When times get tough, kids need adults they can trust

Who did you turn to for advice, comfort, and understanding

when you were young? Was there an adult you trusted and

enjoyed talking with? If you had an adult outside your family

who was there for you during tough times and good times,

you probably understand how important a relationship like

that is for a young person. Now you can be that adult friend.

Whether you’re a neighbor, teacher, tutor, coach, aunt, older

cousin, or coffee shop worker—you can be a good friend to a

young person. Young people want adults besides their

parents to count on. Problem is, we live in a society that

doesn’t always encourage adults and youth to spend time

together. But the effort is worthwhile. Other Adult

Relationships is Asset 3 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 have three or more caring adults (besides parents or guardians) who support them feel happier and more hopeful, do better in school, and are less likely to rely on drinking, smoking, or drugs to feel good or fit in. About 43 percent of young people, ages 11–18, have three or more nonparent adults in their lives, according to Search Institute surveys. Caring adults are important to the development of young people, especially if those adults are open to discussing tough questions and know how to listen without judging.

Tips for building this asset

Build relationships. Connect with young people outside your own family and make an effort to interact regularly. They need caring adults to bounce ideas off, ask questions of, laugh with, and help sort through sticky situations. If you’re a parent, encourage other caring adults to develop a friendship with your children.

Also try this

In your home and family: Think about your child’s strengths, talents, and interests. Do you know any adults who share those same qualities? Invite one of them to get to know your child better by coming to a school activity or getting together for dessert or a movie.

In your neighborhood and community: Consider becoming a mentor to one or more young people in your community.

In your school or youth program: Tell young people about an adult who supported you when you were young. Ask them to think about someone they counted on during a tough time. Have the young people pair up and brainstorm ways they could initiate more friendships with other caring adults and what they’d want to get from these relationships.

Want to know more about the 40 Developmental Assets and ideas for helping young people build them? Visit www.search-institute.org/assets.

————————-

Developmental Assets^® are positive factors within young people, families, communities, schools, and other settings that research has found to be important in promoting the healthy development of young people. From Instant Assets: 52 Short and Simple E-Mails for Sharing the Asset Message. Copyright © 2007 by Search Institute^®, 877-240-7251; www.search-institute.org. This message may be reproduced for educational, noncommercial uses only (with this copyright line). All rights reserved.

Filed under: Abundant Assets on May 14th, 2008 | No Comments »

With warm weather and rain showers blessing Camp Cosby, animals are out in full force!  We saw a male and a female five-lined skink basking in the sun together on a log.   The male has a red head, and looses his stripes, while the female doesn’t have any red and keeps her stripes.  Looking at the female’s enlarged belly, we can also guess that the female is gravid (full of eggs).

Filed under: Outdoor Classroom on May 9th, 2008 | No Comments »

Forest Avenue Elementary School visited the Outdoor Classroom this week for their annual trip.   Students were able to hike in the forest learning to identify tree species, search for aquatic critters at the lakefront, and learn about predator/prey dynamics through a variety of interactive activities.  The school also had a special moment of celebration when the head teacher, Mrs. Vinson, announced that one of this year’s chaperones had once been a 5th grade student visiting Camp Cosby on her own school trip many years ago, still with Mrs. Vinson as a teacher!!

Filed under: Outdoor Classroom on May 9th, 2008 | No Comments »

Shirley Farrell of the Sierra Club, and Doyle Keasal of Discovering Our Heritage, recently offered an outdoor education curriculum training. The 2 day workshop covered activities from Project Wild, Project Wet, Project Wild Aquatic, and Flying Wild. Members of Camp Cosby staff were able to attend the training along with teachers from local schools.

A similar FREE Project Wild training will be offered this weekend at Camp Winnataska by Heather Montgomery. More details can be found at www.winnteacher.org.

Filed under: Outdoor Classroom on May 9th, 2008 | No Comments »

The importance of an open door

Sometimes conversations with young people—especially your own children—can become confrontational. Learning to listen can help prevent slamming doors and, instead, open them. Though challenging, being available for frequent, in-depth conversations is an important role parents and other adult family members can play in children’s lives—from the time they learn to talk all the way into adulthood. The goal is to promote and maintain an open-door policy. Ask open-ended questions and then listen, listen, listen. Positive Family Communication is Asset 2 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 experience positive communication with their parents are more likely to grow up healthy and are more willing to seek their parents’ advice and counsel. About 28 percent of young people, ages 11–18, enjoy positive communication with their parents and are willing to seek their parents’ counsel and advice, according to Search Institute surveys. Practice consistently communicating—talking and listening to young people—with an open mind and heart.

Tips for building this asset

Positive communication also means listening to understand a young person’s perspective, not to advocate your position. Be available when young people need you—and even when they think they don’t. Take good care of yourself so when your children want to talk, you can give them your full attention.

Also try this

In your home and family: Make it easy for your child to spend time talking with you: Keep an extra stool or chair in the kitchen, den, home office, or workshop area. When you’re in the car together is a great time to chat, too.

In your neighborhood and community: Ask young people you know caring questions, such as: What was the best thing about school today? What was the best act in the talent show? Why? Listen to their answers and respond accordingly.

In your school or youth program: During parent meetings, discuss the importance of positive communication between parents and children.

Want to know more about the 40 Developmental Assets and ideas for helping young people build them? Visit www.search-institute.org/assets.

————————-

Developmental Assets^® are positive factors within young people, families, communities, schools, and other settings that research has found to be important in promoting the healthy development of young people. From Instant Assets: 52 Short and Simple E-Mails for Sharing the Asset Message. Copyright © 2007 by Search Institute^®, 877-240-7251; www.search-institute.org. This message may be reproduced for educational, noncommercial uses only (with this copyright line). All rights reserved.

Filed under: Abundant Assets on May 7th, 2008 | No Comments »