When Abi’s first grade teacher asked her class to pick a “trusted adult” in her life to recognize, Abi picked Sarah. Abi first met Sarah when she started attending the YMCA Kids’ Club program at her school where Sarah works as the Coordinator.
YMCA Kids’ Club is an afterschool recreation and leadership program which runs out of several elementary schools in Calgary. At Kids’ Club, children belong, grow, thrive and lead in a safe and structured environment geared towards promoting leadership and personal growth through intentional programming.
Staff like Sarah work daily to develop positive relationships with the children in their program, and subsequently become positive role models, and “trusted adults”.
Developmental Assets are a number of specific building blocks of healthy development put forth by the Search Institute that help young children grow up to be healthy, caring, and responsible adults. The Search Institute has developed a list of 40 of these “building blocks”, and number three on the list is “Other Adult Relationships”. Additional building blocks are “Adult Role Models”, involvement in “Child Programs” and “Creative Activities”. To see a full list of the 40 Developmental Assets that can positively influence your child’s future visit the Search Institute’s Website at www.searchinstitute.com.
YMCA Programs like Kids’ Club can provide access to things like creative activities, child programs and positive role models. Take a look at the full list of Developmental Assets developed by the Search Institute. How many of them does your child currently have access to?
Registration for Kids’ Club is currently open for Sessions 3 and 4. Please contact Cameron Berube at 403-531-1662 for additional registration information.
If Kids’ Club is not currently offered at your child’s school, check out the program guide at the YMCA branch closest to you for other wonderful program opportunities available to your family!