40 DEVELOPMENTAL ASSETS

Internal Assets

Commitment to Learning

21. Achievement motivation

January 16-22

Young person is motivated to do well in school.

Talk often with your teen about their future and how their academic success contributes to that future.  Talk to him about possible careers, and how those careers are linked with what he is learning. Reward him for doing well, but also work towards helping him develop internal motivation, as well.  Encourage him to take pride in doing his best.

Idea: Help your teen set an academic goal for himself, and outline the steps needed to get there.

22. School engagement

January 23-29

Young person is actively engaged in learning.

Making connections between what is learned in the classroom and the world outside will help your teen stay interested in and enthusiastic about learning.  Encourage her to use her individual strengths, skills, and learning styles to get the most out of what she is learning in the classroom. 

Idea: Encourage your child to ask adults she knows about their careers. 

23. Homework

Jan. 30-Feb. 5

Young person reports doing at least one hour of homework every school day.

Set aside a daily block of time for homework, preparing for tests, or reading for pleasure.  Having a set time period reduces the temptation for your teen to rush through his work to get to other activities.  Make sure he also has a quiet, well-lit, comfortable study space, as well as any supplies he needs to do a good job.

Idea: Offer to help your teen study for an upcoming test.  You will find out about what he is learning in class, and improve his study skills, too.

24. Bonding to school

February 6-12

Young person cares about his or her school.

Encourage your child to connect to her school community by getting involved in activities and opportunities offered there.  Model a positive, cooperative attitude towards school staff; this will help her understand boundaries and follow rules.  Share her school spirit by wearing and displaying items that show school pride.

Idea: Let her choose a school event that the family attends together.

Internal Assets

25. Reading for pleasure

February 13-19

Young person reads for pleasure three or more hours per week.

Make sure your child has access to high interest books and other reading materials that are at his reading level.  Let him choose his own books at the bookstore or library.  Set a good example; let your kids see you reading for fun, as well.  Engage your kids in conversations about the books they are reading, and ask them questions about character’s motivations, feelings, and what they think might happen next.

Idea: Start a family book club.  Select a book for everyone to read, and then talk about it as a group.  It may be fun to see other’s perspectives.

Positive Values

26. Caring

February 20-26

Young person places high value on helping other people.

Be sure that the value of helping others is modeled in your family.  Discuss with your child why you feel it is important, and recognize when she demonstrates caring towards others.  Help her learn to identify needs in other people, and to use her strengths in providing assistance.  Provide ample opportunity for her to serve in a variety of capacities.

Idea: Help your teen search for existing service opportunities at school and in the community, or encourage her to come up with her own ideas.

27. Equality and social justice

Feb. 27-March 5

Young person places high value on promoting equality and reducing hunger and poverty.

Talk with your child about issues surrounding equality and fairness.  Help him recognize that other people don’t have the same resources, opportunities, or freedoms that he has.  If he identifies a cause or issue he feels passionately about, support him in his efforts to make a difference.

Idea: Use current events to start a dialogue with your teen about inequality; encourage him to share his views with you.

28. Integrity

March 6-12

Young person acts on convictions and stands up for her or his beliefs.

Support your child in standing up for what she knows is right, regardless of what others are doing.  Make sure she knows that living according to her values is more important than going along with the crowd.  Encourage her to keep her word and live according to her internal value system.

Idea: Talk with your teen about why its sometimes hard to do the right thing.

Internal Assets

29. Honesty

March 13-19

Young person “tells the truth even when it’s not easy.”

Model the value of honesty and taking ownership of speech and behavior.  Discuss how honesty and trust are connected, and revisit these topics frequently as you manage conflicts with each other.  Help make it easier for her to be honest with you by accepting all of her feelings and helping her work through any problems she brings to your attention. 

Idea: Help her reflect on how she would feel if she was lied to, and how that might damage a relationship.

30. Responsibility

March 20-26

Young person accepts and takes personal responsibility.

Hold your teen accountable for their actions. Help them realize that saying, “That was my fault,” isn’t the end of the world, but the first step in making amends and moving on. Don’t save them from negative or unpleasant consequences.  You will rob them of the opportunity to learn from their mistakes, and how to handle frustration and disappointment. 

Idea: Praise your teen when he “owns” something without prompting, and help him figure out how to make things right.

