Asset Corner #67

SHOW KIDS YOU CARE:  LISTEN TO THEIR FAVORITE MUSIC WITH THEM. July’s Asset Category:  CONSTRUCTIVE USE OF TIME All work and no play can be boring and stressful…..The pace of everyday life varies depending on the activities young people participate in.These fluctuations are normal, even healthy. As long as young people don’t consistently have too much to do or not enough to do, they’re right on track. Problems arise when the balance begins to tip too far to one side or the other. Too much involvement can lead to stress or anxiety. Too little involvement can be a sign of depression or isolation. Ensure that young people constructively use their time for both fun and learning. This column’s focus will be on…..Asset #20 - Time At Home 

Quality time as a family
Work, school, activities, friends, and other obligations can at times pull family members apart rather than bring them together. You don’t necessarily have to change activities to find family time. Just be creative.

Here are the facts
Research shows spending quality time together as a family helps young people strengthen skills such as leadership, good health, and success in school. About 51 percent of young people, ages 11–18, spend no more than two nights a week with friends “with nothing special to do,” according to Search Institute surveys. Protecting young people from risky behaviors and helping them develop positive behavior is easier when you spend time together as a family.

Tips for building this asset
Simply start spending time together: First, choose an activity the entire family enjoys. Then, commit to do the activity together one evening a week. Decide if you want to continue the activity or try something different. Ask yourselves: How often do we laugh together? Have fun together? Enjoy being with each other?

Also try this
In your home and family:
Cook dinner together, with each family member preparing a dish. Then, for a fun change, eat dessert first.
In your neighborhood and community: Invite your child’s friend and his or her family over for an evening of family time—movies, games, popcorn and other treats.
In your school and youth program: Avoid scheduling practices or meetings that conflict with the dinner hour. It’s important for families to eat together.

ASSET RELATED NEWS
l  The Collab’s Mobile Food Pantry is scheduled this month for Thursday, July 9th. 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  The Collab is once again hosting a free Summer Breakfast (served from 9:00 am to 10:00 am) & Lunch (from noon to 1:30 pm) program for kids ranging from ages 2 to 18. No registration is required – just show up and enjoy. The Collab (Parma Area Family Collaborative) located in the former Hanna Elementary school building, 11212 Snow Rd. Call 440.887.4873 with any questions.
l  Campus Life Parma is looking for Parma area high school students to pick up some of the work that remains unfinished following the work of North Coast Mission Connection’s rehab of area homes. Work days are scheduled for 11:00 am to 5:00 pm, Saturday July 11 and for the same time on Tuesday, July 14. A pizza party w/the distribution of service certificates will take pace from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Contact Lisa Timko at 440.523.1080 or email at ltimko@campuslifecleveland.org for more information. You may also register at facebook.com/campuslifeparma/events.
l  A special THANK YOU to the 100 or so volunteers who worked the “I Can Ride” week long event last month. As a result of their help and support 40 area special needs youngsters passed a life milestone by learning to ride a two wheel bicycle.  What a great asset-building event!

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.


Gene Lovasy

Community Volunteer/Activist

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Volume 7, Issue 7, Posted 12:35 AM, 07.01.2015