Living in Cohousing: An Elementary Kid’s Perspective

Living in Cohousing: An Elementary Kid’s Perspective

Hi there! I’m Alex, and I live in Gratitude Village, which is a cohousing community. Now, you might be wondering, what is cohousing? Well, it’s kind of like living in a really big neighborhood where everyone knows each other, and it’s the best place ever if you’re a kid like me. There are always friends around to play with, fun stuff to do, and grown-ups who look out for you. Here’s what it’s like to live here from my point of view!

There’s Always Someone to Play With

You know how sometimes you have to wait until after school to play with your friends? Not in cohousing! Every day, I can just go outside, and I’m pretty much guaranteed to find someone to play with. Whether it’s playing tag in the open spaces, riding bikes, or building forts with my friends, there’s always something fun to do. And if I get bored of one thing, I can just head to the next fun activity because there’s always something happening.

And get this—our houses are close together, so if my best friend Maddie wants to come over, she can just knock on my door and ask to play. No waiting for playdates or driving anywhere. It’s like a never-ending sleepover, but we all live in our own houses!

So Many Cool Places to Hang Out

One of the best parts of living in Gratitude Village is all the cool places I get to hang out. We have a common house, which is like a big clubhouse for everyone in the community. There’s a game room where we can play board games and video games, and a movie room where we can watch movies together—sometimes even with popcorn! There’s also a playground right in the middle of the community, and it’s the best spot for climbing, swinging, and playing hide-and-seek.

And when it’s cold outside, I love hanging out in the library at the common house. There’s a cozy fireplace where I can curl up with a good book. We also have a craft room where I can make things! I can read, draw, or just relax with my friends, and sometimes we even have storytelling time.

All the Grown-Ups Know Me

Here’s something really special about living in cohousing—all the grown-ups know me. It’s not just my parents who make sure I’m safe; it’s everyone! That means I can play outside without them worrying too much because other grown-ups keep an eye on things. If I fall and scrape my knee, someone will help me out, even if my parents aren’t around. It makes me feel safe and kind of like I have a huge extended family.

The grown-ups here are super nice too! They sometimes organize really fun activities for us kids, like scavenger hunts, arts and crafts, or even movie nights. I love when we all come together to celebrate holidays, eat dinner or just have fun.

Always Learning Something New

Living in a community like Gratitude Village means I get to learn a lot of new things. We have gardens where I can help plant vegetables and flowers, and there are people who know all about gardening who show me what to do. We have bee hives and the beekeepers have taught me all about the importance of bees and other pollinators. We even have composting, which is where we put food scraps to help make the soil better. It’s pretty cool learning how to grow things!

Sometimes we also have workshops or classes. Once, we had a woodworking class where I got to build a birdhouse, and another time we had a science night where we looked at the stars through telescopes some of the neighbors have. Living here makes me feel like learning is all around me, all the time, even when I’m just playing.

Celebrating Together

One of the most fun things about living in cohousing is how we celebrate holidays together. Whether it’s Halloween, Thanksgiving, or even a random weekend, we find reasons to party! For Halloween, we have a huge trick-or-treating event where all the houses are decorated, and since everyone knows each other, it’s the safest and most fun Halloween ever! Sometimes we have bonfires, and at Thanksgiving, we have a community feast where everyone brings something delicious to share. Even Valentine’s Day is fun here because we make cards for all our neighbors, not just our family and friends. It makes the whole day special because we’re spreading kindness and love everywhere.

School is More Fun When You Have Friends Nearby

Going to school is even better when you live in cohousing because I already know a bunch of kids from my neighborhood. Some of us go to the same school, and we can walk together in the morning or ride bikes. There’s also a whole group of kids who are homeschooled here. They use a classroom in the common house or the maker space when they’re not out and about learning around the community. And after school? Instant playtime! Plus, if I need help with homework, there’s always someone around to give me a hand, whether it’s a neighbor who’s good at math or an older kid who can explain tricky things.

We All Pitch In

One thing I’ve learned living here is that everyone pitches in to help out, even us kids. We might help with chores like cleaning up after a big dinner in the common house, watering the garden, or setting up for events. At first, I thought it would be boring, but it’s actually pretty fun when we all do it together. It feels good to know that I’m helping out, and it’s cool to see how much we can get done as a group.

What Makes It Special

Living in Gratitude Village isn’t like living in any regular neighborhood. It’s special because everyone knows each other, and we all look out for one another. I’ve made so many friends, and I always have something fun to do, whether it’s a playdate, a community event, or just exploring the outdoors. And the best part? I feel like I belong here, like I’m part of something bigger than just my family. It’s like having a giant team of friends, all living in the same place.

So, if you’re a kid, living in cohousing is pretty much the best thing ever. You’re never lonely, there’s always something to do, and the whole community feels like one big, awesome family.