Be My Neighbor

Helping kids connect to their community

- Malia Jacobson

Neighborhoods matter. Where children live, play and attend school impacts their long-term social, emotional and physical health. According to research presented in the American Journal of Community Psychology, kids in disadvantaged neighborhoods get less physical activity and underperform at school compared to those in wealthier areas. Neighborhood connections matter too. The same study also shows that “social embeddedness,” or a strong connection to social and cultural relationships within a neighborhood, can help protect families from some of these negative outcomes. Like growing a garden, cultivating a richly connected neighborhood may take time and effort, but families can reap rewards for years. Here’s how to create social connectedness in your corner of the world.

Early Years

Neighborhood Knowledge 

Creating a connected community starts with getting to know your neighborhood and your neighbors, says Catherine Bagwell, professor of psychology at Oxford College of Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia.