“Developmental Assets,” an important tool for today’s parent

“Developmental Assets” is the term coined by a landmark 2000 research study performed by the Search Institute of Minneapolis, MN. The Search Institute is an independent nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide leadership, knowledge, and resources to promote healthy children, youth, and communities.

Search Institute has surveyed over two million youth across the United States and Canada since 1989. Studies reveal strong and consistent relationships between the number of assets present in young people s lives and the degree to which they develop in positive and healthful ways. Results show that the greater the numbers of developmental assets experienced by young people, the more positive and successful their development. The fewer the number of assets present, the greater the possibility youth will engage in risky behaviors such as drug use, unsafe sex, and violence.

Search Institute has identified and published a specific list of 40 developmental assets, which are positive experiences and personal qualities that young people need to grow up healthy, caring, and responsible. These assets have the power during critical adolescent years to influence choices young people make and help them become caring, responsible adults. The first twenty assets are “external.” These include items such as home and school boundaries, positive adult relationships besides parents, and involvement in youth programs and creative activities. The second set of twenty deals with “internal” assets. Traits such as self motivation, planning and decision making skills and peaceful conflict resolution skills are learned behavior parents and teachers can encourage.

“Asset-building” is the Institute’s term for purposefully helping youth experience more assets in their lives. It is happening in hundreds of communities by thousands of people across North America. Youth and adults understand in growing numbers the awesome power they have in making positive and lasting impact on the lives of young people. Being aware of these 40 factors and how consistently they have predicted future behavior is the starting point for change.

Guard Up Inc. is a company based in Burlington, Massachusetts that teaches fencing, martial arts and swordsmanship to youth, teens and adults. They have taken the initiative in developing a curriculum that supports and inspires many of the Search Institute’s 40 Assets. They have even created a program called A.C.E. (Active Character Education) Adventures, which specifically targets the development of one of these assets in each class. Instructors are trained to employ a holistic method when teaching key life values and physical skill.

Guard Up’s diverse selection of programs for all ages helps promote healthy individuals and, in turn, a healthy community. View the Comparison Chart to explore how these programs meet the Search Institute’s important criteria.