Growing up in my community

 

As I mentioned in my last post, the community I grew up in, and still live in today, is safe and intimate.

When I was young, most of the kids in the neighbourhood were around the same age as me and we would always play in the park and ride our bikes. In Summer we would have water fights, or we would all go to one person’s house and swim. In Winter we would play cards or watch movies or play games that required us to use our imaginations. Growing up with the kids in my community was great because we bonded as children should – physically. We didn’t play on electronics or sit quietly in a room and not talk to each other. We played games and told stories and had proper childhoods with physical human interactions.

As we all got older, went to different schools, and started making new friends with other kids outside of the community, we all started to outgrow each other which was okay because that is what happens. Watching the younger children growing up now, it is evident that despite the introduction to the digital age, it has not taken away from the tradition of our communities’ interactions in the park. The kids today still play in the park, ride their bicycles around the cul-de-sac, and have water fights in the road. It brings me joy to hear them having fun and interacting because building those connections and making those memories is what being a child is all about. Not many have the privilege of saying that they had a great childhood with positive, human interactions.

The safety factor of our neighbourhood also played a huge role in having a great childhood. If it weren’t as safe as it is – we wouldn’t have been able to have as much fun as we did and we wouldn’t have been able to go outside and have as many adventures and outdoor memories as we did. As children, we needed to be outside to release all our energy and to be active and work on our motor skills and all of that.

Growing up in my safe community with lots of kids to play with really contributed to me having a great childhood. Especially because I am an only child. I will forever be grateful for the fact that I was blessed to grow up where I did.