What
is Asset Development?
- Positive
foundation for nurturing development in children and adolescents
- Asset-building
needs to be a high priority in communities committed to
children and adolescents
- Provides
parents with some basic principles to use to make decisions
and shape family life
- Helps
parents be intentional about their choices
- Knowing
that what they do can have a tremendously positive impact
on their children's lives
What
Parents Can Do...
- Post
the list of 40 assets on the refrigerator door. Each
day, purposefully nurture at least one asset
- Talk
to children about assets and ask them for suggestions of
ways to strengthen assets
- Model
- and talk about - the values and priorities you wish to
pass on to children
- Take
time to nurture your own assets by spending time with supportive
people, using time constructively and reflecting on your
own values and commitments
- Regularly
do things with children, including projects around the house,
recreational activities and service projects
- Invite
caring, trustworthy, principled adults into the lives of
children
40
Developmental Assets
Support...
1. Family support-Family
life provides high levels of love and support.
2. Positive
family communication-Young person and her/ his parent(s) communicate
positively, and young person is willing to seek advice and
counsel from parent(s).
3. Other adult
relationships-Young person receives support from three or
more nonparent adults.
4. Caring neighborhood-Youth
experiences caring neighbors.
5. Caring school
climate-School provides a caring, encouraging environment.
6. Parent involvement
in schooling-Parent(s) are actively involved in helping young
person succeed in school.
Empowerment...
7. Community
values youth-Young person perceives that adults in the community
value youth.
8. Youth as
resources-Young people are given useful roles in the community.
9. Service to
others-Young person serves in the community one hour or more
per week.
10. Safety-Young person
feels safe at home, at school, and in the neighborhood.
Boundaries
& Expectations...
11. Family boundaries-Family
has clear rules and consequences and monitors the young person's
whereabouts.
12. School boundaries-School
provides clear rules and consequences.
13. Neighborhood
boundaries- eighbors take responsibility for monitoring young
people's behavior.
14. Adult role models-Parent(s)
and other adults model positive, responsible behavior.
15. Positive peer influence-Young
person's best friends model responsible behavior.
16. High expectations-Both
parent(s) & teachers encourage the young person to do
well.
Constructive
Use of Time...
17. Creative activities-Young
person spends three or more hours per week in lessons or practice
in music, theater, or other arts.
18. Youth programs- Young
person spends three or more hours per week in sports, clubs,
or organizations at school and/or in the community.
19. Religious community-
Young person spends one or more hours per week in activities
in a religious institution.
20. Time at home-Young
person is out with friends "with nothing special to do" two
or fewer nights per week.
Commitment
To Learning...
21. Achievement motivation-Young
person is motivated to do well in school.
22. School engagement-Young
person is actively engaged in learning.
23. Homework-Young
person reports doing at least 1 hour of homework every school
day.
24. Bonding to school-Young
person cares about her/his school.
25. Reading for pleasure-Young
person reads for pleasure three or more hours per week.
Positive
Values...
26. Caring-Young
person places high value on helping other people.
27. Equality and social
justice– Young person places high value on promoting
equality & reducing hunger & poverty.
28. Integrity-Young
person acts on convictions & stands up for her/his beliefs.
29. Honesty-Young person
“tells the truth even when it is not easy.”
30. Responsibility-Young
person accepts & takes personal responsibility.
31. Restraint-Young person
believes it is important not to be sexually active or to use
alcohol or other drugs.
Social
Competencies...
32. Planning and
decision making-Young person is able to plan ahead & make
choices.
33. Interpersonal competence-Youth
has empathy, sensitivity, & friendship skills.
34. Cultural competence-Young
person has knowledge of and comfort with people of different
cultural/racial/ethnic backgrounds.
35. Resistance skills-Youth
can resist negative peer pressure & dangerous situations.
36. Peaceful conflict resolution-Young
person seeks to resolve conflict nonviolently.
Positive
Identity...
37. Personal power-Youth
feels he/she has control over “things that happen to
me.
38. Self-esteem-Young person
reports having a high self-esteem.
39. Sense of purpose-Young
person reports that “my life has a purpose.”
40. Positive view of personal
future-Young person is optimistic about her/his future.
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