At Children’s Lighthouse of Prosper, we understand the importance of raising your child to be active, helpful community members. Our experienced educators encourage your child to be a part of their community by teaching them empathy and compassion in the classroom, encouraging them to help one another, and emphasizing the importance of social connection.
Having exposure to opportunities for children to help in their community can strongly impact a child’s social skills and emotional development. In raising children to be helpers, parents and teachers are supporting the benefit of their child being part of a functioning society. A 2024 research study finding by Early Childhood Research Quarterly showed that parents reported a higher sense of self-efficacy in their young children’s development when they provided opportunities for their child to learn how to help others.
When you send your child to our Prosper daycare, you immerse them in an environment of educators who are trained to teach them the value of community. However, school isn’t the only place where kids can learn to be helpers. Having dinnertime discussions with your young children about how to be a helper, the importance of being a helper in their community, and the purpose of social responsibilities is extremely important. Modeling these helpful behaviors in your community is also relevant to remember as children learn from what they see, do, and experience in their environment.
How can I raise my child to be a better community member?
Here is a list of age-appropriate ideas for easy, small tasks young children can do to help others. If you want your child to be a more active member of the Prosper, Texas community, start with these activities.
Toddlers (12-48 months of age): Toddlers are capable of easy tasks, such as handing objects to people and pointing to give directions. They have beginning physical skill capabilities to manipulate objects and can help with doing simple jobs in the community, such as picking up trash, putting things away, or handing out items. At Children’s Lighthouse Prosper, we build the foundation of your toddler’s future success by emphasizing social-emotional connection in our developmental curriculum—as well as teaching gross- and fine-motor skill development.
Preschoolers (48-60 months of age): Preschool is a crucial time for learning the importance of community, which is why we focus heavily on social connection for preschool-age children at Children’s Lighthouse of Prosper. These children can perform more challenging and harder tasks, such as serving, fixing, and putting things together. They have greater physical skill capabilities to manipulate objects. They can help do more complex jobs in the community, such as serving items to others, solving a simple problem, or creating and distributing objects or materials. At Children’s Lighthouse of Prosper, we understand the value of teaching children how to be helpers. Each of our preschool classrooms has a Lighthouse CARES® Job Chart to help nurture essential life skills, foster classroom cohesion, and give children a sense of ownership within a community.
What is the best daycare in Prosper?
When it comes to community building, at Children’s Lighthouse in Prosper, Texas, we work to provide your child with unparalleled hands-on education. Our mission is to make children feel like they are part of a family at Children’s Lighthouse while their parents are away at work. Part of this effort includes encouraging each child to engage in helpful behaviors that support their peers and teach them lifelong community-building skills.
Strategies To Build Helpfulness Skills
Here are some strategies to foster a sense of community responsibility and helpful community service in children when they are not in daycare:
- Model Community Involvement: Children often imitate the behavior of adults. Be an active participant in your community—volunteer, attend local events, or help neighbors—and involve your children in these activities. Your example can be a powerful motivator for them to do the same. At Children’s Lighthouse Prosper, our educators serve as examples to students by showing them their own community involvement.
- Teach Empathy and Compassion: Discuss the importance of understanding and caring for others. Share stories or experiences that highlight the impact of kindness and generosity. Encourage your children to think about how their actions affect others and to consider different perspectives.
- Encourage Volunteering: Find age-appropriate volunteer opportunities for your children. This could include helping at a local food bank, participating in community clean-up days, or volunteering at animal shelters. Tailor the activities to their interests and abilities to keep them engaged.
- Foster Responsibility and Independence: Give children responsibilities at home and in their community. This might include chores, caring for pets, or organizing community events. Allow them to take ownership of projects, which helps build their confidence and sense of accomplishment. At our Prosper daycare, our Lighthouse CARES program provides your child time to foster their creativity in a group setting, which develops their independence.
- Promote Teamwork and Collaboration: Encourage your children to work with others on community projects or in school. Group activities teach valuable skills like cooperation, communication, and problem-solving, all of which are essential for effective community involvement.
- Support Their Interests: If your child has a passion or interest, find ways to connect that with community service. For instance, if they love art, they could participate in or organize community art projects. If they're interested in technology, they might help with tech education for seniors.
- Celebrate Contributions: Recognize and celebrate your child’s efforts and achievements in helping others. Positive reinforcement helps them understand the value of their contributions and encourages them to continue their community involvement. When you send your child to Children’s Lighthouse Prosper, know that their achievements will always be recognized and celebrated through our Learning Wall and Lighthouse CARES program.
- Provide Opportunities for Leadership: Allow your child to take on leadership roles in community activities or projects. Leadership experiences help them develop skills and confidence, and they learn how to motivate and inspire others to get involved.
By integrating these practices into your daily life and discussions, you can help instill a strong sense of community responsibility and a lifelong commitment to learning the importance of helping others for your child. We strive to implement each of these strategies for our students at Children’s Lighthouse of Prosper, ensuring that your child grows up to be an engaged part of the Prosper community.
Is Private Daycare worth it?
The decision between public and private schooling is tough, especially when it comes to private daycare. However, choosing a private daycare in Prosper is ultimately a better choice for growing your child’s community-building skills. With a smaller peer group and more tailored curriculum developed by educated professionals, your child will likely exercise helpfulness far more in the collaborative, familial environment of public schools instead of private ones. For Prosper parents, Children’s Lighthouse of Prosper is a great choice for developing helpfulness in your child and giving them the community that they deserve in their early years.
References/Resources:
Early Childhood Research Quarterly (2024) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecresq.2024.08.002
American Academy of Pediatrics (2024) Age-Appropriate Chores for Children - HealthyChildren.org