Friends@Home
Weekly visits to kids with special needs from their volunteer buddies have continued via FaceTime, Zoom, and outdoors with masks and social distancing!
Friends@Home gives children with special needs the chance to bond with teen volunteers in the environment in which they are most comfortable, their own home. Children and their volunteers bake cookies, play games, create arts ‘n crafts, read books or do just about anything fun! Having his or her friends over to play – an activity taken for granted by most children – instills immense feelings of belonging and self-value in a child with special needs.
Interactions between teen volunteers and children go beyond a typical play-date. Friends@Home volunteers receive ongoing training from specialists and learn essential strategies revolving around creativity, movement, positive behavior support, occupational therapy, and speech therapy. Volunteers utilize these skills every time they spend time with their buddy.
While children and volunteers develop meaningful relationships, parents receive valuable time to rest and recharge. With so much to look forward to at these visits, it is no wonder the families wait all week for their volunteers to show up at their doorsteps!
These visits can be arranged to accommodate a wide variety of schedules, both virtually and in-person (outdoors and masked).
Are you a volunteer needing activity ideas for your Friends@Home visits? Click here for ideas!