Asset Corner #66

June’s Asset Category: BOUNDARIES AND EXPECTATIONS Boundaries are important to young people because they give clear messages about what’s expected. By the same token, caring adults who expect young people to do their best help them to learn good judgment. Every day young people face many options and choices. Boundaries and expectations provide young people with the support they need to choose wisely

This column’s focus will be on…..Asset #16 – High Expectations 

Help young people reach their potential
Young people have all kinds of hopes and dreams: winning a contest, going to college, or flying to the moon. When caring adults show they believe in young people and help them reach their potential, youth are better able to do just that. Express your expectations to young people as a hope you hold for them. After all, would you want people to doubt your abilities, not expect much of you, or even give up? Offer encouragement, but avoid applying unreasonable pressure and allow them to learn from their mistakes. Remember: Few people succeed at everything they try.

Here are the facts
Research shows that young people whose families and teachers have high hopes for them have higher self-esteem, try harder, do better in school, and believe they’ll be able to get good jobs. About 48 percent of young people, ages 11–18, say parents, teachers, and other adults encourage them to do well, according to Search Institute surveys. As a caring adult, you play an important part in setting and adjusting expectations for young people.

Tips for building this asset
Are you clear about the expectations you have for your children, students, or other young people? Discussing their hopes and dreams with them is the first step in making sure expectations bring out their best.

Also try this
In your home and family: Talk with your child about a hope or dream you hold for her or him. State a clear expectation that reflects that hope. Ask your child what he or she expects of himself or herself. Ask how you can support her or him in reaching goals. Discuss how together you can find the resources necessary to make that hope or dream a reality.
In your neighborhood and community: When you talk to young people in your community, be sure to ask them about their goals and how they plan to achieve them. Praise young people for doing the best they can and encourage them when they encounter setbacks. Use setbacks as an opportunity to discuss what they might do differently next time.
In your school or youth program: Talk with students and participants about a time when they met an expectation that at first seemed too high. How did it make them feel? What did they learn from any mistakes along the way?

ASSET RELATED NEWS
l  The Collab’s Mobile Food Pantry is scheduled this month for Thursday, June 11th. This plus a host of other programs/services are always in need of help particularly with their Summer Youth programming.  If you’re interested in volunteering, give the Collab a call at 440.887.4873.
l  A waiting list has been started for the I Can Ride event taking place the week of June 22nd at the Ries Ice Rink on Forestwood Dr. Volunteers, however, are still needed to insure success of this great cause.  You need to be at least 16, available for 90 minutes at the same time each of the 5 days of camp and able to do light jogging/running. Can’t volunteer? Consider making a donation to cover the cost of feeding  those volunteers working the entire event. To register as a rider, a volunteer and/or to make a donation, email icanbike.cityofparma@gmail.com.  For more information go to: www.icanshine.org.
l  The county's Youth Resource Center has compiled a list of summer opportunities for teens focusing on leadership development opportunities for those who will be entering grades 9-12 in the fall. This is an impressively comprehensive list of programs worth looking into. Go to the Collab's web site (www.familycollaborative.com) to view a copy.
l  It's Backpacks For Kids time again. This will be the 5th year that the generous contribution of KIKS Office, its vendors and the CBS Partnership provide stuffed backpacks for upwards of 400 kids in our district. The cost remains at $18 per backpack. Please help reach our goal by making a check payable to Parma City Schools Foundation – Backpack Drive & sending it to 5311 Longwood Ave. Parma, OH 44134.
l  The Ridgewood Garden Club is working hard, sprucing up the grounds & buildings of Stearns Farm.  This would be a great community service project for any youngster or youth group, or for that matter any organization looking for a cause to support. If you, your company, or organization would like to help in any capacity (including donations) please contact one of the committee members, Kathy at 216-520-1622 or Fay at 440-842-4313.  

SHARE YOUR ASSET BUILDING IDEAS AND/OR THOUGHTS ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENTAL ASSET CONCEPT BY VISITING THE “ASSET CORNER” FACEBOOK PAGE. I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU.

Visit www.parmacityschools.org/character, www.search-institute.org/assets for more information about the 40 Developmental Assets and ideas for helping young people build them. Or go here  http://www.parentfurther.com/  for great asset-based parenting tips, tricks, activities and ideas.