The Importance Of Mentors For Kids
Do you know the importance of mentors for kids? In the United States, there are 3 million kids who take part in one-on-one mentoring with an adult. While this number is slowly climbing it does still leave nearly 15 million children in the country who don’t have a mentor. For many, it is because their parents don’t realize exactly how important having a mentor can be and how much it will change their child’s life. Here are five reasons why having a mentor is so important for children.
Healthier Relationships
Kids and teens who are part of mentoring programs show improved interpersonal skills. They’re better able to communicate with their peers as well as other adults in their lives. This also extends to relationships with teachers, parents, siblings, and even their boyfriends and girlfriends. They’re able to express themselves better and they show an ability to communicate more maturely.
Better Attitude About School
In the United States, especially amongst African American kids, there are a lot of negative feelings about the entire schooling process. This disenfranchisement is much less likely to occur in kids who have a mentor they can turn to. This improved attitude about school translates as more respect for teachers and staff as well as paying more attention to the lessons being taught which in turn leads to improvements in grades.
Improvements at School
An improvement in grades isn’t the only improvement that mentored kids have at school. They are more likely to graduate high school and less likely to drop out before graduation. They also are more likely to have higher education aspirations and are more likely to go to college. If that mentor is a teacher the odds of a child attending college nearly doubles.
Higher Self-Esteem and Self-Confidence
Having a mentor improves a young person’s self-esteem and self-confidence. Girls with a mentor are two and a half times more likely to be confident about their academic performance, especially in STEM subjects than those without mentors. Meanwhile, boys are less likely to give in to peer pressure and less likely to develop negative behaviors. Additionally, kids and teens with mentors are less likely to experience anxiety, something that extends into their adulthood.
Decreased Likelihood of Drug and Alcohol Abuse
Young people that are part of mentorship programs are 46% less likely to use drugs and 27% less likely to use alcohol. Some of this does come down to the higher self-esteem and the fact that they’re less likely to give in to peer pressure, but that isn’t the whole picture. These benefits also extend into adulthood where we see that adults who had mentors when they were younger are less likely to turn to substance abuse during troubling times.
If you’re looking for a mentor for your child consider what their interests are and pick someone in your community who can help inspire them. For instance, a college student would be a fantastic mentor for a child who one day wants to go to college. A favorite teacher is also a great suggestion. You can also look for mentors in your church or in a mentoring program like Foster Grandparents.
While looking for a mentor for kids be sure to check their references and talk to members of the community who interact with them regularly to make sure your child is in a safe environment.
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