The 40 Developmental Assets: Asset 1: Family Support
Love and support: The family foundation
You can show the young people in your life that they are loved and supported in many ways. A hug or a simple “I love you” makes the message clear. Just as important are the quieter actions—listening, paying attention, and showing genuine interest in what they’re doing. Even on tiring days, your tone, body language, and actions send powerful messages. The children and teens closest to you notice when your words and actions align—and when they don’t. Make it a point to be sure they always hear and feel your message of care and support.
Family Support is Asset 1 of Search Institute’s 40 Developmental Assets, the qualities, experiences, and relationships that help young people grow up healthy, caring, and responsible.
Here are the facts:
Research shows that young people are more likely to grow up healthy when their families provide them with high levels of love and support. It’s important for parents and guardians to create a home environment that fosters loving words and actions, consistency, and openness. About 73 percent of young people, ages 11–18, say their family life provides high levels of love and support, according to Search Institute surveys. Spending quality time together is the first—and most important—step toward establishing a great family support system.
Tips for building this asset:
Be consistent. Be loving. Develop openness so that the children in your family know that you’re available and you’ll love them—no matter what. If you’re exhausted or angry, say so. Tell children what you’re feeling so that your body language and words are consistent. Inconsistent messages are often misinterpreted by youth to mean that they have done something wrong.
In your home and family: Spend one hour a week alone with each of your children. Take a walk, listen to music, cook together, or just hang out.
In your school, neighborhood and community: Create opportunities for
caregivers, relatives, and trusted adults to support one another. For example, try arranging a
childcare or activity swap with a neighbor or friend. Time for adults to recharge and connect with others helps build stronger, more supportive relationships at home. Have students share a story or tradition from someone important in their life, such as a parent, guardian, or family friend. Remind adults that
“family” looks different for everyone. What matters most is that every young person feels loved, supported, and connected to caring adults who listen and show they care.
Want to know more about the 40 Developmental Assets and ideas for helping young people build them? Visit
https://searchinstitute.org/resources-hub/developmental-assets-framework.
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2017 Developmental Assets® are positive factors within young people, families, communities, schools, and other settings that research has found to be important in promoting the healthy development of young people.