Developmental Asset #8: Youth as Resources | Young people perform useful roles in the community.

People of all ages want to feel that that they make a contribution and play a meaningful role in their community, whether at home, at school, or in the neighborhood. Research shows that youth who feel valued and useful have higher self-esteem, a greater sense of personal control, reduced delinquency, greater social and personal responsibility, reduced substance abuse, and better social skills.

Youth in Palo Alto would benefit from having more opportunities to contribute in meaningful ways to our whole community, particularly when they become teenagers.  In Project Cornerstone’s 2011 survey, only 61% of 4th - 6th graders, 47% of 7th graders and 40% of 9th-12th graders reported that they have the opportunity to contribute as a resource to the community. To help address this problem, February is Youth as Resources month. This asset focuses on including youth in decisions that affect them and creating participation and leadership opportunities where their contribution makes a difference.

There are many ways for our youth to get involved in their community.  One is through a new project through the Palo Alto libraries called “Creating Connections: Teens and Seniors Connect Through Technology,”  which revolves around intergenerational playful learning of new technologies in 2013.

Teens will work with Senior Librarian Jessica Goodman and with expert presenters to explore today’s technologies with Palo Alto seniors. For teens it can provide a volunteer credit opportunity as well as a learning opportunity.

The project is specifically designed to support several of the 41 Developmental Assets for Youth:

3. OTHER ADULT RELATIONSHIPS Young person receives support from three or more non-parent adults.

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.

26. CARING Young person places high value on helping other people.

33. INTERPERSONAL COMPETENCE Young person has empathy, sensitivity, and friendship skills.

38. SELF-ESTEEM Young person reports having a high self-esteem.

39. SENSE OF PURPOSE Young person reports that "my life has a purpose."

Information about this opportunity for teens can be found on the library’s website in the teen section at http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/news/displaynews.asp?NewsID=2036&TargetID=161

The following are activities that YOU can do with your children.

Activities

• Hold family meetings. For example, one meeting can focus on discussing which kinds of tasks each household member is best at and enjoys the most. Then, review everyone’s current chores and make changes based on each other’s skills and interests.
• Involve children in planning events such as holiday celebrations or trips. For family events, young people can help plan menus and cook, or plan games and activities for younger children; for vacations, they can research destinations and activities.
• Ask children what they do or don’t like about their daily routines, and find ways to improve them.

For all adults:

• Ask a young person to teach you something new—a game, a hobby, a computer skill, etc.—or to share their favorite music or YouTube videos with you. It’s empowering to be able to introduce adults something that they don’t already know.
• Ask a young person for advice on solving a challenge or completing a task. You’d be surprised at the quality of suggestions you receive.
• Be sure to notice young people’s contributions and talents in every aspect of their lives.