How to Make a Community in Your Neighborhood

Today it’s all about how to make a community in your neighborhood. Do you live in a neighborhood where you couldn’t name a handful of your neighbors?

It seems like more and more people these days prefer to be left alone. Even the neighborhood kids are more timid to play with other kids just down the street.

This can be disheartening if you’ve recently moved into the neighborhood and you’re looking for friends. Here is how to make a community in your neighborhood.

How to Make a Community in Your Neighborhood

Fortunately, it doesn’t have to stay like this and you could be the family that breaks the ice. Not only is it nice to get to know your neighbors, but building a community in your neighborhood provides a number of other benefits as well. Here’s a look at some of those advantages and how you get a community started in your neighborhood. 

Why Your Neighborhood Needs A Community

One of the major benefits of creating a community within your neighborhood is that it helps to keep the crime rate low. When you and your neighbors are more aware of what’s normal and what isn’t in your neighborhood, everyone can keep an eye out for suspicious people or illegal activity and quickly alert the authorities and also get in touch with you. 

Community bonds everyone together and mostly everyone is willing to pitch in to make life easier for others. When you’re needing a babysitter, you know just the neighbor girl that will say yes.

The same goes for allowing a neighbor to borrow your hedger. (Just make sure to get it back.) The more neighbors you know, the more likely you’ll be invited over for a neighborhood barbecue.  

It can be a breath of fresh air for you and your family to have closely knitted ties with several other families living around you. This provides not only a mental boost for everyone, but also a physical one because it gets you outside of your house and staying more active.  

The last reason why a community is so important in your neighborhood is that it provides you and your neighbors with the perception of belonging.

In a sense, it’s a lot like a second family. It certainly makes it harder for you to ever want to move away because of the great friendships that you have developed.  

Ways to Create a Community 

Introduce Yourself

If you can’t name a majority of your neighbors living around you, it’s time that you just go up and introduce yourself. It doesn’t have to be awkward, even if you’ve been living there for a while. Just go up and say hi. 

Nip It in the Bud 

An escalating feud between you and a neighbor is only going to make things more uncomfortable. Instead of calling the police, child services, or the humane society, try talking it over with your neighbor so that the issue can be solved one-on-one. 

Show Courtesy and Respect 

Having to hear music played extremely loud next door or out in the street when it’s past 10 o’clock is rude to put it nicely. It’s also disrespectful not to clean up after your pet when you’re out walking. If you want courtesy and respect to be shown to you, it’s your job to show it first. 

Hang Outside Your Home More

It’s amazing what hanging outside on your front porch can do for you to finally be able to have interaction with your neighbors. Conversations will start naturally with your neighbors as they’re walking by you.

It also lets them know that you wouldn’t mind if they stopped by every once in a while.  

Allow Trustworthy Neighbors to Watch Your Home While Away 

When you’re gone on vacation, it would be a smart idea to let one or a few of your neighbors know that you’re planning on heading out of town. That way they can keep an eye on your home for you, and make sure the mail doesn’t begin to pile up. 

Have a Neighborhood Block Party

One of the best ways to get to know your neighbors is by throwing a neighborhood block party. Not only are they super fun, but you’ll be able to remember names faster by spending time with them.

You may even notice that future interactions are more likely to happen because you opened up your yard to your small community. In case you missed my post on Neighbors-It’s Critical We Get To Know Them

Welcome New Families

When a new family moves in down the street, be the first person to welcome them with a food dish, dessert, or house warming gift that gets you both started off on the right foot.

This doesn’t happen as often as the good ole’ days, but it’s your job to continue the tradition.  

Help Your Elderly Neighbors 

You probably have a few elderly neighbors who live close by who could sure use someone to mow their yard, shovel their driveway, or simply just visit and talk with them. 

Backyard Movie Night

Do you have a decent-sized lawn and a projector and a big screen making it possible for you to have your very own outdoor neighborhood theatre? Have your neighbors bring a few soft drinks and popcorn and you’ll all have an evening to remember.  

Remember to Slow Down Behind the Wheel

Sometimes we get distracted or are in a hurry to get away from work as fast as we can. Try to remember to slow down when you’re in the neighborhood because kids are running and playing and you’d hope that your neighbors would do the same for your children. 

Please put your cell phones down when driving. I promise, no call or text is that important when driving. We all know people who have died from being hit by a drunk driver, a person texting, or someone talking on their cell phone. Life is never ever the same for the driver or the victim’s family.

Plant a Community Garden

A community garden is another fun and creative way to create a community in the neighborhood. Plus, you’ll have the convenience of being able to enjoy some of the veggies that are planted there. 

Get Started On a Neighborhood Watch Program

Creating a neighborhood watch program is another way to create unity, while keeping watch over your neighborhood. Here are a few tips on how to get started. 

Final Word

It’s a nice feeling to drive into the neighborhood and catch a wave from a neighbor as you drive by. If you don’t have that, hopefully, some of these ideas can get the ball rolling on building a community in your neighborhood.

What are some other ways you’ve gone out of your way to getting to know your neighbors? Walking a dog is a great way to meet a neighbor or two. Stay safe, stay well. May God bless this world, Linda

Copyright Images: Neighborhood Deposit photos_8073841_s-2019, Neighbors Block Party Deposit photos_183064420_s-2019

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