31. Restraint

March 27-Apr. 2

Young person believes it is important not to be sexually active or to use alcohol or other drugs.

Talk with your teen often about your family’s values regarding these issues, and be receptive to his questions and opinions.  Discuss the possible consequences of these actions, and praise her for making good choices.

Idea: Help her practice what she can do and say when these temptations arise.

Social Competencies

32. Planning and decision making

April 3-9

Young person knows how to plan ahead and make choices.

Teach your child how to brainstorm and evaluate options when faced with a decision. Encourage him look at both short and long term consequences of a course of action.  If a task seems overwhelming, show him how to break it down into manageable pieces and make a plan to accomplish each component.

Idea: Discuss the pros and cons of various decisions to give him practice in evaluating choices.

Internal Assets

33. Interpersonal competence

April 10-16

Young person has empathy, sensitivity, and friendship skills.

Help your child learn to take other people’s perspectives so they can try to understand how other people feel.  This is a critical step in developing healthy relationships.  Make sure they know how to communicate and cooperate with others, and support them as they create a variety of friendships and social networks.

Idea: Role play with your teen a conflict between two friends, and provide pointers on how to solve the problem while maintaining the relationship.

34. Cultural competence

April 17-23

Young person has knowledge of and comfort with people of different cultural/racial/ethnic/backgrounds.

Expose your teen to people who are different from her.  Help her learn about different customs and traditions practiced by other people, and to develop a curiosity and respect about these differences.  At the same time, make sure she understands that all people share commonalities that allow them to connect to each other.

Idea: Attend a local cultural event or ethnic festival as a famiy.

35. Resistance skills

April 24-30

Young person can resist negative peer pressure and dangerous situations.

Your teen will be faced with many temptations that may not be healthy for him.  Make sure he knows refusal strategies appropriate for a variety of situations.  Help him learn to evaluate whether certain activities, behaviors, and situations are dangerous or not, and why.  Model for him how to do what you know is right for you, even if others are doing something else. 

Idea: Role-play with your child some simple scenarios that involve risky behavior.  Have him practice what he would say to manage the situation.

36. Peaceful conflict resolution

May 1-7

Young person seeks to resolve conflict nonviolently.

When you have conflicts with your teen, take the opportunity to show him how to resolve interpersonal issues in a constructive way. Demonstrate that you understand and respect his point of view, even if you disagree.  Try to come to a solution you can both live with.  He is looking to you for cues about how to solve problems with other people.  Be sure you are setting a good example.

Idea: Practice the art of compromise.  This will give your child practice in seeing another person’s point of view, and in handling frustration.

Internal Assets

Positive Identity

37. Personal power

May 8-14

Young person feels he or she has control over “things that happen to me.”

Allow your teen to make more of her own choices as she matures. Help her see the connections between her decisions and her actions and the resulting consequences, both positive and negative. Reinforce that she is responsible for her choices and their outcomes.  Understanding this relationship will help her feel in control of her life and its direction. 

Idea: Talk about her plans for the future and the steps she needs to reach her goals.

38. Self esteem

May 15-21

Young person reports having a high self-esteem.

Self-esteem is developed through a feeling of competence or accomplishment.  Help your teen recognize and appreciate what he has done and what he is good at.  Make sure your comments reinforce, rather than erode, his self-esteem.  Criticism should be offered constructively, with respectful suggestions for improvement.

Idea: Ask your teen to make a list of qualities or skills he is proud of.  Make your own list about your teen, and compare lists.

39. Sense of purpose

May 22-28

Young person reports that “my life has a purpose.”

Help your teen identify her passions.  These may be hobbies, talents, interests, or causes she feels strongly about.  Positive interests keep kids both connected and contributing to the world.  They help kids feel confident, valued, and motivated.

Idea: Help her research a cause she is interested in, and identify what she can do to contribute.

40. Positive view of personal future

May 29-Jun. 4

Young person is optimistic about her or his personal future.

Frequently engage your teen in conversations about his future. Help him express his ideas about what he would like to do and accomplish, what type of career he might have, where he might live, what his interests will be, and what kind of family he would like to have.  Talk about this often, as the answers may change as he matures.

Idea: Ask your teen to visualize what his life will look like in 5 or 10 years.