Valuing youth opinions leads to confidence, says Deathe
OPINION
By Penny Deathe, Healthy Youth Network
Flamborough Review
Thu., Aug. 26, 2021
It’s hard to believe another summer has come and gone and here we are still wrestling with COVID-19.
As decisions are made and policies set, it’s important to remember that there will always be varying opinions and we need to respect that. The decisions we make for ourselves and our families are usually made in the hope that we will protect our children.
In Search Institute’s Developmental Relationship framework, research shows young people are more likely to grow up successfully when they experience developmental relationships with important people in their lives. For more information, visit healthyouthnetwork.ca/developmental-relationships/.
Developmental relationships are close connections through which young people discover who they are, cultivate abilities to shape their own lives, and learn how to engage with and contribute to the world around them. Having and sharing opinions is an important part of how we build this important framework.
Often the difference between an engaging conversation and an argument is how we frame the discussion. By valuing their opinions and those of others, you give them the confidence to be able to share them.
I have three children, two of who have graduated university, and one who’s still attending. They have very strong opinions about social issues and know terms I’d never heard of. For instance, when I first heard the term “toxic masculinity” I thought it was demeaning to men. It took our Youth Impact team, my children, and my friend “Google” to help me understand what it meant. This led to a new program we’ll be launching with our young people taking the lead.
During this unprecedented and unsettling time, it’s more important than ever to help young people feel like they have some control. It doesn’t mean you have to agree or disagree, it just means you have to take the time to listen and acknowledge those opinions.
— Penny Deathe is the executive director and founder of the Healthy Youth Network. She can be reached at penny@healthyouthnetwork.ca.
