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Everyone has the power to help young people succeed The secret to helping children and youth grow into happy, healthy, and responsible adults isn’t really a secret at all. Simply make a point to connect with young people: Get to know them, talk to them, understand them, help them, and build relationships with them. As a caring, trusted adult, you’ll be better able to provide the building blocks young people need to succeed and reach their goals. Adult role models, guides, and friends are very important to young people. With your help, young people can begin to understand themselves and the world around them. We all know growing up isn’t always easy. That’s why young people need adults like you in their lives Research from Search Institute identifies 40 Developmental Assets that have a powerful, positive impact on young people. Children and teenagers who have high levels of these assets get involved in fewer risky behaviors and are much more likely to exhibit the positive values, such as leadership, good health, diversity, and success in school. The bad news is most young people don’t have enough assets. About 59 percent of young people, ages 11–18, have 20 or fewer Developmental Assets, according to Search Institute surveys. The good news is we can change this because we all have the power to build assets in young people’s lives. Understanding Developmental Assets The 40 assets are grouped into two main types: external and internal assets. The external assets are the good qualities of life young people get from the world around them. The internal assets are the traits, behaviors, and values that help kids make positive choices and be better prepared for challenging situations. Internal assets are like the internal compass that helps guide them. These two types of assets are divided into eight categories of human development that make it easier to think about activities to build them. The eight asset categories Search Institute has found crucial in helping young people grow up healthy include: • Support: Young people need to be surrounded by people who love, care for, appreciate, and accept them. Each of these categories involves several specific assets that help young people grow up healthy. Want to know more about the 40 Developmental Assets and ideas for helping young people build them? Visit www.search-institute.org/assets.
WHAT YOU CAN DO TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE Caring: Follow your good intentions with great actions People can help and care for others directly or indirectly. Direct help is when you spend time and interact with people who need care. Indirect help is when you collect money, food, or other items to give to people who distribute the items to those in need. It’s important for your Littles to be involved in both direct and indirect caring. Caring is Asset 26 of Search Institute’s 40 Developmental Assets, the qualities, experiences, and relationships that help young people grow up healthy, caring, and responsible. Here are the facts Research shows that young people who place a high value on caring are more likely to promote and model positive rather than negative behaviors. About 50 percent of young people, ages 11–18, say they place a high value on helping others, according to Search Institute surveys. If everyone cared for one another, the world would be a safer, happier, more peaceful place. Tips for building this asset Caring about others includes caring for a lot of different people: those in your family, neighborhood, school, community, state, country, and the world. It can also include caring for animals and the environment. Volunteering—whether for a group or an individual—is an excellent way for young people to show they care. But the easiest, quickest way to demonstrate you care? Simply smile at those around you. Encourage your Little to demonstrate this simple act of caring. For more information about the 40 Developmental Assets, contact Donna Herrmann-Vogel at 513-421-4120 ext. 822 or vogel@bigsforkids.org. |
