Peggy R. Anderson

Extension Agent

February 24, 2010

Positive Relationships With a Caring Adult Vital

The supportive relationships encountered by youth who participate in 4-H programs or other youth organizations often are taken for granted.

Many youth have parents who are involved in these youth organizations as committed volunteers. Yet other youth lack nurturing relationships because the adults in their lives can’t or won’t take the time to get involved when needed. If a supportive adult is not present, organizations such as 4-H, Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts may not be successful in influencing the growth and development of today’s youth.

“When a positive relationship between an adult and a child is present, positive youth development is promoted,” says Adrian Biewer, North Dakota State University Extension Service 4-H youth development specialist.

A positive relationship with a caring adult is one of eight elements a team of evaluators from the National 4-H Impact Design Implementation Team determined are essential for youth development.

A caring adult acts as an adviser, mentor, teacher, coach and guide and helps set boundaries and expectations for young people. The adult can be called a supporter, friend or advocate. A positive relationship with a caring adult develops when adults learn about the interests of youth or pay attention to the activities of individual youth members outside meetings, events and an organization’s activities.

Positive relationships between youth and adults help youth establish feelings of belonging by letting youth know someone cares about them and they are accepted by others. This can be achieved through youth engaging in mentoring relationships with adults or by providing youth with the opportunity to serve as leaders while being guided by the support of adults.

Some ways to support a positive relationship with a caring adult are to:

* Train adult leaders in listening skills.

* Structure group activities so both youth and adults have time to learn about one another.

* Encourage adults to interact with youth, not just act as chaperones or supervisors.

Positive relationships with caring adults can be discovered in many settings, such as 4-H activities, youth camp, classrooms, youth centers and libraries.

These positive connections with adults can help youth develop supportive relationships that last for a lifetime. Not only do these meaningful relationships help teach youth how to be accepting and work with those in intergenerational groups, they also can aid youth in developing more intimate relationships with family members and peers.

As organizations serving youth continue to reach new levels of preparing youth for the future, adult involvement will remain the core of their success.

Schedule:

Wednesday, February 24 – Judging Elementary Music Festival

Thursday, February 25 – Divide County

Friday, February 26 – Burke County

Monday, March 1 – Burke County

Tuesday, March 2 – Divide County