3 Ways to Create Togetherness in your Neighborhood

At the YMCA of Greater Seattle, strengthening community is our cause. Communities allow people to interact with each other, share experiences, and develop important relationships. During a time when social distancing is encouraged, we want to support our members and families in building community close to home in creative ways. 

These three activities allow kids and families to connect at a distance and get neighbors of all ages involved.  Social media is a great way to promote these projects, including through a neighborhood Facebook page, Nextdoor, or a school blog.  If your neighborhood doesn't have one, consider taking the lead on creating one, then get the word out by leaving a flyer on doorsteps.

Message Rocks

Help to spread kindness and cheer through your neighborhood by painting and decorating rocks, then leaving them at local parks, trails, or anywhere around the neighborhood.  When neighbors find the rocks, they can choose to bring them home or leave them for more people to discover and enjoy.

Window Scavenger Hunt

Spring is coming! Get outside walking around your neighborhood with a window scavenger hunt. Encourage neighbors to draw pictures of a flower and hang them in their windows on a specific date.  When the day arrives, families can walk around the neighborhood and count how many window flowers they see.  Make a post on social media so families can share photos and comment with how many flowers they spot.

Neighborhood Pen Pals

Is your child missing their classmates and neighborhood friends? Keep in touch by becoming pen pals! Kids can write letters back and forth and leave them in mailboxes or at front doors.  Below are some fun ideas for letter themes: 

• All about me
• What are you doing to pass the time?
• Things that make you happy
• Hopes, dreams, and wishes
• Create a questionnaire or survey to learn more about your pen pal
• Or try these ideas from uncustomary.org