Community service can also be a good outlet for "family you find" in those who have this as a missing thing in their lives. Loneliness isn't something that goes away in adulthood, after all-- so we've tried to cultivate this as a way to forge connections with others.
It's a good and healthy place to put that asynchronous care and compassion in the long years while they wait for agemates and peers to catch up, too.
DD is
very good with children-- particularly with children who are on the spectrum, have other developmental/communication challenges, or have medical issues. She does respite babysitting, and has since she was 13 or 14.
Interestingly, when she started doing community leadership in her service activities, she was often "mentoring" or "leading" teens who were technically older than she was. She has no trouble leading those who are older than her, and her assertiveness and force of will is more than enough to thwart challenges on that basis.
