What Is YOUR Spark!?!

There are 80 Million Youth in the United States  ~  What is our vision for them?

I have used the Search Institute's 'Developmental Assets' for over a decade and a half now while running the various mentoring programs I have directed from YFP in the early 2000's to TEAM from 2011-2015.  What a pleasure it was to come across this AWESOME TedX  Talk by Dr. Benson.  ENJOY!!! And don't forget to ask yourself, 'What is MY Spark?' Sparks: How Youth Thrive  Use this free quiz on the ParentFurther website to explore ways to boost your kids' motivation by understanding and encouraging their personal drive and deep interests - "sparks." Watch this video to learn more about how sparks help youth thrive. Sparks are the interests, passions, or skills that "light fires" in people's lives. They engage and motivate us, fueling a sense of purpose and direction in life. It is particularly important for young people to identify and grow their sparks. Students who experience being "good" at something become more confident that they have what it takes to succeed at school, work and other areas of life - especially if those sparks are acknowledged and celebrated by adults and peers. It takes the "oxygen" of conversations and relationships to light up sparks. Three Keys to Lighting Up Sparks Sparks are most powerful when three things come together: √ Young people know their sparks. √ They intentionally work on or practice their sparks. √ They have adults who help them with their sparks. Visit Search Institute's research archive to find out more about youth and sparks. Peter L. Benson, president and CEO of Minneapolis-based Search Institute, is one of the world's leading authorities on positive human development. Dr. Benson is the author or editor of more than a dozen books on child and adolescent development and social change, including, most recently, Sparks: How Parents Can Help Ignite the Hidden Strengths of Teenagers. Dr. Benson's international reputation in human development emerged in the 1990's through his innovative, research-based framework of Developmental Assets, the most widely recognized approach to positive youth developmtn in the United States, and, increasingly, around the world. Before joining Search Institute in 1978, Dr. Benson was chair of the psychology department and chair of the program in human development and social relations at Earlham College, Richmond, Indiana.