Asset No. 3: Other adult relationships
Think back to your youth. For most of you, it will be a quick trip to identify the adults in your life that you enjoyed spending time with and talking with. Who were there? They may have been relatives or neighbors. Perhaps they were teachers or a favorite school bus driver, a neighbor, pastor, or coach. Regardless of their position or title, these people showed interest in and concern for you. They helped you sort out issues of growing up. When you think about them you smile.
Certainly our young people also need these caring type adults in their lives. Research from the Search Institute shows that when young people receive the support of three or more non-parent adults, they are more likely to grow up healthy. They are also less likely to be involved in violence or the use of alcohol and other drugs and they are more likely to become good leaders, value diversity, and succeed in school.
Nearly half, about 49 percent of Floyd County’s young people, grades 6th through 12th, say they have the support of three or more caring adults. These are the people youth can bounce ideas off of and to help youth as they negotiate their way through life’s path.
So how can we help our youth identify these individuals? Find sharing time to talk with your child about the adults he enjoys being with … and why. Tell about the people who were important in your life as you grew up as you also share what you learned from them. Be certain to spend more time listening and talking your child’s adult friends rather than yours.
Generate conversation with your child as he ponders what adult aside the family he would like to know better, and why. Also, ask who he could go to if he had a tough question that he didn’t want to discuss with you.
Parents cannot “be there” for their children one hundred percent of the time. Helping our young people identify other trusted and caring adults is an important step for us to take. It is a step that helps our children feel more secure and supported.
Other Adult Relationship is Asset No. 3 of the 40 Assets. To learn about building assets with children and youth, please visit the Youth Count Web site at www.youthcount.com
Bridgwater may be reached at 812- 923-1160 or by e-mail at barbara@youthcount.com.
Family
BRIDGWATER: Asset No. 3 — Other adult relationships
- Family
-
-
Dancing
-
In the doghouse
-
Forum helps Hispanic parents stay involved with education
Angelica Perez, family services adviser for Head Start, said it is important for children to learn English at a young age. She has seen the Hispanic population in Clark County grow and said there is an increased need for English Second Language programs.
-
Single father graduates from Family Drug Court
Carmichael said the carrot and stick in Drug Court is not going back to prison. In the Family Treatment Drug Court, the motivation is to get their kids back. The participants have pending Child in Need of Services (CHINS) cases.
-
GCCS OKs modified balanced calendar
The calendar for 2012-2013 closely follows the calendar adopted by the New Albany-Floyd County Consolidated School Corporation for the same year.
-
Just doing their jobs, well: Fairmont Elementary School gets recognition, $25,000 award
-
House panel leader leery of creationism bill
Supporters in the Senate, which approved the bill last week in a 28-22 vote, say the broader religious reference improves the bill’s chances of being ruled constitutional.
-
Prosser hosts heated competition
-
Students get time out for good behavior
-
Student sues to wear breast cancer bracelet
An Indiana eighth-grader sued his school district in federal court Monday for the right to wear a bracelet promoting breast cancer awareness with the message “I (heart) Boobies.”
- More Family Headlines
-
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States
Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs
States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration
Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart
Nevada Highway Patrol, City Settle Beating Case
Homs Bombardment Continues, Global Outcry Grows
Raw Video: Dog Rescued From Icy Colo. Water
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
