Positive youth development

It’s Saturday afternoon and your child is merrily clicking away a text message, in between Facebook updates, Wii Fit games, a downloaded PG rated movie, nutritious snack and maybe even homework. What could be better? Surely he or she is well on the way to becoming a healthy, constructive adult.

This may be the case; however, research has identified basic elements needed for young people to develop to their greatest potential. Identified as positive youth development, this approach creates these opportunities and environments that meet young people’s needs and build life skills.

• Belonging: Youth need to know they are cared about and accepted by others. Youth also need to experience a sense of physical and emotional safety. They need to feel a sense of connection to others in the group. Current research emphasizes how important it is that youth have opportunities for long-term consistent relationships with adults other than their parents. In fact, the research suggests that a sense of belonging may be the single most powerful positive ingredient we can add into the lives of children and youth.

• Mastery: This element includes the development of skills, knowledge and attitudes followed by the competent demonstration of these skills and knowledge. In order to develop self-confidence and a sense that they matter, young people need to feel that they are capable. They must also experience success at solving problems and meeting meaningful challenges.

• Generosity: Young people need to feel their lives have meaning and purpose. They need opportunities to connect to their communities and learn how to give back to others. As part of this process, youth gain an understanding of others’ needs and learn how to respond to these needs.

• Independence: Youth need to know that they are able to influence people and events through decision making and action. Independence refers to an adolescent’s growing ability to think, feel, make decisions and act on her or his own. This continues to develop whenever someone is challenged to act with a new level of self-reliance. By gaining a sense of independence, youth develop personal responsibility and discipline.

National studies, such as the “4-H Study of Positive Youth Development” conducted by the Institute for Applied Research in Youth Development at Tufts University, have shown that youth engaged programs emphasizing positive youth development are more likely to get better grades in school, more likely to attend college and positively contribute to their families and communities and less likely to engage in risky behaviors.

Lee Hecimovich is the 4-H Youth Development agent for the Mat Su/Copper River District.