Chapter 3 — DOUBLE TAB TO ZOOM ON PHONE OR TABLET Your Role in Building and Supporting Community  71 Creating an Environment That Nurtures Community  74 Principle Make the Center Feel Like a Home  75 Strategy Incorporate elements from home-design magazines  75 Explore professional architecture and design resources  76 Principle Give the Program the Feel of a Real Neighborhood  77 Strategy Use homebase rooms and make time for children to roam  78 Set up larger programs as villages  78 Design space to resemble a neighborhood  79 Use natural shapes and soft lighting  79 Use the beginning and end of the day  79 Principle Involve Parents and Staff in Considering the Space  80 Strategy Assess how a space makes you feel  80 Explore the environment as a child might  82 Create “a place where I belong”  83 Create the skeleton of a grant proposal or the inspiration for a   work party  84 Planning Your Community-Building Curriculum  86 Principle Use Time Together to Strengthen Relationships  86 Strategy View staff meetings as circle time  87 Learn about listening  88 Set ground rules, share feelings, and develop facilitation skills  89 Use a fuss box  89 Make tear-water tea  90 Become storytellers  90 Create visual stories of your life together  91 Refocus parent newsletters  92 COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL Contents  ix