Help Out

How can you be a cool neighbor?

When it gets very hot or very cold, you and your grown-up can check on the neighbors you know. A wave, a knock and a kind note can make someone’s whole day.

Goldstrike says“Heroes look out for their neighbors.”

This one is made for paper: print it, then write, draw and color on it.

In Austin, summer can stay hot for weeks. In winter, a freeze can come fast. Most neighbors are just fine. But some neighbors live alone, or they don’t get out much. A friendly hello from your family lets them know someone is thinking about them.

This page is your Cool Neighbor Kit. It has a plan, a card to print, a map to draw and a fridge poster. You do every part with a grown-up.

Visit neighbors your family knows, together with your grown-up, and stay on the porch.

Four ways to be a cool neighbor

👋

Wave hello

The easiest kindness of all. When you see a neighbor in the yard or at the mailbox, wave and smile. It says “I see you.”

🚪

Knock together

On a very hot or very cold day, walk over with your grown-up and knock. Your grown-up asks, “Just checking in. How are you doing?”

💧

Bring water

On a hot day, help your grown-up carry a cold bottle of water to share. A cool drink is a nice “hello” when it’s hot outside.

💌

Leave a check-in card

Print the card below. You color it. Your grown-up fills in the lines. Hand it over or tuck it in the door together.

The hot day check-in plan

Do this on a day the weather report calls very hot. (A weather report is the news about what the sky and air will do today.)

Pick your neighbors. With your grown-up, choose one or two neighbors your family knows. Maybe someone who lives alone.
Pick a cool time. Morning or evening is less hot than the middle of the afternoon.
Get ready. Wear a hat. Grab a cold water bottle for you and one to share.
Walk over together.
Knock and wave. Stand back from the door so your neighbor can see you. Smile.
Let your grown-up talk. You can say “Hi!” and hand over the water or card.
Say goodbye. “Stay cool! See you soon!”
Walk home and tell a grown-up anything you noticed, like “Their mail is piling up” or “They said their house feels hot.” Your grown-up decides what to do next.

The freeze week check-in plan

A freeze is when the air gets so cold that water turns to ice. In Austin, freezes don’t happen often, so it’s easy to forget about them.

Bundle up. Coat, hat and gloves before you step outside.
Watch your step. Ice can be slippery. Walk slowly next to your grown-up.
Knock together and wave. Your grown-up asks, “Is your heat working? Do you need anything?”
Bring a warm hello. A colored card or a note that says “Thinking of you!” is perfect. Let your grown-up carry anything hot.
Head home and get warm.

Fun fact: Water is a little strange. Most things shrink when they get cold, but water gets bigger when it turns to ice. That’s why ice cubes float, and why grown-ups pay extra attention to water pipes when a freeze is coming.

What to say: a kid script

Feeling shy? That’s okay. Here are some words you can practice at home first.

When	You can say
The door opens	“Hi! We came to say hello.”
Handing over water	“It’s so hot today. We brought you a cold water.”
Handing over a card	“I made this for you.”
Saying goodbye	“Have a good day! Stay cool!” or “Stay warm!”
Nobody answers	Nothing! Your grown-up can leave the card in the door, and you head home.

Print it: the check-in card

Print this card, fold it in half and color the front. Your grown-up fills in the lines inside. There’s no company name on it. It’s from your family only.

Front of the card (you decorate)

Inside of the card (your grown-up writes)

Hi, Neighbor!

We’re thinking of you on this very hot (or very cold) day.

Draw a sun, a snowflake, a house or a smiley face here:

From your neighbors at (house number or street):

Our first names (optional):

Would you like us to check in when the weather gets very hot or very cold?

Yes, please No, thank you

A way to reach us (optional, for neighbors you know):

Draw it: our weather buddies map

A map is a drawing of a place from above, like a bird would see it. Draw your street with your grown-up.

Draw a long line for your street.
Draw a box for your home. Put a star on it.
Draw boxes for the homes next door and across the street.
With your grown-up, put a heart on the homes of neighbors your family checks on. You don’t need to write names.
Hang the map on the fridge so everyone remembers.

Fridge poster: our family hot day plan

Fill this in together and hang it where everyone can see it.

Our plan	Write or draw it
Our cool spot inside the house is…
A cool place we can go in town is… (like the library)
Our water bottles live…
The neighbors we check on are… (a heart or a house number is fine)
On very hot days, we play outside…	in the morning in the evening in the shade
If something doesn’t feel right, I…	Tell a grown-up.

Why it works: People like to know someone noticed them. A quick visit takes five minutes, but it tells a neighbor they’re part of the street. And when you help someone, you get to feel proud too.