.

2. Have a lemonade/kool-aid stand and invite the neighbors. I know it's winter, but you can serve inside you house to friends and neighbors. Let them know you are raising money for kids in Haiti and send the money to World Vision.

3. Let your kids have a little yard sale. Invite neighbors and family. While we can't always find a way to send clothing, if the kids can sell it, they can send the money to Samaritans Purse who will use it for childrens needs in Haiti.

4. Have a change hunt  in your neighborhood. Offer to match all the change that is found. We always have change stashed all around the house. Not only is this a great way to gather money for those truly in need but by matching it you can send a nice gift to the American Red Cross.

5. Hold a bake sale at church and let everyone know the funds will be donated to the victims in Haiti through Food for the Hungry Charity.

While these things may seem more difficult then just writing out a check, your kids can get involved and feel like they too were able to contribute to the needs of other children and their families. While you can choose any charity you want, be wary of scams. It's always best to send to a well known, large charity in times like this.

Chore Time Together

Chore time does not have to be a punishment. If you raise your kids young that everyone helps and everyone cleans up, chores will be just another family activity. I have found that by instilling in my children early that a mess can be cleaned up easily if we all work together, we don't have huge blowouts when they are asked to chip in.

A few weeks ago we had a babysitter come in while my husband and I went out. I remember her telling us when we got home that her jaw about dropped off her face when after dinner my older children unloaded the dishwasher, filled it back up and my youngest cleared and wiped the table. She said she had never asked them to help they just started doing it. I couldn't help but feel quite proud of my children. They have learned that when we work together, it gets done fast and then we can truly enjoy the next activity.

It's never to late to start. One of the biggest motivators for children is feeling needed. If you just bark out commands there is no sense of being needed. If you all go in to clean the kitchen, or race to see who can get the upstairs bathroom clean before you get the downstairs bathroom done it encourages them to work with you. We often turn on some fun music, make a list of things that need to be done, and plan a game to play if we get it done quickly. Follow through and keeping watch on your attitude about chores can really change the dynamics of family clean up time.