6 Ways We Can Support Positive Adolescent Development in 2021
January 5, 2021
As we think about resolutions for this new year, we’re focused on ways to support positive development for the young people in our lives. Following are six general things adults can consider to help adolescents thrive in the new year and beyond.
- Ensure that young people have safe and satisfying ways to explore and experience the world.
- Provide opportunities to solve problems and make decisions in the face of real-world scenarios.
- Recognize the contributions young people make to family, peers, and communities, and increase the availability of these avenues to developing a sense of meaning and purpose.
- Offer positive, attainable ways to earn respect and social status among the peers and adults in their lives.
- Affirm the value of diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds to support youth as they develop their values, goals, and personal and group identities.
- Provide warmth and support as they learn to navigate challenges, manage strong emotions, and handle stress.
Related News
April 28, 2025
Adolescence is a period of significant brain and social development, when we are particularly sensitive to the world around us. This sensitivity can create challenges to young people’s mental health and well-being when they experience or are exposed to information and images about climate change. But these changes can also increase youth’s motivation to participate in climate action, which can mitigate these negative effects while providing an opportunity for them to fill key developmental needs.
March 27, 2025
Early adolescence is a critical window of opportunity to set up young people for a healthy and thriving adulthood. This month, we talked to a leading expert in early adolescent development, Dr. Ron Dahl, about what exactly early adolescence is and why it is so crucial to support young people as they go through this period of development.
back to top
_350_175_80_c1.jpg)