This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.
*** Monthly Feature Column ***
Positively Speaking
Building Assets in your Kids by Kelly Curtis, M.S., author of Empowering Youth: How to Encourage Young Leaders to Do Great Things.
Search Institute has identified School Boundaries and Family Boundaries as two of the 40 Developmental Assets. Research shows these are characteristics of healthy, caring, resilient kids. The more assets youth have, the more likely they’ll resist risky behaviors in the future.
As we begin the school year, our staff and students have adopted three “Rules for Success”:
Be Respectful
Be Responsible
Be Safe.
While these aren’t necessarily clever or original rules, they do cover almost every expectation we have for students. And they work in the home as well. We consistently remind students of these expectations, because just like reading or math, rules and expectations need to be regularly taught as well.
What family boundaries have you set in your home?
Thanks for joining in to build assets in your kids! I look forward to seeing you again next month for Positively Speaking.
Kelly Curtis is a Wisconsin school counselor and author of Empowering Youth: How to Encourage Young Leaders to Do Great Things. To read more about Kelly, please visit her Weblog, Pass the Torch or follow her on Twitter.
James says
When I was a kid, the only rule in our house is to make peace with our siblings. Just to love them always so when we are at school, all we do is make peace with our classmates. It becomes our habit.
Ann Campy says
Your family boundaries are great. We embrace each of those and also: Always do your best; Be Kind; Be honest and Be a good friend to others.
Susan says
I haven’t really thought enough about what “family boundaries” we have set… I suppose I ought to. It is a good reminder… thank you.