Creating & Building Community
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Liberty Kids understand is just as important to use the environment outside the nursery boundaries to give children the opportunity to learn from, and be part of, their local community. Indeed, we need to build the view of the nursery being at the centre of the community.
Supporting children to build up a sense of community from a young age, to learn about where they fit in, and to begin to understand the value of having local services. A walk to the shops can be different each time – for example, as the seasons change trees change, the weather changes and seasonal fruits and vegetables change in the shops.
Saying “Hi” to people who we know and have people know where we come from is lovely. For the children, to have people acknowledge them helps to develop a sense of pride in who they are, in their nursery and where they come from. Taking a ride on the local bus and talking about what you can see – the shops, churches, schools, hospitals or other buildings around – can have very real meaning for the children.
Developing links with the local community support officers and the police is also a great idea, as this relationship is another important one. They come and speak with the children in the nursery and teach them how to stay safe.
The nursery has also made links with the local old people’s home and children visit regularly to sing and perform for the residents there. This is a great learning experience for the children, as our older generations are great storytellers and it gives them great joy when the children come to visit them.
The local environment can provide an exciting context for first-hand experiences for the children. In urban areas there are always local shops to visit, local libraries to support or a post office and park to visit. The connections children make with their local environment can last a lifetime. If in the very early years we can build these connections and values in children, they will hopefully take these with them throughout their lives and become very community-minded and responsible adults.
