Introduction

Dear Tween Topics Reader,

We live in a world where young people are more and more vulnerable to the pressures that are coming at them from every angle. Pressure from school, from family, and from friends, each telling them “what they need.”

We worry about our child, our neighbors’ child, and students in our child’s classrooms because each one comes from a home situation that may or may not be like your child’s.

But what do our children really need to become healthy, contributing citizens?

In an effort to identify essential factors for young people’s growth and development, Search
Institute analyzed a nationwide survey involving more than 273,000 students. They came up with standards for positive child and adolescent development. The assets clearly show important roles that family, schools, congregations, neighborhoods, youth organizations, and others in communities play in shaping young people’s lives.

External Developmental Assets included in the framework include:

	Family support
	Positive family communication
	Positive, supervised time at home
	Parent involvement in out-of-home situations
	Children are given useful roles
	Service to others
	Family boundaries
	Adult role models
	Out-of-home activities
	Positive peer interaction and influence
	Creative activities
	Appropriate expectations for growth

You will find many of these external developmental assets discussed in this issue of Tween Topics. We hope you find that you are including a majority of the above in your tweens lifestyle already. If not we hope this will give you the framework and incentive to help your tween grow into the best person they can be.

Sincerely,

Penn State Cooperative Extension
Family and Consumer Science and 4-H Youth Development Agents

Credits

Editor:

Contributors:

This publication is distributed through Penn State Cooperative Extension. To learn more about extension educational programs and information available to you, contact the office in your county.

Return to the Table of Contents or continue to Consistent Discipline, Structure, Role Models, Values, Good Nutrition, Survival Skills, Money Skills, or Resistance Skills.