The Benefits of Mentorship for Kids for Social Emotional Learning
Growing up can be particularly challenging for kids in today’s world. Whether it’s from the internet or social media, kids are constantly waylaid with ideas about who they should be.
Fortunately, there are ways being a kid can be made a little easier. It’s certainly important for a child to have friends and hobbies that nourish their well-being. But the support and guidance a mentor offers can be truly invaluable. While they can provide conversation and honest feedback, a mentor can also be much more! They can play sports together or engage in activities like painting or dancing, and this can inspire a child’s imagination. By understanding what they love, a child will develop goals a mentor can help them achieve! A mentor who offers guidance and support can also be invaluable for helping a child find their way. Whether through the openness this relationship provides or the self-esteem boost, a mentor makes the perfect pal!
Luckily, there are many benefits for social emotional learning when it comes to mentorship for kids. If you’re looking to learn about how to promote your child’s self-development, reach out to ThinkPsych for more information.
Ability for Self-Reflection
Being a child and in a state of constant growth means you’re always going to be learning things. However, it can also make it hard to see outside of yourself and your place in the world.
Having a mentor with life experience and self-knowledge can help a child reflect on themself and who they are. By simply sharing conversation and each other’s likes and dislikes, it can help a child understand themself better. Because of the special nature of this bond, it can also be helpful in situations of conflict. Children often won’t take advice from their parents, but they’ll be more receptive to that of an outside influence.
A mentor can provide the benefit of having a child’s growth and awareness as their mission. This means they can help your child see things in a way they otherwise wouldn’t. Whether through fun and games or insightful conversation, a unique perspective can make all the difference.
Improved Communication
We can often look to children for learning about how to express ourselves. Whether they’re happy, sad, or have an idea, children are good at sharing what they think and feel.
Unfortunately, a child’s thoughts can often come out in a way that leads to misinterpretation. For reasons like this, mentorship for kids can be particularly helpful. Because a mentor has more life experience and can communicate effectively, they can help their mentee to express themselves. Through this, a child’s ability to articulate themselves can improve and along with it - their confidence!
A child who feels listened to by their mentor will be more comfortable expressing themselves. They’ll also have more insight into what others are trying to communicate. Whether it’s through direct discussion or conversation games like Dive In, improved communication will help improve their outlook.
Upgraded Academics
In a 1995 study by Tierny, Grossman & Resch of Big Brothers Big Sisters, it was determined that young people who were mentored had higher grades than those without. This result was re-affirmed in 2007 when a link was found between higher-quality work and improved communication for those with mentors.
While these results did not hold into the following year, they speak to the benefits of mentorship for kids. A child will be partaking in a relationship that’s one-on-one and it can nurture their sense of self. It’s not always the case that a child will have many positive relationships in their life. However, even one can make a big difference.
It’s worth being aware that not every child is going to succeed in the classroom. But having a mentor who encourages them will improve their self-worth and impact many other aspects of their life.
The Power of Positivity
Whether a parent or a friend, a child who feels cared for is far more likely to succeed. And according to a study by Sage.com, 97% of those surveyed believe that mentors are a valuable resource. Fortunately, the unique relationship that a mentorship for kids provides can be a real mood booster too!
A child who has self-esteem and values themselves will be the kind of child who looks on the bright side. While that doesn’t mean they’ll be happy every day, it suggests they’ll approach life with a more positive attitude overall. And we all know that happiness and positivity are the kind of things that can reverberate to those around us!
A child who has optimism at their disposal will be able to deal with what life throws at them. They’ll also be able to find the balance they need when they’re having a more difficult time. Luckily, this will have an impact on their hobbies and talents, and the resilience they’ll need to nurture them!
A Growth Mindset
One of most important parts of social emotional learning for kids is having a growth mindset. This is the belief that a person’s essential abilities can be improved through hard work and perseverance.
Fortunately, having a mentor can be the perfect way to encourage this outlook. By listening to a child and making them feel valued and important, a child will find their voice. A child who is experiencing problems in math class but doesn’t have a positive attitude may give up. But the child with a growth mindset will believe that they can improve – and is willing to do the work!
By having self-regard and nurturing their emotional intelligence, a child will be able to move beyond the difficulties. It’s only through this that they’ll be able to achieve new things and experience the fruits of their labor.
Mentorship for Kids Is Invaluable!
The relationship between a child and their mentor is special and it’s difficult to overstate how important it can be. Fortunately, the benefits of mentorship for kids go beyond just care and time well spent. A mentor can provide the tools a child needs to promote self-awareness and emotional well-being. From active listening to a growth mindset, a child who’s nurtured is a child who’s more likely to reach their goals.
Are you a mentor that’s trying to help your mentee achieve their goals? A game like Chat Chains and the long awaited Chat Chains Expansion can be the perfect way to get them to open up and express themselves. By understanding where they’re at, they’ll have the ability to surpass difficulties and rise to the challenge!
References
Youth.gov. Benefits of Mentoring for Young People. https://youth.gov/youth-topics/mentoring/benefits-mentoring-young-people
Mentoring Complete. The Role of Emotional Intelligence in Effective Mentorship Relationships.
