The Top 10 Teen Assets that Predict Caring, Responsible Successful Adults
Category: Parenting, Family Issues (BQ14)Originally Submitted on 4/25/99.
The respected research organization The Search Institute has done a study that indicated 40 possible assets that children can have that predict they will grow up to be caring, responsible and successful people. Here are some 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.
About the Submitter
This piece was originally submitted by Diana Robinson, Ph.D., Personal Development Coach, who can be reached at Diana@ChoiceCoach.com, or visited on the web. Diana Robinson wants you to know: My two e-mail newsletters are free. To subscribe, and to learn more about my coaching, please visit my web site. I also offer you the gift of a half-hour of free coaching by phone, with no obligation. The original source is: The Search Institute, reported in Gannett Newspapers.
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