Successfully Developing Youth

1. Successfully Developing Youth Library Teen Advisory Boards in By: Bill Harris What is a Teen Advisory Board? Cognitive Development Critical Thinking and Reasoning Skills • Before recent discoveries, most scientists believed the brain was largely a finished product by the time children reached the age of 12. We have now discovered that these changes can continue into adulthood. • The dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex brain regions matures into adult dimensions in the early 20s. This area of the brain affects planning, setting priorities, organizing thoughts, suppressing impulses, and weighing the consequences of one’s actions • The thickening of the white matter which makes nerve-signal transmission faster and more efficient can continue into your 30s. • Scientist believe the pruning or development are affected by genetics and a use-it-or-lose-it principal. Teen Advisory Boards give teens a voice in all aspects of the library which involve teens. In many instances, teens earn community service hours toward graduation, scholarships and more! Teens can create, schedule, and implement programs geared toward their age group. They can prioritize the library services geared toward teens. They can also guide the library in relation to policies and procedures directed toward teens. • Opportunities for Skill Building is another attribute in Positive Developmental Settings. • These opportunities include learning physical, intellectual, psychological, emotional, and social skills; exposure to intentional learning experiences; opportunities to learn cultural literacies, media literacy, communication skills, and good habits of mind; preparation for adult employment and opportunities to develop social and cultural capital. • These opportunities can easily be included in library programs such as computer classes and public speaking. • Your officers should speak in front of your Teen Advisory Board meetings discussing the different agenda items and asking for input from your teens. Programs with Youth Development Principles • Wii Gaming for Seniors – Teens can teach Senior Citizens how to use the Wii. Teens learn leadership skills by heading up the programs and deciding how to run the program. They also gain confidence by the successful use of their public speaking skills. • Morning Show Announcements – Teens in our SouthShore Regional Library TAB create Morning Show announcements for the local schools. They create the script, film and act the parts, and do the final editing of the commercial. The skills in this program demonstrate decision making and leadership. • Computer Classes – Teens can aide library staff in computer classes taught in the library. When a customer gets stuck, teens can guide the student into the correct steps without delaying the class. The teens aide the instructor by helping keep these customers on the same page. Nature vs Nurture Leadership Adolescent development was characterized by storm and stress. In the mid-1990’s, five assets were developed by youth development advocates and researchers based on positive development programs. These strengths can help a teen make a positive transition to adulthood. Five Assets: Competence, Confidence, Connection, Character, Caring The Search Institute also has 40 Developmental Assets for Adolescents which use positive development principles for adolescents. Teen Advisory Boards can use positive development principles for assisting youth. • Leadership is included as one of the big three approaches for growing your 5 C’s. These 5 C’s are one of the positive developmental systems which demonstrate which strengths nurture a successful transition to adulthood. • Teen programs which include enabling; responsibility granting; and meaningful challenge should be included in any positive developmental setting. • Teen Advisory Boards give teens an opportunity for demonstration of leadership skills by getting elected as officers and running the meetings. Decision Making • Planning and decision making are important for training teens the importance of planning ahead and making choices. • Your TAB can help schedule future programs and go over the whole process of developing a program. They can make the decisions on making a flyer, what should be discussed on the flyer. When should the flyer be distributed. When do they need to have the supplies purchased for a program. Bibliography Confidence • Confidence is defined as the perception that one can achieve desired goals through one’s actions. In summary, Confidence is related to how you perceive yourself. • Teen Advisory Boards and teen programs can help encourage confidence by giving teens opportunities for using their skills and abilities and receive encouragement. • A Teen Talent Show is a great example demonstrating confidence. You can have the teens demonstrate their talents and have judges give them encouragement and uplifting comments after their performance. Teens may use some of these talents in their future careers. • Librarians must demonstrate support for the activities of their teens. The teens should hear how their ideas have improved the library. This will give them confidence for producing additional ideas or participating fully in the meetings. • Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx • Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx • Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx • Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx