Do you like to laugh at everything and
nothing? Or have you forgotten what
it is like to laugh for no good reason?
If you answered yes to either of these
questions, then maybe you need to
think BIG.
Do you think you could teach someone
to skip stones, skip rope, bake a cookie,
or hammer a nail? Then think BIG.
Do you need an excuse to hula-hoop,
climb monkey bars, play hopscotch
or see a Disney movie? Think BIG.
Would you like to have someone say
they want to grow up to be just like
you? Then think BIG.
You may be asking yourself right
now, what in the world is BIG? Good
question. BIG is big heart, big fun, and
big impact. BIG is a Big Brother, Big
Sister, Big Couple, or Big Family to a
Little Sister or Little Brother. BIG is
being a mentor.
What does it take to be a BIG? Not a
lot. You only need a desire to have fun
and to be a great role model as well as
an ability to commit to a person in
need. Think you can do that? Then
think BIG.
Why would you want to be a BIG?
Being a BIG feels good. Better yet,
being a BIG has the power to impact
a child at risk in a positive way.
Children who have a BIG or a mentor
in their life are more likely to choose a
lifestyle that breaks unhealthy family
cycles. Littles with BIGs often move
away from lives of welfare or crime.
Littles are more likely to finish school
and become excellent role models
themselves. Littles often become BIGs
themselves and enrich another at risk
child. Being a BIG is the start of many
healthy life cycles.
If you are not sure you have enough
time to make a positive difference in a
child’s life, then consider this option.
Become an In School Mentor. This
requires just one hour per week for
the duration of a school year. On
your lunch hour or on your day off
go to your Little’s school and play
for an hour. That’s it. Just play. You
can colour outside the lines, practice
sinking baskets, tell bad jokes, make
milkshakes, play tic tac toe, or just lay
back and watch the clouds drift by.
Doesn’t sound that difficult does it?
It’s not, but it makes a huge difference
to a child. A child with an In School
Mentor shows up for school more
often and becomes a more confident
student and person. Why? Just
because an adult wants nothing more
than to spend time with him or her.
Wow.
Do you think you would like to make
a difference in a child’s life but don’t
want to take time away from your
significant other or your own family?
Then perhaps this option is for you.
Become a BIG couple or a BIG family.
If one person spending an hour a week
with a Little has the power to change
his or her life, just imagine what a
few hours a week with the undivided
attention of two adults or a whole
family could do for a child in need.
The result would be phenomenal.
The child’s growth, confidence, self
esteem, outlook and ambition would
be irrevocably altered for the good by
exponential proportions. Just imagine.
Now, if you believe you have the
time to influence a child’s life for the
better and want to spend some one
on one time with a Little then you
should become a BIG Sister or BIG
Brother. It’s cheap and easy and highly
entertaining. You and your Little
find a day or days that fit into your
schedules and commit to spending a
total of a few hours per week with each
other. Your time together should and
will include lots of laughing, playing,
sharing, and learning. And that is true
for both of you.
On a budget? Don’t worry, being a
BIG doesn’t need to break the bank.
You can spend your time hiking
or window-shopping, bug or bird
watching, baking or cooking, playing
badminton or board games, or growing
and carving your own pumpkins. Or
enrich another life and take a child
friendly SPCA dog for a walk. If you
both want to experience the pool or
the skating rink, share a side of fries,
or take in a movie, then Littles will
pay their own way. The opportunities
are endless and inexpensive and every
moment enhances both your lives.
So, if you or your family think you
can laugh for no reason, behave like
a kid, and be a good role model then
think BIG.
Enrich your life and the life of a
child. Think BIG. Become a BIG.
