How to Meet People in a Neighborhood

Moving to a new city or just across town to a new neighborhood can be a little terrifying if you are nervous about meeting people in your new "digs." Follow the steps below to make meeting your new neighbors easier.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Coffee for neighborhood gathering
• Food for barbecue

1. Put a smile on your face whenever you see people in the neighborhood. You will be approachable and will meet neighbors more quickly when you look friendly.

2. Spend time out in the yard as much as possible. You will invariably run into people in the neighborhood who are outside as well when you are doing gardening work, playing with your kids or the dog, or taking a walk around the block.

3. Extend invitations to other children in the neighborhood to play with your children. This is a perfect way to make friends for your children as well as yourself.

4. Invite all the people in the neighborhood that you have met to come and have coffee one morning. You will find at least a few neighbors with whom you have common interests and can be friends.

5. Host a backyard barbecue for families in the neighborhood after you get settled in. Everyone in your family will have the opportunity to meet and get to know the people living around you.

6. Sign your children up for sports and other activities. This helps you meet other people with the same interests as your family.

Tips & Warnings

• Get outside your own neighborhood to meet people. Make appearances at social events held in your city. You will run into neighbors there that you may not see on the streets of your neighborhood.
• Don't approach people in the neighborhood if they are obviously distracted. A mom who is trying to wrangle three little kids and their bikes down the street probably doesn't have time to meet you at that particular moment.
• Don't stay cooped up in the house. You need to go to the people in the neighborhood and not expect them to come to you.