Parents as Asset Builders...Positive Family Communication

There is much to be said about Positive Family Communication, this is such an important Developmental Asset. Here are some ideas I want to share with you.

1. Teach your children the language of emotion. Help them to describe how they are feeling, this will help them understand how they are feeling and communicate those feelings to you, their parent.

2. If your child is feeling angry, sad or really excited try to find out why. If they don't want to tell you why, make sure you know that you are there for them and will be ready to listen when they are ready to share. Sometimes pushing your child to share when they are not ready can do exactly the opposite of what you are trying to accomplish. Patience is key!

3. Remember eye contact. We all know how it feels when someone we are talking to seems distracted or not really listening. It is every bit as frustrating and minimizing when we do it to our children. Get down to their level, take the time to really listen and let them know you really care.

4. Careful with jokes and teasing. What might seem like harmless fun from our perspective might feel very different from the perspective of our youngster. Watch carefully for signs that jokes or teasing is making your child uncomfortable or hurting their feelings.

5. Let the emotions of your child come out without judgement or shame. Scolding a child for crying or being angry simply teaches them their feelings are not valid and they should keep them inside. It won't stop them from feeling that way, only prevents them from sharing them freely. Even if you feel the issue is trivial, let them express their sorrow without judgement or feelings of shame.

Of course this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Positive Family Communication. There have been hundres of books written on this very subject. These are some great starting points and ideas for places to start in creating an environment in your home, were communicationis honest and helpful. Have a great week and remember, everyone can be an asset builder!

Parents as Asset Builders....Building Assets in your child, one at a time

Most parents want their kids to succeed....the 40 Developmental Assets have been clearly shown to help kids do just that! Over the next several months I am going to be highlighing an asset or two here on the FCSS Blog. Describe what it is and how these specific assets can be developed in our kids. I'm starting out with the most obvious and straightforward, even though they might seem like commen sense to most parents I think they warrant highlighting. Here are all of the 40 Developmental Assets:


Lets start with #1 Family Support. For a young person to feel like they have family support means they have a safe home and family life. They feel like they are valued as a member of the family and would describe their family as a "safe place". Young people need to be around people that love, care for, appreciate, and accept them. The family unit regardless of what that looks like is the first and most important place a child should feel all of those things. We can all say we love our children...think about how your child knows that to be true. Think about how your child knows they are appreicated and accepted for who they are. Parents really set the tone for how these important components of family life are communicated and more importantly demonstrated. Telling your child you love them, listening to what they have to say about school, interests and life in general, and letting them know you appreciate all that they are and do are all great ways to build Family Support.

Remember, there are no "butts" in the 40 Developmental Assets! Be an Asset Builder Today!

AssetReview

Parents as Asset Builders

The 40 Developmental Assets have been proven to be key indicators of young peoples' success. Some of the indicators of success are lower rates of truancy, more tolerance to others and avoidance of the use of alcohol and drugs. The more developmental assets a young person has, the more likely they are to become a contributing member of their community and more likely to achieve their personal goals. So as a parent, what can I do to be an asset builder for my child?

Check out this video to learn more about Developmental Assets and their importance for youth!

For more information about becoming an Asset Builder for you Child. Come to the Parent Workshop Series on Monday September 20th at 7pm at the Beaumont Community Youth Centre. Phone 780 929 3327 to register or for more information.

Back in the swing of school!

Here is an interesting article that was forwarded to me. Really speaks to the importance of teaching children the importance of building healthy relationships. School is one setting in which this happens, however, Canada ranks in the bottom third of developed countries for bullying behaviors. Give this a read and let me know what YOU think!