Whether it’s saying hi to a neighbor on your daily walk or house-sitting during their vacation, kindness in neighborhoods builds safer communities for children and is beneficial to the safety of people’s homes, which reduces stress in people’s home environments. As connections become increasingly virtual, people should make efforts to form connections with those who live next door.
According to a study by the Observer, 33 percent of people reported to have gathered socially with their neighbors during the previous month, compared to 44 percent in 1974. People’s time dedicated to relationships in their communities has decreased. According to this study, people may forget what it means to be kind to their neighbors, which is showing them respect and consideration, and partaking in small acts of kindness for those next door. Relationships with neighbors means having a safer neighborhood as well, which means lower crime rates and trust within the community.
When a neighborhood is perceived as “safe” and there is familiarity established between neighbors, families are assured that their children can play outside without immediate threats of harm, according to MDPI. According to Mass General Brigham, a study shows that 41 percent of parents with children under the age of 18 are so stressed most days that they cannot function, yet trust amongst neighbors can alleviate this stress.
“I have two kids, and if I were more familiar with my neighbors, I’d feel safe knowing that if there were an emergency, I could ask them for help,” English teacher Doris Schlothan said. “Or even just babysitting, I could ask them.”
Treating neighbors with respect and kindness helps people build peace where they live. In an experiment conducted by the National Library of Medicine, people who performed one act of kindness per week over a four-week period in their neighborhoods experienced a measurable decrease in stress and anxiety levels, from 4.01 to 3.12 on a social anxiety standard questionnaire.
Having a loving and safe neighborhood can reduce stress of crime when people know there are people they can trust next door. According to research conducted by the U.S. National Institute of Justice, when aware that neighbors are next door to keep an eye on their home, people do not worry as much about burglaries or crime around their home. Neighbors can also help by house sitting or watching pets while neighbors are on vacation.
“Me and my neighbor, our moms text a lot back and forth,” junior Emma Ouchi said. “We make sure our houses are safe if somebody is on vacation.”
However, some may say that going out of their way to be nice to neighbors and form connections can feel like a chore when a neighbor tries to invade your privacy or spread community gossip, according to Etiquette. While being kind to neighbors, people should be careful not to cross the line between neighborly and friendly, and maintain a distance to prevent privacy invasions and keep relationships healthy. While some neighbors may want to upset the peace by complaining about property maintenance or parking disputes, it is important to remember that a good neighbor would let their neighbors borrow maintenance materials and communicate to resolve backyard or parking debates.
It is always better to have a familiarity with your environment and be able to rely on those around you in order to feel at ease in your community and a comfort in your home. People should be kinder to their neighbors so they can feel a permanent sense of security without feeling invaded, and foster neighborly and welcoming relationships in their community.
