Sharing More than Sugar

Studio 5 Contributor Kiersten Blanchard has five great ways to be a better neighbor.

___________________________________________________

Check out the acronym below for a place to start.

S – Serve Together

H – Have Playgroups

A – Arrange Get-Togethers

R – Reach Out

E – Express Thanks

Serve Together

Nothing brings people together like working with one another for a good cause. Get a few families together to help an elderly neighbor with some yard work. Organize a food or clothing drive. Gather the kids in your neighborhood to sing together at a local retirement home. Have a holiday party, where instead of exchanging neighborhood gifts, each family brings an appetizer or dessert to share and a check to donate to a pre-selected local charity.

Have Playgroups

Which meet on a regular basis…And not just for your kids. You can participate in the usual toddler play dates at the park or pool. But don’t limit playgroups to your children. Women can create a neighborhood book club, or recipe exchange group. Men can put together basketball teams or golfing groups. Couples can arrange monthly dinner groups with 4 or 5 other couples. Explore the interests of others in your neighborhood and you’ll find your own circle of interests – and friends – has expanded.

Arrange Get-togethers

So often our calendars are crammed with family and school activities. Sometimes when we see an open weekend, we rent a movie, pop some popcorn, and hide out in the comfort of our own home. Instead of playing the neighborhood hermit, we can invite another family over to watch the movie with us, or do any other number of fun activities.

Here are a few to choose from:

• A neighborhood egg hunt/brunch

• A last day of school water fight/ice cream party

• A 4th of July BBQ/firework night

• An adults-only Halloween costume party

• A sledding/snow sculpture party

• A progressive dinner

• Fieldtrips for kids not yet in school (and their moms)

Reach Out (to new neighbors)

When a new neighbor moves in, be the first to offer help and friendship. You can create a family gift basket that includes a neighborhood map and directory, a list of your family’s favorite local restaurants and parks, a calendar of play dates, etc. You can even include a gift certificate to a favorite place to eat and an I.O.U coupon for sharing a day at the park. Include the things they will need to know to be involved in neighborhood activities. Top it all off with a dozen of your famous chocolate chip cookies (and the recipe). Other ideas? You can get up early and shove their walks, take their kids to the park while they unpack boxes, or give them a home-made frozen dinner to use whenever they need it. Any gesture will send the message that you care!

Express Thanks

Have a family day each week to write thank you notes (and bake goodies) for neighbors who have served you in some way. Then, spend an hour delivering the notes, visiting with, and thanking in-person those on your list. You can forgo the goodies, and deliver a few extra blank cards (with the one you’ve written) for them to use when they want. You’ll find your neighbors more than happy to continue sharing and spending time with you when they know it’s appreciated.