By being involved in community activities and serving others, young people develop a sense of the importance of giving back, how they can contribute to the community positively and how to solve societal issues in a proactive way. Proverbs 27:17 says, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” Being community minded allows us to empower and develop each other in skills we might need in the future.
Community minded children learn skills to become innovative, organised and compassionate individuals, and in a world where technology is always changing the way we interact and manage our time, being community minded is fundamental in contributing to our development as human beings.
Students that are community minded have a sense of belonging, have opportunities to network and participate in new experiences that they may not have had if they were not willing to get involved in community activities, groups or volunteering.
Being community minded is about changing the way we think. We should want to be involved in our community because we want to give back, not because we are obliged to or it will make us more noticed on social media.
Benefits of being community minded for your child:
- Interaction and co-operating with like-minded-peers and positive role models.
- Creates a sense of belonging, new friendships and connections for future endeavors.
- Opportunities to apply skills a child already has, show initiative and learn to manage their time by balancing responsibilities with school commitments.
- Boost self-confidence and self-esteem by learning to deal with challenges, communicate with people of all ages and feel they have purpose.
- Being involved in community activities can reduce the likelihood of mental health issues and substance abuse for youths.
How do you get your child off the screen and out into the community?
- Start early
Encourage your child from an early age to naturally be involved in what you do and make it part of your routine to commit to community events or activities. Take your child to community programs, festivals and venues that highlight diversity and encourage them to be respectful of all members of the community. Making it part of a family activity or your yearly routine encourages your child to adopt these habits as they get older.
- Lead by example
Let your children see you volunteering or being engaged in broader activities and issues. Encourage them to seek out community events or opportunities to be involved in giving back with you. Include them in the planning of volunteering your time, donating items or helping out at the local sports club.
- Build on what you are already doing
Being community minded can be as big or as small as you want to make it. Chances are your child is already contributing in some way in the community; in school fundraisers, donating unwanted items, supporting festivals or promoting an awareness of a societal issue. Start the conversation of the importance of being community minded; what it feels like to be giving back and making the world a better place with one act of kindness at a time.
“Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.” 1 John 3:18
For more information on how you and your child can be community minded:
https://www.actbelongcommit.org.au
https://www.peelvolunteer.org.au
By: Kylee Retallack, Head of Year 8
