52 Weekly

Newsletters in

Easy-To-Use,

Customizable

PDF Format

2.0

A S E A R C H I N S T I T U T E P U B L I C A T I O N

2.0

Thousands of organizations have used the Ideas for Parents newsletters to deliver fun and functional information to parents. Now this popular product for family-serving professionals is available on CD-ROM as a set of easy-to-use, customizable PDF documents: Ideas for Parents 2.0.

Filled with activities, discussion prompts, and practical tips for raising kids, the Ideas for Parents newsletters not only introduce parents to Search Institute’s Developmental Assets™ framework, but inspire them to draw on its commonsense wisdom in their own families.

Ideas for Parents includes 52 black-and-white newsletters, one for each week of the calendar year. Each newsletter has two customizable spaces, perfect for inserting an organization’s name, upcoming events, or other initiative-specifi c information. The newsletter set also includes a User’s Guide, with tips for distribution and printing. An additional instruction sheet on manipulating PDF documents will have users up and running in no time.

If you’re an educator, health care professional, congregation leader, or simply interested in spreading the word about positive youth development, Ideas for Parents 2.0 provides the convenience and reliable information you need to communicate with parents.

2.0

MAC AND PC COMPAT IBLE

FAM I LY & RE LAT IONSH I PS / PARENT ING

Read This First

e-Newsletters

This CD contains a printable and customizable PDF of all 52 newsletters, and acopy of Adobe® Acrobat® Reader. To use these files, you will need to have AcrobatReader, Acrobat Standard, or Acrobat Pro installed on your computer.

How to customize the PDF filesEach newsletter contains a 4 1/4” x 3/8” area above the logo on the first page andan 8 1/2” x 3 1/2” section for you to customize at the bottom of the second page.Depending on whether you are using Adobe® Acrobat Reader® or Adobe® AcrobatPro®, and depending on which tool you have selected, this custom area may ormay not be invisible when you open the pdf file. There are some navigationallinks within the files that appear as red type (Return to Contents) - there willnot show when you print your newsletter. Below are instructions on how to usethese customizable pdf files.

Each of the pdf files on this CD contain a customizable area that you can type acustom message into. This defined custom area is invisible, and when the pdffile is printed, only the type that you put in that area will print.

If you are using Adobe Acrobat Reader:1. Open the pdf of the newsletter you wish to customize from the contents

page (see link above).

2. Click on the Hand tool in the tool bar (see example 3).

3. Roll your cursor over the customizable area just above the title “Ideas forParents” (see examples 1 and 2 for location of customizable areas).

When you are within the customizable area, your cursor changes from ahand icon to an insert text icon. When you see your cursor change to theinsert text icon, click, and then you can type your custom message. The fontsize, color, and alignment in the custom areas are not editable.

4. After you’ve finished typing your custom messages, print the pdf.

5. Close the pdf file.

NOTE: Acrobat Reader cannot save changes to a pdf file, so anycustom messages you have typed in will not be saved when you close the file. If you wish to save changes to pdf files, you need to use Adobe® Acrobat® Standard or Pro. Click here for information about Adobe®Acrobat® Products.

If you are using Adobe Acrobat Standard or Pro:1. Open the pdf of the newsletter you wish to customize from the contents

page (see link above).

2. Click on the Hand tool in the tool bar (see example 3).

3. Roll your cursor over the customizable area just above the title “Ideas forParents” (see examples 1 and 2 for location of customizable areas).

When you are within the customizable area, your cursor changes from ahand icon to an insert text icon. When you see your cursor change to theinsert text icon, click, and then you can type your custom message. The fontsize, color, and alignment in the custom areas are not editable.

4. After you’ve finished typing your custom messages, print the pdf.

5. Save changes to your customized pdf file by choosing FILE, then SAVE AS. Savethe file to your hard drive. Close the pdf file.

Upon opening the pdf, the custom areaswill be invisible as shown in example 1 below. The rules around the form fieldareas as shown below in example 2 donot print - this rule is invisible.

Example 1: Customizable areas in the pdf fileas they appear when pdf file is opened.

Example 2: Defined customizable areas in thepdf file. These boundary lines do not show or print.

Example 3: Select the Hand tool and click in thegeneral area of a customizable area. The handicon will turn into a text insert icon.

Example 4: Type your message and print thepdf. If you are using Acrobat Standard or Pro,you may save the pdf with your message in it.

Go To Contents Page

Users Guide—Introduction and Ideas

Newsletter 1—Assets: 40 Keys to Effective Parenting

Newsletter 2—Asset Category: Support

Newsletter 3—Asset #1: Family Support

Newsletter 4—Asset #2: Positive Family Communication

Newsletter 5—Asset #3: Other Adult Relationships

Newsletter 6—Asset #4: Caring Neighborhood

Newsletter 7—Asset #5: Caring School Climate

Newsletter 8—Asset #6: Parent Involvement in Schooling

Newsletter 9—Asset Category: Empowerment

Newsletter 10—Asset #7: Community Values Youth

Newsletter 11—Asset #8: Youth as Resources

Newsletter 12—Asset #9: Service to Others

Newsletter 13—Asset #10: Safety

Newsletter 14—Asset Category: Boundaries and Expectations

Newsletter 15—Asset #11: Family Boundaries

Newsletter 16—Asset #12: School Boundaries

Newsletter 17—Asset #13: Neighborhood Boundaries

Newsletter 18—Asset #14: Adult Role Models

Newsletter 19—Asset #15: Positive Peer Influence

Newsletter 20—Asset #16: High Expectations

Newsletter 21—Asset Category: Constructive Use of Time

Newsletter 22—Asset #17: Creative Activities

Newsletter 23—Asset #18: Youth Programs

Newsletter 24—Asset #19: Religious Community

Table of Contents

Newsletters

Newsletter 25—Asset #20: Time at Home

Newsletter 26—Asset Category: Commitment to Learning

Newsletter 27—Asset #21: Achievement Motivation

Newsletter 28—Asset #22: School Engagement

Newsletter 29—Asset #23: Homework

Newsletter 30—Asset #24: Bonding to School

Newsletter 31—Asset #25: Reading for Pleasure

Newsletter 32—Asset Category: Positive Values

Newsletter 33—Asset #26: Caring

Newsletter 34—Asset #27: Equality and Social Justice

Newsletter 35—Asset #28: Integrity

Newsletter 36—Asset #29: Honesty

Newsletter 37—Asset #30: Responsibility

Newsletter 38—Asset #31: Restraint

Newsletter 39—Asset Category: Social Competencies

Newsletter 40—Asset #32: Planning and Decision Making

Newsletter 41—Asset #33: Interpersonal Competence

Newsletter 42—Asset #34: Cultural Competence

Newsletter 43—Asset #35: Resistance Skills

Newsletter 44—Asset #36: Peaceful Conflict Resolution

Newsletter 45—Asset Category: Positive Identity

Newsletter 46—Asset #37: Personal Power

Newsletter 47—Asset #38: Self-Esteem

Newsletter 48—Asset #39: Sense of Purpose

Newsletter 49—Asset #40: Positive View of Personal Future

Newsletter 50—External Assets

Newsletter 51—Internal Assets

Newsletter 52—Assets: The Power of Parenting

IntroductionWhy do some kids grow up with ease while others struggle? Search Institute researchers have identified specific,practical things that can have a tremendous and lasting positive impact on youth. Rather than focusing on problems,this research concentrates on Developmental Assets™—the positive things (such as parent support and commitmentto learning) that help young people thrive. The assets are 40 values, experiences, and positive qualities that youngpeople need to help them make wise decisions and choose positive lifestyles. The more of these assets theyexperience, the better.

Ideas for Parents consists of 52 newsletters that give parents practical suggestions for building DevelopmentalAssets for and with their children. Each two-page newsletter is easy to read, easy to understand, and easy to use.

