Social relationships influence every area of our daily life, from our personal health to the safety of our neighborhood to the development of our children. Getting to know your neighbors makes your community safer and provides individuals and families with support. Yet a recent study found that Americans’ social networks are shrinking dramatically and nearly 25 percent of Americans say they have no one to talk to about important matters or personal problems. Ties to community and neighborhood have “withered” and people have fewer family confidants as well. Causes for this social shift have not been determined, but may reasonably include:

• The more transient nature of families today and decreased likelihood that grown children will live near their parents in the communities in which they grew up.


• Increased reliance on communicating through technology (cell phones, e-mail) which promotes the development of a wider, less-localized network of weak ties rather than the stronger ties built by face-to- face interaction that can offer real support every day and in times of crisis.
  
  
• The hectic pace of daily life, especially for dual income families, which limits the time available to invest in new relationships.

So how do we reverse this social shift and reconnect individuals and families to the community? The following ways include simple ways to build a strong environment that will allow children to grow into healthy, productive citizens who will in turn give back to communities.

Talk to your neighbors
Be willing to look our for one another’s children. Encourage a supportive spirit among parents in your community.

Mentor a new parent in your neighborhood
Sometimes families go from receiving a lot of support when a baby first arrives to getting little or no support just a few months later. This can leave a parent feeling overwhelmed. Check in often with a new parent. Sometimes just holding or changing the baby will allow a new mom or dad to finish an errand or take a few minutes for themselves.

Be a friend to the parents that you know
Ask how their children are doing. Ask them how they are doing! If a parent seems to be struggling, offer to baby-sit, run errands or lend a friendly ear. Remind them that raising is a difficult job.

Keep your neighbors safe
Offer to pick up your neighbors mail when they are out of town and let them know you can keep an eye on their home. When street lights burn out, report the outage to the city to avoid dark places in your neighborhood.

Distribute materials to educate and support families in public places
Parenting is tough work! It is important to let families know that you support the love, devotion and healthy discipline they offer their children. It’s also important to offer information and tips about the developmental milestones.

Plant a pinwheel garden in a community gathering place
Pinwheels are a sign of happy, carefree childhoods; the kind that every kid deserves to experience. Host a public event to launch the garden. Take photos and send them to your local newspaper along with a statement of your support.

Host an event for children
Inspire them to color pinwheels and post them in a public place. Arrange for the activity to be lead by a childcare provider, allowing parents a break and the chance to enjoy conversation with other adults.

Decorate and sell $1 paper pinwheels
Post them in a visible location within public buildings or local stores. Challenge a neighboring community in a friendly contest to post the most!

Be a good role model
Parents are always looking for new parenting techniques and you can help provide them by setting a good example.

Be active in your community
Developing playgroups for new families at community centers, libraries or schools ultimately contributes to the well-being of children.

Volunteer your time
Start a Circle of Parents support group, spend time mentoring a child, or start a family program of your own.

Call or write your elected officials
Ask your representatives to support funding and legislative initiatives for parent support and child abuse prevention programs.

Remember ...
Anything that supports the children parents, grandparents and caregivers in your community helps strengthen families and reduce the likelihood of abuse.