When you think about the word community, what comes to mind? Perhaps you envisioned your town, a specific neighborhood within your city, or a special place you visit when you travel. Maybe you thought about a particular group of people connected by common interests or characteristics. Truth be told, community is one of those words that can be defined in several ways, but is better understood when it is experienced. 

Community is greater than just the physical structures of a place, it is the feeling of connectedness that exists between the people who occupy that space. They are drawn together by shared experiences, goals, interests, or identities. Community is the coming together of people in a way that fosters relationships and positive interactions, even when things aren’t perfect.

Thinking about child care programs and individual classrooms as communities can help us build relationships and bring about big changes in the lives of everyone involved with the program.

In this month’s newsletter, we will explore the characteristics of strong communities and strategies for building community throughout ECE programs.

For the article Characteristics of Positive Communities, CLICK HERE

For the article Building Community with Children, CLICK HERE

For the article Building Community with Families, CLICK HERE

For the article Building a Team Community, CLICK HERE