Each newsletter gives useful, effective tips for parents to build one of the 40 Developmental Assets in theirchildren. Schools, communities, businesses, youth-serving organizations, family support programs, congregations,health-care providers, and others can use these newsletters to promote asset building, help parents build skills andideas, and demonstrate their concern for families and children. The newsletters are intended for use by parents ofchildren from birth to age 18.

Ideas for DistributionIt’s important for the newsletters to get into the hands of parents and for parents to know how to get future copies. Try these ideas fordistribution:

• Mail the newsletter to parents along with other community education information.• Have the newsletter available beside other free information in high-traffic public areas.• Send the newsletter home with students to give to their parents on a regular basis during the school year.• Distribute newsletters to your community library to give to parents when they visit or check out books with their children.• Give newsletters to parents who attend parent education workshops, classes, or family events.• Have volunteers hand deliver the newsletters to neighbors with children.

Ideas for FundingDistributing a newsletter can be expensive. Here are ideas to help defray thecosts:

• Get a local printer to donate some or all of the printing.• Ask a local corporation or business to sponsor the newsletter.• Include the newsletter with other mailings to eliminate or reduce postage costs.

Ideas for CustomizingEach newsletter contains a 4 1/4” x 3/8” area above the logo on the first page and an8 1/2” x 3 1/2” section for you to customize at the bottom of the second page.Use these areas to:

• Highlight the sponsor of the newsletter. Include the name, address, andphone number so that parents know where to get more information andservices.

• Inform parents about parent education events in the organizationand/or community. One school system sponsored a parent education seriesthat paralleled each asset type and its associated newsletter.

• List important phone numbers. Communities can include telephonenumbers for emergencies (police, fire, medical, poison), city, schools,community education, child care, and other community resources.

• Promote upcoming community events. If your community is hosting an ice cream social or family activity program, givethe details in this space. Include what, when, where, and who to contact for more information.

• Include discount coupons. You may want to ask a business to include a discount coupon. Or, have a coupon parents can clip to savemoney on a parent education class.

PRINTING TIPS• Make copies more appealing by using differentcolor paper or even a different color ink. Often aquick-print shop will have daily specials on

certain colors of ink. For example, you might beable to print in blue ink at the same price asblack ink on a certain day.

• Consider printing each newsletter on a differentcolor of paper forvariety. Or, you maywant tochoose one color to use for all 52 newsletters tohelp people recognize the newsletters rightaway.

Users Guide

Newsletters

Ideas for Parents NewslettersBy Jolene L. Roehlkepartain

Copyright © 1997, 2003, 2005 by Search Institute

All rights reserved. Electronic version created 2005. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever, mechanicalor electronic, without prior permission from the publisher except in brief quotations or summaries in articles or reviews. The purchasingorganization has permission to reprint the newsletters for educational use only. (See the section on licensing and copyright below.) Foradditional permission, write to Permissions at Search Institute.

Licensing and CopyrightReproduction rights are limited to the purchasing individual or organization only. Artwork in the newsletters may not be reprinted for usein any context other than the newsletters. The newsletters may not be electronically posted to any Web site without prior permission.Violation of any of these conditions shall be considered a violation of the copyright laws of the United States. If you have questions orrequire additional copyright information, contact Search Institute Permissions Department at 800-888-7828. Permission is granted toexcerpt up to 100 words from each newsletter for promotional or educational purposes, using the following attribution: Reprinted withpermission from Ideas for Parents, Newsletter # (specify the number of the newsletter you’re quoting), ©1997, 2003, 2005 by Search Institute,Minneapolis, MN, 800-888-7828. All rights reserved. Contact Search Institute for relicensing information and fees.

615 First Avenue Northeast, Suite 125Minneapolis, MN 55413www.search-institute.orgTelephone: 612-376-8955Toll free: 800-888-7828E-mail: search@search-institute.org

ISBN: 1-57482-873-8

Some parent quotes reprinted with permission by Family & Children’s Service from the Minnesota Family Strength Project.

