Happiness Increases When Students Focus on Helping Others
From a distance, it looked like third and fourth graders at Corbett Prep were embarking on a scavenger hunt. They hurried down the school boardwalks, peeking in bushes and peering under tables and playground equipment. When they spotted something, they shouted excitedly to friends to come over and take a look.
But the buckets, grabbers and gloves revealed the purpose behind their adventures. It was the first activity of the student-driven Watershed Warriors club, and the volunteers were determined to find any trash they could to prevent litter from winding up in the lake, pond or creek surrounding Corbett Prep.
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Students worked with teachers to establish the new environmental club, and dozens of students enthusiastically joined the organizers for their first project. Like all community service efforts, the Watershed Warriors set a valuable goal – in this case, protecting the waterways. But volunteer work has an important benefit to the people performing it as well.
It increases happiness.
Volunteering Creates Happiness
Kids who volunteered had better physical and mental health than their peers who did not volunteer, according to a 2023 study from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. Using survey data about more than 50,000 kids, researchers found that the students performing community service had more positive outlooks, less anxiety and fewer behavioral problems.
Volunteering shows kids that what they do matters. Corbett Prep’s social-emotional learning program, the Four Pillars of Wellbeing, holds “community” as a core value and encourages students to think about their role in creating safe and healthy communities. As early as prekindergarten, Corbett Prep teachers start discussions to prompt students to think less about “what’s in it for me” and more about “what do I have to offer?”
The PreK3 and PreK4 teachers ask students how they can be of service, and the students respond with kind, thoughtful suggestions, such as taking care of their pets, helping their younger siblings, comforting a friend or picking up their toys. The chance to pitch in gives them a sense of pride.
Volunteering by Ages and Stages
Older students take on more responsibilities and begin to initiate giving back. Elementary students formed “Corbett Cares Jr.” this fall to promote community service and help others. In middle school, National Junior Honor Society leaders spearhead food drives and hurricane relief efforts. Fifth and eighth graders conduct research and service-learning projects linked to the International Baccalaureate Programme where they identify community needs and develop action plans to help.
At home, families can seek out opportunities aligned with their values. From a young age, children can set aside used toys for donation or shop with their parents for food drive items. Families can participate together in charitable walks or runs and beach cleanups or sort donations for community nonprofits. Preteens and teens may take on more active roles, suggesting where they want to volunteer, helping neighbors or organizing fundraisers.
Whether through home or school, volunteering introduces students to new perspectives, develops empathy and provides leadership opportunities. Students learn that all ages can play important, active roles in their community. They strengthen bonds with family members or classmates as they work together for a bigger cause.
At the end of the Watershed Warriors cleanup, students gathered to see what everyone had collected, laughing about unusual finds and applauding the group effort. Students felt like they had taken part in something meaningful, which resulted in an experience that had lasting effects on both the environment and the students themselves.
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*Presented by Corbett Prep | Originally published in the January 2025 issue of Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine.