40 Assets

Positive Things You Can Offer Kids

Many things you do – or could do – everyday make a big difference for kids. How? By building “developmental assets” – 40 essential building blocks that children and teenagers need as a foundation for growing up. Research shows that these assets can have a positive impact on young people’s lives.

Support them with your love, care, and attention. (Assets #1 – 6).

Caring, supportive relationships are vital to children and teenagers. You help young people feel supported when you:

· Freely give them your love, affirmation, and acceptance;

· Surround them with people who care; and

· Help them know that they belong.

If you took the quiz the week before and you checked #2 or #5, you are supporting kids.

Empower them with opportunities to make a difference in their family and community. (Assets #7 – 10)

Kids need to discover the joy of making a difference. You empower them when you:

Help them feel valued and valuable;
Give them opportunities to serve others; and
Keep them safe.

If you took the quiz the week before and you checked #1 or #8, you are empowering kids.

Establish clear BOUNDARIES and have high EXPECTATIONS. (Assets #11-16)

Young people need your guidance to stay healthy and safe. You offer healthy boundaries and expectations when you:

Set and enforce clear, respectful rules and limits,
Behave in healthy and responsible ways; and
Expect and help kids to do and be their best.

If you took the quiz the week before and you checked #7 or #11, you are setting boundaries and expectations.

Help them find activities that make CONSTRUCTIVE USE OF their TIME. (Assets #17-20)

All kids need access to quality programs and activities that enrich their lives, develop their talents and interests, and help them develop healthy relationships.

These can include

· Music

· Drama and other arts

· Sports and hobbies; and

· Involvement in church, synagogue, temple, or other religious community.

It’s also important that they spend time at home.

If you took the quiz the week before and you checked #13 or #14, you are helping to provide opportunities for constructive use of time.

Nurture in them a COMMITMENT TO LEARNING. (Assets #21-25)

Kids need to develop a lifelong commitment to learning. You help young people develop this commitment when you:

Encourage them in their education;
Challenge them to explore and learn new things; and
Read and learn with them.

If you took the quiz the week before and you checked #3 or #9, you are nurturing a commitment to learning.

Instill POSITIVE VALUES to guide them. (Assets #26-31)

Positive values give children and youth the “internal compasses” they need to guide them. You can help shape their values when you:

Model positive values;
Give kids opportunities to think and talk about their values; and
Support and guide them as they put their values into practice.

If you took the quiz the week before and you checked #4 or #6, you are instilling positive values.

Help them develop life skills and SOCIAL COMPETENICES. (Assets #32-36)

Social competencies are the life skills young people need to be independent, capable, and competent. You help young people develop social competencies when you:

Expose them to new people and things;
Model and teach them the skills they need; and
Challenge them to use their skills.

If you took the quiz the week before and you checked #10 or #16, you are helping kids develop social competencies.

Nurture, celebrate, and affirm their POSITIVE IDENTITY. (Assets #37-40)

A positive identity forms the foundation that helps young people feel secure in who they are. You nurture a positive identity when you:

Love and support them unconditionally;
Live a life filled with purpose, meaning, and optimism; and
Help them find meaning and purpose for their own lives.

If you took the quiz the week before and you checked #12 or #15, you are nurturing positive identity.

For more information about asset building and Healthy Communities/Healthy Youth, contact Lori Johnson, Tama County Empowerment Coordinator, Tama County Public Health and Home Care, at (641) 484-4788 or 1-866-484-4788.