In a world bustling with progress, it is important to reflect on the old African adage “It takes a village to raise a child.”

This well-known proverb can sometimes be overlooked due to its familiarity, but nothing could be more accurate. Children need positive interactions with multiple generations within their community to grow and develop into healthy, contributing citizens.

Don’t get me wrong, tight knit family units are vital, but children need a network of support and relationship with a greater community too. Pressures on parents are ever mounting and familial relationships are deteriorating in our society as more emphasis is placed on a global, technological community.

Let’s face it, parents are overwhelmed with the increased pressures of the hustling world in which we live and the ever-growing obligations and responsibilities. I'm sure you can relate.

While these aspects of progress are not necessarily negative in and of themselves, we must remember that children thrive with “serve and return” interactions and meaningful, inter-generational relationships, especially in the early years.

These interactions include imitating and initiating silly faces with the babies sitting in front of you at church, mimicking the raspberry of a three year old at the grocery store and making him smile, and playfully bantering knock-knock jokes back and forth with the four year old sitting with her mom in the waiting room of the clinic.

While the parents may be oblivious to your interactions with their child or even appear slightly annoyed at first, these situations propagate community connections that are crucial to that child’s development not only neurologically but also in resilience.

According to the American Psychological Association, “psychologists define resilience as the process of adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats or significant sources of stress — such as family and relationship problems, serious health problems, or workplace and financial stressors.”

Granted these simple interactions alone do not immediately determine that child’s ability to handle stressful situations, but the genesis of a relational bond and simple message of acceptance makes the encounter well worth your time and effort.

So the next time you are shopping at the grocery store or sitting in a restaurant, feel free to wrinkle your nose and stick out your tongue at the little face peering over a shoulder at you. Babble and coo your heart out at the baby in her carseat while her mama shops. Entertain the fidgeting four year old in the waiting room with your best (age appropriate, mind you) knock-knock joke. Your investment in the future of our community is appreciated.

According to an article on the Institute for Family Studies written by Ashley McGuire, you may just find yourself feeling better yourself. "Researchers at Stanford pointed out that aging adults are one of the best groups to spend time with young children, not only because they can pass on decades of wisdom, but also because they are at a point in life where they have the availability and patience to do so and can provide the kind of stimulation that young children need to thrive."

And speaking as a mother of five who feels overwhelmed with the pressures of parenting strong willed children, your reassurance that I am not in it alone is priceless. After all, it truly takes a village to raise a child. Thank you for your contribution in raising up the community's most valuable resource.

Michelle Martin

Jasper Elementary’s Early Steps to School Success

Early Childhood Coordinator