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Monthly Archives

September 2021

How to Build Relationships with Children: 5 Elements of the Developmental Relationship

By Resources

Search Institute introduces the Five Elements of the Developmental Relationships Framework based on decades of research. 

These elements are critical to forming and strengthening positive relationships that young people need to grow and thrive. 

“Pretty much everyone who works with kids and interacts with them knows that relationships matter, incredibly, for how they develop, for how they perform in school, for where they end up in the future. But that doesn’t mean you know how to build a relationship with a young person that you work with or that you just care about,” says Dr. Kent Pekel, Former president and CEO of Search Institute

The five elements that adults can take to create lasting developmental relationships include: 

1. Express Care: let kids know that they matter to you. 

2. Challenge Growth: pushing kids to continually get better no matter how well they are already doing.

3. Provide Support: helping kids complete tasks and reach their goals.

4. Share Power: treating kids with respect and giving them a say.

5. Expand Possibilities: connecting kids with people and places that broaden their worlds.

When kids experience relationships characterized by these five elements, they are more likely to possess critical social-emotional skills like motivation, a sense of belonging, empathy, and much less likely to be involved in risky behaviors. 

When interacting with kids in your life, whether it’s your Little or a child you care for, use these five elements to build a relationship to help kids be and become their best selves. 

Do you want to express care, challenge growth, provide support, share power, and expand possibilities for a child in your community, become a mentor, or Big, with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay? Attend a Big Orientation & Training session to get started. 

Match Story: Hailey & Juanita

By Match Stories

Big Sister Juanita and Little Sister Hailey have been matched since November of 2020, but when around these two, you would’ve thought they’d known each other for years! The connection between them has been influential and positive for both from the beginning.

Hailey and Juanita enjoy doing various activities together, ranging from roller skating to swimming and much more! One of their most memorable outings together was when they went to Target and bought pink wigs to wear. After purchasing the wigs, the two walked around Target sporting their new matching hairdos. They made music videos while wearing their pink wigs and recorded them for fun.

When they’re not sporting pink wigs, Juanita and Hailey spend time focusing on Hailey’s academics. One of Hailey’s goals is to improve her reading, and Juanita thought it might help to give Hailey a journal to write about her day, then Juanita will write back for Hailey to read. Hailey loves to read the letters from her Big Sister and has improved her reading skills.

Recently, Hailey’s mother passed away, and this was a challenging time for her and her family. Hailey’s Big Sister Juanita was one of the first people she called when it happened. Hailey’s father said it was a tremendous help to have Juanita involved in Hailey’s life to support her through the loss of her mother. He is grateful that Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay brought such a positive influence into Hailey’s life.

Hailey is truly on her way to reaching her fullest potential with support from her Big Sister, Juanita. Want to be a shoulder to lean on for a kid in our community? Become a mentor or Big, and you can help a child like Hailey reach their full potential with just a few hours of your time each month.

Hispanic Heritage Month

By Resources

Today marks the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month! Hispanic Heritage Month occurs annually from September 15 through October 15, offering an opportunity for Bigs, Littles, and families to explore the beauty of the Hispanic culture together. 

National Hispanic Heritage Month seeks to recognize the contributions and influence of Hispanic Americans to the history, culture, and achievements of the United States. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay encourages our Matches to learn about Hispanic cultures in various ways, such as cooking a Latine dish, reading a book that celebrates Hispanic heritage, or creating fun crafts together. Check out these ideas and activities you can do with a child in your life! 

1. Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month at Home: scholastic.com 

2. 8 Kid-Friendly Hispanic Heritage Month Recipes: inspiredbyfamilymag.com

3. Latin American Crafts for Kids to Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month: growingupbilingual.com 

4. 15 Picture Books that Celebrate Hispanic Heritage for Kids: readbrightly.com 

5. 9 Fun Activities to Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month: extendednotes.com

6. Hispanic Heritage Month History Video: Youtube.com 

7. Hispanic Heritage Month- Poetry for Teens: colorincolorado.org

8. Hispanic Heritage Month- Song and Dance for Younger Littles: beccasmusicroom.com 

9. Additional Resources: elcentronc.org 

Want to ignite the potential of a child in your community? Become a mentor or Big, and be a positive role model and friend to a kid who needs one.

Celebrate the Power of Mentoring During Big Brothers Big Sisters Month

By In The News

Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies across the United States and Canada will celebrate Big Brothers Big Sisters Month throughout the month of September. Our volunteer mentors support 41,000 youth in Canada and 109,254 in the United States. Big Brothers Big Sisters nationally has 230+ agencies in over 5,000 communities in all 50 states. Big Brothers Big Sisters Month — first founded by our neighbors to the north in Canada — recognizes the “critical importance of mentoring relationships, especially now, when our commitment to young people and the essential intervention service we provide is being challenged like never before.”

We aim to inspire youth from five through young adulthood. The pandemic has tested our collective resolve for more than a year now, but our kids, staff, and volunteers have shown strength and resiliency. Thanks to the generosity of our donors and the agility of program stakeholders, we were able to quickly and easily transition to a virtual environment. Kids are less likely to feel isolated and depressed when they have a consistent adult they can count on.

The numbers show that overall our matches are lasting longer than ever, with “typical Site-Based matches lasting nearly one and a half years – 34% longer than the average match length 10 years ago.”

Additionally, our Littles surveyed nationally last year made qualitative improvements in the eight outcome areas: Social Competence, Academic Performance/School Grades, Educational Expectations, Emotion Regulation, School Connectedness, Depressive Symptoms, Risky Behaviors – School Discipline, and Risky Behaviors – Bullying.

Ignite the power and promise of youth through one-to-one mentoring. Become a mentor or Big, and you can help a child reach their full potential with just a few hours of your time every month. It’s all about authenticity, and BBBS gives you access to trained staff to support your mentoring match. You don’t have to be perfect – just show up, be yourself, and have fun! #ItTakesAVillage

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