AD | Collaborative post
We often see the impact that community involvement has not just on a local level but on a global scale too. It can influence school culture, work relationships, our viewpoints and how it impacts societies. There are huge benefits for children to be involved in community-led projects whether they’re held in school, in a local community centre or even further afield.
We take a look at the reasons why this level of involvement is crucial for a child’s development with the guidance of a junior school in Somerset, so that you can start empowering your child.
Teaches children about hardships
A lot of families, individuals and communities have a range of issues that can appear hidden, but they’re in fact crucial for parents and children to be aware of. They have the chance to learn some serious life skills and gain a lot of experience from listening to other people’s stories. Children will be more open-minded towards others as a result, and more appreciative of their friends, family and those around them.
They build lifelong skills
A lot of skills taught through volunteering or working in the local community can be used in future careers or in other situations. If your child takes up volunteering at a local charity shop for instance, they’ll be learning how to manage a shop floor, communicating with customers and maintaining order amongst smaller tasks like cleaning and stock management. Litter picking may sound mundane, but learning how to quickly dispose of rubbish and working together is all a part of keeping our villages and towns clean, too.
Children build new relationships
Parents and kids chat to a lot of different people when they take part in community projects. This tackles their emotional and physical development by learning through others, communicating with new faces and building friendships between others. Continuous exposure to new and inviting relationships will nurture children’s skills and be influential to their success.
Creating a community
Taking part in local community efforts that strive to improve the area and its facilities is seen as a huge positive for your friends, family and even for teachers to see what your child is a part of. When we’re young, we’re born to be natural listeners and seek advice from others; from even the smallest tasks we’re learning and keen to improve and change.
So, for example, if your child attends a local reading club regularly, or visits Church on a weekly basis, they’re building foundations around them to learn and explore new things.