Parents do everything they can to ensure their children’s success and well-being. However, kids need additional relationships outside the family in order to develop strong life skills. When it comes to human development, childhood is a crucial period; this is when we build our cognitive, emotional, social, and rational abilities. As they continue to grow and change, kids need more than parental figures. A friend, teacher or non-parent mentor can introduce children to new ways of thinking and help them form interpersonal connections. This has far-reaching benefits, including better results in school and increased confidence. Plus, mentorship is especially helpful for at-risk youth. With help from a mentor, they are 52% less likely to skip school and 55% more likely to attend college.

Why Every Child Needs a Non-Parent Mentor 

A Third-Party to Confide In  

A non-parent mentor is an unbiased third party whose job it is to listen. Every child’s situation at home is different. At times, kids may not feel comfortable sharing their innermost feelings with their parents. Non-parent mentors are trained to get on their level and guide them in the right direction. They do this by letting the child communicate about things they might not vocalize normally, whether it’s bullies, poor grades or other worries.

Development of Self-Efficacy

As kids continue to grow and thrive, they need to know they’re capable of standing on their own two feet. You may be thinking, “Hold on! I don’t have to think about that until they turn 18, right?” Actually, this is something we should be thinking about long before our kids pack up for college. The skills we build as children are like tools we obtain and put in a backpack. We carry this backpack around for the rest of our life, and when things come our way we can retrieve those tools we acquired earlier. This means that most children can benefit from developing a strong sense of self-efficacy. By working with a non-parent mentor and making connections outside of family life, kids get the chance to learn about themselves and develop confidence.

Mentees Love Giving Back

90% of kids with a non-parent mentor show interest in becoming mentors themselves. A statistic like this serves to demonstrate the importance of mentorship. Mentors have a massive impact on their mentees, and the kids will always look back on that time fondly. It encourages them to help others, develop leadership skills, and give back to the community. Additionally, working with a non-parent mentor fosters empathy, compassion and understanding. Children will take the spirit of altruism with them on their journey through life.

Lead4Life, Inc. Can Introduce Your Child to a Trained, Non-Parent Mentor

Does your child need a non-parent mentor? Visit our website and check out our mentoring initiative for more information, or contact us at 240-499-8949. At Lead4Life, we strive to empower every participant in our programs so that they may find their purpose, achieve their goals, and become poised, productive members of their community. We advocate for those in need and assist each and every individual by providing compassionate education and valuable resources and tools so that they can make the very best decisions and develop important life, social, and competency skills.

The purpose of youth engagement is to enhance the development of young people and help them reach their fullest potential. When successful, it is a means of creating positive change. However, young people are extremely unfocused in our current environment. Due to technology addictions, excessive social media usage and heightened isolation, young people are often diverted away from the present moment. In a world that’s becoming increasingly tough to navigate, it’s comforting to tune out and escape.

When you examine the big picture, it’s not hard to comprehend the insolvency of meaningful youth engagement. With so many things competing for their attention, young people are urged to focus on future plans and harmful comparisons instead of slowing down and reflecting. Now more than ever, youth leaders need to consider what makes youth engagement a successful practice. These tips we’ve provided should help get you started

1. Be Sincere

Young people can spot disingenuousness from a mile away. They’re way more apt to be responsive if they feel the person they’re communicating with is speaking authentically. Use experiences and stories from your own life to relate to the young people you’re addressing. Speak to them on their level, not from a pulpit.

2. No Belittling or “Toddler Speak”  

As an adult, you probably don’t like when others behave in a way that is condescending. Kids don’t like it, either! People of a young age are especially sensitive to this since they are accustomed to being dismissed. Some adults in their lives might treat them as if they are inexperienced, naïve and infantile. Young people should always be valued and spoken to as adults-in-training. 

3. Prioritize Inclusivity  

Providing meaningful youth engagement means ensuring that every single youth is engaged. This means recognizing that some young people have additional challenges to contend with on a daily basis. No young person should feel like they don’t belong, no matter their race, religion, sexual orientation or gender identity.

