Chaplain’s Spot

‘Developmental Assets for Children’

40 Developmental Assets for School Age Children

Are you helping your child become a successful adult? According to the Search Institute, there are 40 key developmental assets which you can provide to your school-aged child, that will help them transition through childhood and adulthood. As you provide these assets to your child, keep in mind the following six guidelines provided by the Search Institute. 

1] Remember that every positive adult and child who you know, can be an encouraging influence on your child. 

2] Remember that your child needs as many of these 40 assets as possible to help them positively develop. 

3] Relationships are key to asset building, so provide your child with plenty of social interaction.

4] Remember that asset building is a process that you will continue into adulthood. 

5] Provide consistent messages through the experiences and values that you teach your children — make sure other adults, children and media reinforce your beliefs and values. 

6] Continually reinforce your messages throughout your child’s life.

There are two types of Assets, external and internal:

External assets are those positive experiences that occur through sources outside your child’s own internal world, such as family, school, daycare, and other adults. The Search Institute has focused on four key external assets which are vital to your child’s development: 

support

empowerment 

 boundaries & expectations

 constructive use of time              

Internal assets are experiences which help to develop a sense of confidence and purpose within your child. They focus on commitments, values, skills and a positive outlook on life. As your child grows, these assets help them develop wisdom needed for decision making, conflict resolution and planning for the future. Search Institute provides four key areas of internal assets: 

commitment to learning 

 positive values 

 social competencies 

 positive identity 

Over the next two newsletters, I will feature the 20 important developmental assets in each of these categories. In the meantime, why not list down the positive connections in your child’s life. 

Have a great holiday break, even though we can't go very far! Feel free to contact me via Compass if you would like a chat about any concerns at the start of Term 4. We could perhaps meet at an appropriate time on your child’s Google Classroom if that is a good option for you. 

Amazing fact of the week: Soap operas are so named because the first multi-episode radio and TV dramas in the USA were sponsored by soap powder manufacturers.   

Alan Silverwood – Chaplain - Pastoral care for our community. [Monday, Tuesday, Friday] 

 [alan.silverwood@education.vic.gov.au] Supporting the School community in emotional, social, spiritual and practical wellbeing. The Chaplaincy program is funded by the Federal Government, donations and GRPS School Council.