Adult Mentors

The world today's children grow up in is vastly different from the one that nurtured my generation. I grew up in a neighborhood where my grandparents lived just blocks away. Five additional aunts and uncles also lived with a mile of our house. I can add friends at church, including my confirmation sponsor who I still see every time I am home and go to church with my mom. The bottom line is, In addition to my parents there were numerous significant adults in my life. Since we live in Texas and our roots are up north, our own kids never had the benefit of having grandparents and other relatives close by. Who are the significant adults in the lives of your kids?

An article in yesterday's Dallas Morning News focused on the impact mentors are having on low income students in the City of Irving, Texas. Local churches are partnering with neighboring schools to provide adult mentors who work one-on-one with students. While the emphasis is on academic help, the adult mentors provide much more. Mentors provide personal support and serve as role models.

The impact of adult mentors is a proven fact. A study by the University of Illinois-Chicago, focused on urban youth. Students who worked with a mentor were more successful in school and also were less likely to become involved in violent behavior. Such student had a higher self esteem and were more likely to attend college.

Mentors are not just for youth who live in low income communities. All kids need significant adults, other than their parents, involved in their lives. Teachers, coaches and church youth leaders all can make excellent mentors. Most mentoring relationships develop naturally over a period of time. Teens are drawn to adults who not only share an interest but who show a personal concern for them. While you can't hand pick your child's mentor, you can monitor the relationships they have with other adults. It's important that the other significant adults in their lives share similar values to yours and also have the best interest of your child at heart.

Mentors do make a difference.