Positive Values

Hello!

We are up to the Positive Values asset group. Aquiring values is a crucial part of youth development. Values clarification used to be big...in the 80s maybe? But I don't hear much about values today. Asset Development says we can expect youth to behave in ways that are consistent with the values in our programs.

So what are values afterall?

Values are those things that really matter to each of us ... the ideas and beliefs we hold as special. Caring for others, for example, is a value; so is the freedom to express our opinions.

Most of us learned our values - or morals, if you prefer - at home, at church or synagogue, at school. But, where are our children learning their values? Maybe from parents, teachers and religious leaders, but society has changed. Too often young people today are most influenced by what they see and hear on television or on the street.

Here is a value clarification activity.

We use a values activity similar to this when we train volunteers for street outreach. We want to make sure that they don't judge the homeless.

Here are some tips for helping you develop values or at least get the teens to think about them:

Talk about values
Use games and activities to help youth explore their values
Encourage youth to question their values
Be committed to promote positive values & put signs, posters, etc. up
Point out youth's behavior that reflects positive values
Encourage youth to take responsibility for their behavior.
Encourage adults to apologize if they need to
Encourage youth to mentor and help other youth
Use service learning projects to promote the postive values of caring, responsibility and social justice
Teach and role-play skills and decision making.

On the other hand, someone told me once that if you want to see what people really value, look at what they do, not what they say. Ouch! :)

Till tomorrow.

LA