Meet A Community Helper
Here's What To Do
Plan and arrange an experience for your child to meet a professional whose work helps or serves the community, like a firefighter, nurse, doctor, dentist, teacher, lifeguard, postal worker, librarian, farmer, crossing guard, bus driver, baker, trash collector, etc.
Plan for this experience to take place at the person’s job so your child can see exactly what they do, ask questions, and have a hands-on experience.
Take pictures of your child while they are meeting with the community helper.
(Optional) When you return home, ask your child to draw a picture of something they learned or enjoyed during this experience.
Put PEER Into Action
Pause:
- Discuss safety and behavioral expectations before you and your child visit the workplace of the community helper.
Engage:
- Say to your child, “we are going to meet [community helper’s name], what are you excited to see or ask them about?"
- Ask the community helper if your child can touch some child-appropriate tools or equipment related to their job.
Encourage:
- Encourage your child to ask the community helper questions about their job. If they're feeling too shy, ask questions for your child.
- Explain to your child why the worker's job is so important for your community.
Reflect:
- Ask your child, “Do you think you would like to do this job when you grow up? What seems fun about it?"
Not quite ready?
Take a walk around your neighborhood and point out community workers as you see them.
Ready for more?
Help your child learn about a variety of community workers by reading books about them.
As your child masters this skill...
They will be able to describe the job, task, and tools of a community helper.