Q: What are assets?
A: Assets are the building blocks that children need to develop into caring,
capable and responsible people.
Q: How do children build assets?
A: Anyone can introduce assets to children. They can be introduced through simple actions such as spending time with children, getting to know their friends, or talking about values and priorities that are important and common in everyday ways.
Assets can be taught through:
Loving support from parents and other grown-ups such as schoolteachers and other family members.
Empowerment:
Establishing values and giving children roles to play in the family well as an
understanding as to why these roles are so important to the family.
A sense of safety within the home, school and within the neighborhood is also a key
part of a child feeling empowered.
Boundaries and Expectations:
Boundaries are an important part of child development. Understanding rules in
different environments such as school, home, and within the neighborhood.
establish expectations for growth in all aspects of the child’s life.
Constructive Use of Time:
Creative activities, after-school activities such as clubs or sports teams,
religious/community activities and time spent with members of the family are all
great uses of time to help children to grow and develop.
Commitment to Learning:
Learning is an important part of any child’s development. As the child grows, things
such as doing schoolwork on a regular basis as well as reading for fun are all
important to further their learning.
Positive Values:
Learning to care about other people as well as knowing right and wrong are all
important to a child developing into a honest, responsible and healthy adult.
Social Competencies:
Learning about other cultures, knowing how to interact with other children as well
as adults, and doing the right thing. These are all examples of social competencies
that will help children to develop into functioning members of society as adults.
Positive Identity:
Having self-esteem, a sense of purpose, a positive view of their future and knowing
that they have the ability to make the right choices in life are all important assets in