Sometime ago, the respected research organization The Search Institute did a study that indicated 40 possible assets that children can have as they grow. It seems that the more of these assets they have, the greater is the likelihood that they will grow up to be caring, responsible and successful people. are Here are ten examples:
1. Support: Teens talk with their parents and know that they are heard. They know their neighbors, and know that their neighbors and community care about them.
2. Empowerment: They see themselves as valued by the people and community around them. They see themselves as able to have an effect.
3. Contribution: They spend an hour or more every week contributing to their community in one way or another.
4. Boundaries and expectations: Both at school and at home there are clear rules and consequences. The adults around them model positive, responsible behavior and convey that this is expected of the teens, also.
5. Constructive use of time: They spend three or more hours a week in music or other arts lessons or similar activities, and fewer than two nights a week “hanging out” or doing nothing.
6. Commitment to learning: They are motivated to do well in school and read for pleasure more than three hours a week.
7. Positive values: They are concerned about social issues such as equality, hunger, and poverty. They are not involved with drugs or alcohol and are not sexually active.
8. Social competencies: They know how to make plans and choices, how to relate to others, and how to resolve conflict without violence.
9. Positive identity: They have high self-esteem. (This is not the same thing as arrogance, which is often a cover-up for low self-esteem.)
10. Purpose: They report that they believe their lives have purpose.
For more information, visit The Search Institute.