At the time of these newsletters’ publication, all facts and figures cited are the most current available; all telephone numbers, addresses,and Web site URLs are accurate and active; all publications, organizations, Web sites, and other resources exist as described in thesenewsletters; and all efforts have been made to verify them. The author and Search Institute make no warranty or guarantee concerningthe information and materials given out by organizations or content found at Web sites, and we are not responsible for any changes thatoccur after these newsletters are published. If you find an error or believe that a resource listed here is not as described, please contactClient Services at Search Institute. We strongly urge you to monitor young people’s use of the Internet.

CreditsMajor support for Search Institute’s Healthy Communities • Healthy Youth (HC • HY) initiative is provided by Thrivent Financial forLutherans. Lutheran Brotherhood, now Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, is the founding national sponsor for HC • HY.

Editors: Jennifer Griffin-Wiesner, Rebecca AldridgeDesign: Wendy J. Johnson, Points Of ViewPackage design: Percolator DesignIllustrations: Nancy Johansen-Wester

A special thanks to Lee Skavanger, whose vision led to the development of this newsletter set, and to the Osseo (Minnesota) School Districtfor piloting the newsletters.

CD-ROM manufactured in the United States of America

Practical researchbenefiting childrenand youth

SearchI N S T I T U T E

ASSETS:40 Keys toEffective

ParentingAssets are

40 key buildingblocks of devel-

opment that helpyouth grow uphealthy. Themore assets

youth have, themore likely theyare to succeed.

What Are Assets?Assets are 40 values,

experiences, andqualities that

help kidssucceed.

* Based on Search Institute

surveys of 217,277 6th- to

12th-grade youth throughout the

United States during the

1999–2000 school year..

pare tideas n sfor

FAST FACTS

It’s easy to get scared as a parent.Watching the news, we see crime, drinking

and driving, teen pregnancy, gang warfare,suicide. We wonder what’s going to happen toour children.

In our fear, we may end up scaring our kidsso that they live in fear as well. Or, we maylook the other way, thinking that these thingswould never affect our families.

Whatever the approach, most parents feeluncertain at times. We would like to know thesecrets of healthy parenting in a world thatoften seems very unhealthy.

The idea of “developmental assets,” intro-duced by Search Institute in Minneapolis,gives a new sense of hope and practicaldirection for parents. Researchers at Search

Institute have identified 40 assets that have apowerful, positive impact on young people.Children and teenagers who have a lot ofassets get involved in very few riskybehaviors—the kinds of problems we worryabout. And when young people have a lot ofassets, they are much more likely to do thepositive things we value.

Assets do make adifference. Byincorporating theminto your parenting, youcan help your child growup happy, healthy,and responsible.Future issues of thisnewsletter willexplain furtherand give practicalinformation oneach asset.

Powerful Parenting:The Asset-Building Way

How to StartSearch Institute has identified eight typesof assets that are crucial for helpingyoung people grow up healthy:• Supporting and loving your child.• Empowering your child.• Setting clear and realistic boundaries

and expectations.• Helping your child use her or his time in

meaningful, constructive ways.• Encouraging your child to develop a

lifetime commitment to learning.• Instilling in your child positive values.• Developing social competencies in your

child.• Encouraging your child to form a

positive identity.Each area involves several specific assets.See the “asset quiz” for a list of all 40.

Easy Ways to Build Assets for and with Your Child

56%of youth

surveyed by

Search

Institute have

just 20 or

fewer of these

assets in their

lives.*

Newsletter #1

Quick Tip:Focus on the positive and your

children will, too.

✔WoRDFiNaL

Assets: How Does Your Child Rate?

Take this quiz to see how many assets you thinkyour child has. Check each statement you feel is true.

