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Search Institute has identified five keys to strong and healthy relationships that help young people develop and grow into their best selves: expressing care, challenging growth, providing support, sharing power, and expanding possibilities. Last month we highlighted ways to show kids you care. This month, we are spotlighting how to challenge growth in kids.
When we challenge growth with kids and youth, we encourage kids to take risks, set and strive for goals, and try new things. For high school students, that could be a summer job, for a tween, it could be reaching out to new friends, and for a preschooler, it could be learning to climb higher on the jungle gym. Trying new things can require bravery on the part of the child AND the parent! It's scary when your child risks failure, but it's an important part of learning.
Search Institute has identified four actions that we can do to challenge growth:
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Expect each other’s best. Expect each other to live up to their potential.
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Stretch. Push each other to go further.
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Hold each other accountable. Insist that everyone takes responsibility for their actions.
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Reflect on failures. Help each other learn from mistakes and setbacks.
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