My child is struggling 
Now that my child has 
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Then take a look at the lists of Developmental Assets® and find a few to focus on first. Here are samples of concrete action steps you can take to help build your child's assets:
Building Support
- Encourage children's passions and interests.
- Answer their questions. If you do not know, admit it and work together to find out the answer.
- When children and adults disagree, encourage adults to show they still care.
- Volunteer at your child's school.
Empowering Your Child
- Encourage children to write letters about issues that are important to them to the editor of your local paper.
- Ask children what they like and do not like about their daily routines. Make changes to improve them.
- Provide opportunities for your child to plan a family activity or dinner.
Setting Limits and Having Expectations
- Encourage schools, neighbors, organizations, and communities to have consistent boundaries and consequences so children know how to act in different settings.
- Be firm about boundaries that keep kids safe. Don't negotiate with these boundaries.
- Challenge children to do their best in school, and help them whenever you can.
Encouraging Constructive Use of Time
- Allow children to have one or two regular out-of-home activities that are led by caring adults.
- Teach children to balance their time so they gradually learn how not to get too busy or too bored.
- Volunteer in programs and activities for children, such as sports, clubs, religious activities, music, or others.
Spark a Commitment to Learning
- Set daily homework guidelines for children and provide a place for them to study.
- Let children read to you every day as they learn to read. Show them that you are excited and proud about their reading.
- Help children find ways to learn more about subjects that really interest them.
- Plan an "educational" side trip during family vacations to connect the child to history.
Build Positive Values
- Have children develop care packages for the local homeless or battered woman's shelter for the children living in the shelter.
- Have the children write thank-you notes or show their appreciation in some other way whenever they receive gifts.
- Encourage families to participate in service activities together.
- Talk to children about specific examples of people acting on their values.
Develop Social Competencies
- Encourage children to use words -- rather than just actions -- to communicate.
- Encourage children to develop more skills in areas that interest them.
- Find ways for children to spend time with people who look, act, think, and talk in different ways.
Affirm Positive Identity
- When children are facing problems or difficult times, help them think of all the possible ways they could deal with the situation. Then help them pick what they want to do.
- Encourage children to find inspirational, positive role models.
- Talk with children about what gives your life meaning and a sense of purpose.
Use these ideas as a great starting point for family discussions!
Copyright ©1997, 2006 Search Institute; www.search-institute.org. All Rights Reserved. The following are registered trademarks of Search Institute: Search Institute® and Developmental Assets®. The 40 Developmental Assets® may be reproduced for educational, noncommercial uses only.
