Youth Development Insight

By Karen Beranek As we transition from one season to the next, we know taking the time to pause to reflect on our life is essential. Check out my colleague's blog on the power of self-reflection from a staff perspective. This concept of taking time to think back on our experience can be so impactful.  Equally impactful is hearing directly from youth as they reflect on their youth development journey. Live from the Redwood County Fair, the local educator led a youth panel of the graduating senior class to share their insights with their parents, community members, and 4-H youth. One question was: What advice do you have for younger youth? Try something new . 4-H has so many things to learn about - so many project areas, as well as places to lead, to serve your community, and to work with others. The youth in this panel saw this as a true asset of this youth development program. Ask questions . People really are here to help you. So much learning happens when you pause to consider w

By Jeremy Freeman We would all appreciate having more volunteers to share and lead the work we do. But does it matter how we communicate about a volunteer opportunity? Are volunteers motivated by different factors? In this post I will recap findings from a study on volunteer motivation, recruitment and retention and give you some strategies to consider as you target new volunteers in your organization. When it comes to motivation to volunteer, the research is clear . There are several different motivational factors that drive volunteers, and these motivations can in part be attributed to differences in age. Of specific note, studies suggest younger volunteers (age 16-24) are far more likely to be motivated towards opportunities that teach new skills and aid career development while older volunteers (65+) are more likely to be drawn by the cause, especially if it has ties to their religious or philosophical values.  This has practical implications for the ways we communicate and create

By Jessica Pierson Russo When it came to screen time, as a parent of young children, I was never fully confident about what I should and shouldn’t let my children do. Fortunately, there are better parent resources now than when my own children were younger (see the American Academy of Pediatrics for recommendations on how to limit screen time based on age ). But as youth work professionals, what can our role be in helping youth and their caregivers find the right balance, especially for those younger ages?  The first thing we can do is be well-informed on the issue. Excessive screen time can interfere with developmental milestones in younger children, including language acquisition, social skill development, and physical coordination. The fast-paced and highly stimulating content of screen activities can also cause attention and focus issues with slower-paced activities such as reading and playing with toys. One study found that excessive screen time simulated for mice strongly impac