Great Kids--It's Just a Matter of Time!

April marks the seventh month of a statewide public awareness campaign entitled, Great Kids--It's Just a Matter of Time, sponsored by Kentucky Child Now! Time. It's a precious commodity to adults and the most valuable resource we can give our children. Throughout the month of April, Kentuckians are encouraged to take the time to help young people develop social competencies and life skills.

Frankfort, KY—April marks the seventh month of the statewide public awareness campaign Great Kids—Its Just a Matter of Time!" sponsored by Kentucky Child Now! The campaign is designed to inspire and empower Kentuckians to build assets within their spheres of influence. And, as a result, young people will have the support, resources, and opportunities they need to be healthy and successful.

Time. Its a precious commodity to adults and the most valuable resource we can give our children. By taking the time to connect with them, you can contribute to something that really matters—youth success. Simple actions really do make a difference, and every one of us has the power to create positive assets, in our daily lives. We just have to take the time!

Throughout the month of April, Kentuckians are encouraged to focus their attention on social competencies. Young people need skills and competencies that equip them to make positive choices, to build relationships, and to succeed in life," said Carol Blethen, executive director of Kentucky Child Now! You can help kids develop social competencies when you expose them to new people and things, model and teach the skills they need, and challenge them to use their skills."

National research has identified 40 assets, or proven things that are essential to every young persons success. Research proves that positive adult influences make a huge difference and provide a strong foundation for children as they grow up. Not only do assets help keep youth away from the problems that concern us—drug use, violence, and school dropout—but they also make kids more likely to do positive things, like getting good grades, maintaining their health, and doing volunteer work.

The eight categories of assets are: support, empowerment, boundaries and expectations, constructive use of time, commitment to learning, positive values, social competencies, and positive identity. All young people in Kentucky need more of these assets. A recent study shows that they average only 19 assets, far short of the 31 considered ideal.

Every one of us has the power to build assets in our daily lives. We just have to take the time! This month, take the time to help young people develop social competencies and life skills. Following are five specific ways that you can make a difference in the life of a child:
Encourage family meetings in which children have input into the decisions made.
Challenge youth to reach out to newcomers and others who may not have friends.
Model peaceful conflict resolution and acceptance and appreciation of differences.
Find ways for children to spend time with people who look, act, think, and talk in different ways.
Encourage children to express their feelings, beliefs, values, and opinions without fear of being put down.
An activity designed to help young people consider the qualities of citizenship is available online at www.kychildnow.org. To learn more about assets and ways in which you can have a positive impact on Kentuckys youth, visit the Kentucky Child Now! Web site at www.kychildnow.org, or call 502-227-7722.

Story Opportunities:
Assets in Action (real-life examples)
Parent: Vince Minix, Magoffin County
Educator: Scott Mayo, Fayette Co
(available on the KCN web site at: http://www.kychildnow.org/assets/great_kids.html)
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Kentucky Child Now! a non-profit organization established in 1998, is working to ensure that Kentucky meets the needs of children of all ages. This requires the individual efforts of committed adults, including parents and teachers, and the collective efforts of communities, businesses, and policy-makers. The goal of Kentucky Child Now! is to support those efforts through education, public awareness, collaboration, special programs, and through the work of its members—individuals and organizations from around the state who have made children their priority.