BUILDING A SENSE OF COMMUNITY WITH SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN

National Network for Child Care's Connections Newsletter

Carole L. Eller, M.A.
Extension Educator
4-H/Youth Development
University of Connecticut Cooperative Extension

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A sense of community plays an important part in developing a child's self-esteem. Children need to know who they are and how they fit into the world around them. They need to become more aware of others and the community in which they live.

Infants care only about their own physical needs. Preschool children, too, remain very self-centered. However, school-age children are becoming better able to reach out to others. They now need more opportunities to develop giving relationships and to understand the world around them.

The first step in this process is to help children feel a sense of community within the program. This will help the children to feel connected and accepted. The second step is to help children feel connected to the larger community.

Here are some ways to promote a sense of community within your program.

• Encourage children to set group goals and establish their own rules.
• Allow children to make decisions.
• Provide projects and activities that involve the entire group.
• Promote leadership and communication skills.

Try these activities to help children feel part of the larger community.

• Invite people from the community to come to your center and talk about what they do.
• Start a 4-H club or Scout troop.
• Take field trips to places in the community.
• Take part in community activities.
• Make service to the community a part of your program.
• Collect food for hungry people.
• Sponsor a needy child, and have the children earn money to send to that child.
• Hold a special program for teachers in your school.
• Entertain senior citizens.

You can be of special help to older children who are preparing to leave the protective environment of your center. Work to ease their transition to middle or junior high school. Help them learn to access resources in the community on their own. For example, make sure they understand how to use the library, buy things at a store, or sign up for activities at a youth center. Introduce them to 4-H, Scouts, and volunteer groups in the community.

As children become involved with other people in the community, they learn to care about them. If you encourage these qualities, your children should become confident, capable, adult citizens.