It is a good sign when a young person exhibits care and concern for other people, both in your own community and beyond it. Here are a few things to keep in mind when fostering your child’s natural empathy, kindness, and respect for others.
- Is there a cause that is of particular importance to your teen? What are some reasonable, achievable ways that your teen can support that cause? Maybe they’d like to collect spare change in a jar to donate to a charitable organization. Maybe there’s a fundraiser, such as a charity walkathon, that you could do together as a family. It’s a good idea to let your teen take the lead when deciding which cause to support and how. This makes their charitable work more meaningful for them personally.
- If your teen helps out without being asked, or performs an act of kindness, acknowledge and praise them for it.
- Ask about our mentorship program at Phoenix. It could be an excellent opportunity for your teen to develop a meaningful relationship with a young schoolmate who needs extra help.
RECOMMENDED READING: Empowering Youth: How to Encourage Young Leaders to Do Great Things by Kelly Curtis
Search Institute has identified 40 building blocks of healthy development, known as Developmental Assets, that help adolescents to grow up healthy, caring, and responsible. Visit us here every Wednesday to read about different ways that you, your family, and your community can take action to help equip our young people develop resilience and achieve success in life.
Phoenix Education Foundation 