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# Owen Leddy: Kids should get to know the families and kids on their block
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/kids-building-communities-how-well-do-you-know-the-other-families-on-your-block-do-you-know-them-at-all/
- Published: 2008-05-27T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-24T19:42:52.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Opinion, Santa Monica, #archive-import

*By — Owen Leddy*

A strong community can only be built if the people in it can collaborate and work as a neighborhood. Why not kids too?

If kids all get to know the other kids in their neighborhood, it will bring families together and forge a great community. Kids can make friends, do projects together, help each other with homework, and generally improve the sense of community in their area.

That’s how it always used to be too. People would know everyone on their block. There was no mystery about whom you lived near.

With some effort it can be that way again. According to research and studies, about 55 percent of kids volunteer in their local communities., that’s great, but if kids got to know each other and did things together, that number could increase greatly.

So make introductions and, for all those kids who might be reading this, ask your parents to introduce you as well.

Organize a block party and invite everyone. Go for group walks with your new-found friends. And, most important of all, have fun.

Imagine a neighborhood where your best friend lives across the street. People stop to chat when they see each other on the street. Kids come biking down the street in a noisy group, laughing and joking. Imagine what your community could be if we all worked together.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on May 27, 2008.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/052708.pdf?ref=smdp.com)