4. Encourage Short-Term and Long-Term Goals

One way to keep young people engaged is to give them reasonable goals to work towards as a group. These can be short-term and long-term aspirations. For example, perhaps in the short-term a group of adolescents could get together once a week to participate in a community gardening project or spoken word poetry performance. In the long-term, they might enjoy working together to complete college essays or brainstorm passions to pursue.

5. Above All Else, Listen

What do the young people in your life like to do, and what keeps them interested? Do they enjoy listening to music, making art, reading, or playing sports? What makes them feel energetic and inspired? These answers are the key to meaningful youth engagement. The young person in your life doesn’t just want to be heard, they need to be heard. The best way to listen is to take an active interest in the hobbies and activities they love.

Learn More about Youth Engagement with Lead4Life, Inc.

Are you interested in learning more about ways to support youth engagement? Visit our website for more information or contact us at 240-499-8949. At Lead4Life, we strive to empower every participant in our programs so that they may find their purpose, achieve their goals, and become poised, productive members of their community. We advocate for those in need and assist each and every individual by providing compassionate education and valuable resources and tools so that they can make the very best decisions and develop important life, social, and competency skills.

Support groups are proven to be an effective tool, especially for at-risk youth. Kids have a wide range of struggles to contend with today, and the COVID-19 pandemic has only added to their difficulties. Right now, parents, friends and community leaders may be wondering how they can help the young people in their life. According to Youth.gov, children who participate in youth support groups are much more likely to develop strong social skills, self-esteem and a higher level of education. Here are a few specific reasons youth support groups are so essential.

They Provide a Safe Space

It isn’t always easy for young people to open up to adults. Authority figures can be intimidating, and kids may feel that adults don’t understand their perspective. At this point in their lives, it’s crucial for young people to feel heard and supported. In most situations, they will feel more comfortable opening up to kids their own age who may be grappling with the same problems. While a youth leader can certainly help guide the conversation, youth support groups should always encourage kids to communicate with each other openly. If young people feel safe in a welcoming environment, they will be more willing to speak honestly about their emotions.

Kids Can Realize They Aren’t Alone

Think back to being a teenager. No matter what your exact situation was, at some point you probably felt confused, angry, or upset about something beyond your control. More than likely, you didn’t know how to maneuver these complex feelings because you didn’t have the proper tools at your disposal. You might have felt completely alone in these struggles, like you were the only person on the planet having a hard time. To make matters worse, you were afraid to speak about them because you thought you’d be rejected or labeled a certain way. In youth support groups, kids get the chance to share with each other and talk about things they may not voice in classrooms, social gatherings or even at home. These meetings set aside time for young people to become vulnerable. After a few sessions, they’ll begin to see that they aren’t alone with their thoughts and emotions. For kids, this alone can be an enormous relief, especially if they are more isolated now due to the pandemic.

They Encourage Goal-Setting and Problem-Solving

After young people see that others around them are dealing with similar problems, they can begin to brainstorm ways to alleviate these stresses. In addition, they will gain plenty of insight by learning about how other kids cope with their struggles. One simple suggestion or idea could change one individual’s life forever. Let’s say, for instance, that someone in a youth support group mentions that going for regular walks and getting exercise helps them clear their head. Perhaps another individual suggests going for a walk together. During those walks, they talk about college applications and what they both plan to do for the future. Maybe they challenge each other to finish their essays, and as a reward they can go to a movie or a sporting event. From that point on, they develop a friendship built on mutual support and trust. Support group then extends beyond the four walls of the room, helping kids develop vital life skills together.

Learn More about Youth Support Groups with Lead4Life, Inc.

Are you interested in hearing more about youth support groups in your area? Visit our website for more information or contact us at 240-499-8949. At Lead4Life, we strive to empower every participant in our programs so that they may find their purpose, achieve their goals, and become poised, productive members of their community. We advocate for those in need and assist each and every individual by providing compassionate education and valuable resources and tools so that they can make the very best decisions and develop important life, social, and competency skills.