One of the best ways to help your Little make progress toward their life goals is to help them identify and understand who is in their web of support. It is a young person's web of support that can provide resources, opportunities, and connections that contribute to a young person's social capital.
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As a mentor, there are many ways you can help your Little better understand their web of support. Check out the tips below to get started:
Tip #1: Help your Little understand the importance of relationships.
It can be easy to take our relationships for granted. Support your Little in understanding the important role positive relationships and social connections can have in our lives and our wellbeing. Use the Why Relationships Matter activity to help your Little understand what social capital is and how we can show appreciation for the important people in our lives.
Tip #2: Support your Little in identifying who is already in their web of support.
Your Little already has relationships and connections with important people in their life. This can include family members, friends, teachers, and other adults in their community. You can support your Little by helping them start to identify who these different people are in their lives and the different ways they can support them. The Identifying Connections activity is a great way to help your Little start identifying who these important people are.
Tip #3: Reflect on your own web of support.
As a mentor you also have your own web of support. Reflect on the relationships in your life and how different people have provided you different forms of support over time. Consider whether there are opportunities or resources that exist within your own web of support that could be beneficial to or aligned with your Little's goals.
Dive Deeper
Learn more about helping your Little expand their web of support below:
Expanding Networks of Support by Dr. Sarah Schwartz
Building and Strengthening Students' Networks by Christensen Institute
Activities for Helping Your Little Understand their Web of Support
Complete all three of these activities with your Little. These are the most important activities for helping your Little understand their web of support. We recommend starting with Why Relationships Matter first.
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