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Here are some Facts about Young Children and Developmental Assets. Sometimes it's easier to think about Developmental Assets in terms of
the eight Broad Categories. From: "A Leader's Guide to What Young Children Need to Succeed" by Jolene L. Roehlkepartain and Nancy Leffert,
Ph.D.
SUPPORT
Parents who answered infants' cries immediately and consistently during the first few months of life had infants who cried less frequently and
for shorter periods of time than parents who did not respond quickly.
EMPOWERMENT
Children develop independence, self-reliance, and positive self-esteem when parents involve them in developmentally appropriate household
tasks and in age-appropriate family decisions.
BOUNDARIES AND EXPECTATIONS
Toddlers who are given clear limits, whose parents try to promote sympathy and compassion for others, and who are taught how to behave by
being given instructions and explanations are more likely to comply with parents' requests than children who have been threatened or
physically
punished.
CONSTRUCTIVE USE OF TIME
Not only do the quality of play materials and daily experiences with music, art, and drama add pleasure to a child's life, but they also are
predictors of achievement test scores in fourth and fifth grades.
COMMITMENT TO LEARNING
Children whose parents play with them and provide them with high-quality, age appropriate toys during infancy, toddlerhood, and preschool
tend to do well in school.
POSITIVE VALUES
Toddlers are capable of sympathy, which is an early step toward altruism (unselfish concern for the welfare of others). Toddlers will offer a toy
to
a companion, help with household chores, or demonstrate compassion by trying to cheer up a distressed playmate.
SOCIAL COMPETENCIES
Families who express and describe their feelings raised children who were more likely to identify their own feelings and those of others, a
crucial
social skill.
POSITIVE IDENTITY
A child's self-esteem is affected by how competent the child feels in the domains (areas) he or she considers particularly important. For
example, if playing softball is important to a young girl, and she feels that she's good at softball, her self-esteem will likely be affected
positively.
Here is the website for further information: www.search-institute.org (please copy and pasted this link in your address bar)
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