_____ 1. My child receives a lot of love and support from familymembers.

_____ 2. My child and I communicate positively, and my child iswilling to seek me out for advice and support.

_____ 3. My child receives support from three or more non-parent adults.

_____ 4. My child has neighbors that encourage and support heror him.

_____ 5. My child’s school provides a caring, encouragingenvironment.

_____ 6. I am actively involved in helping my child succeed inschool.

_____ 7. My child feels that adults in the community value youthand children.

_____ 8. My child is given useful roles in the community._____ 9. My child serves in the community one hour or more per

week._____ 10. My child feels safe at home, at school, and in the

neighborhood._____ 11. Our family has clear rules and consequences, and

monitors our child’s whereabouts._____ 12. My child’s school provides clear rules and consequences._____ 13. Our neighbors take responsibility for monitoring my

child’s behavior._____ 14. I and other adults model positive, responsible behavior._____ 15. My child’s best friends model responsible behavior._____ 16. I and my child’s teachers encourage my child to do well._____ 17. My child spends three or more hours per week in

lessons or practice in music, theater, or other arts._____ 18. My child spends three or more hours per week in sports,

clubs, or organizations at school and/or in thecommunity.

_____ 19. My child spends one or more hours per week inactivities in a religious institution.

_____ 20. My child is out with friends “with nothing special to do”two or fewer nights per week.

_____ 21. My child wants to do well in school._____ 22. My child likes to learn new things._____ 23. My child does at least one hour of homework every

school day._____ 24. My child cares about her or his school._____ 25. My child reads for pleasure three or more hours per

week._____ 26. My child places high value on helping other people._____ 27. My child wants to promote equality and reduce hunger

and poverty._____ 28. My child acts on convictions and stands up for her or his

beliefs._____ 29. My child tells the truth even when it is not easy._____ 30. My child accepts and takes personal responsibility._____ 31. My child believes it is important not to be sexually active

nor to use alcohol or other drugs._____ 32. My child knows how to plan ahead and make choices._____ 33. My child is good at making and keeping friends._____ 34. My child has knowledge of and comfort with people of

different cultural, racial, and ethnic backgrounds._____ 35. My child can resist negative peer pressure and

dangerous situations._____ 36. My child seeks to resolve conflict nonviolently._____ 37. My child feels he or she has control over things that

happen to her or him._____ 38. My child feels good about her- or himself._____ 39. My child believes that her or his life has a purpose._____ 40. My child feels positive about her or his personal future.

Scoring: Give yourself one point for each “true.” Total up thenumber of points. This is the number of assets you think yourchild has. Now ask your child how he or she would answer.

“Like a dream catcher, assets are the supporting threads in a young person’s life that can keepaway harm and invite goodness.”—Helping Kids Succeed—Alaskan Style

This checklist is an educational, awareness-raising tool. It is not intendednor appropriate as a scientific measurement of developmental assets ofindividuals.

This newsletter and other asset resources are produced by Search Institute, www.search-institute.org; 800-888-7828. Copyright © 1997, 2003, 2005 by Search Institute. Major support for Search Institute’s Healthy Communities • Healthy Youth initiative

is provided by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.

pare tideas n sfor

ASSETCATEGORY

Support

The more love,support, caring,

and adultcontacts a childhas, the more

likely he or sheis to grow up

healthy.

*The Minnesota Family Strength

Project Research Report 1997

and 1999.

FAST FACTS

Who are the people that reallysupport you in your life?

These people are important champions. Theycheer us on when things go well. They stickwith us when life throws us a curve ball. Theylisten. They ask questions. They smile. Theyhug. They’re people we like to be around.

What kind of a champion are you for yourchild? Are you a fair-weather supporter? Arain-or-shine supporter? What’s your uniqueway of supporting and loving your child?

Your love and support for your child arecritical. But you can’t go it alone. You needothers. Your child needs others. Howsupported and cared for does your child feelby teachers, neighbors, coaches, grandparents,aunts, uncles, parents of their friends, youthworkers, and mentors? These other key adults

are important players in helping your childjump over the hurdles in life. In fact, the moresupportive adults your child has, the better.And by nurturing and loving all the childrenin our communities, we help them grow to beloving, caring people themselves.

Everyone Provides theStrength of Support

12

3

Name ThreeHave each family member name threeways the family supports her or him.

Easy Ways to Build Assets for and with Your Child

Look to future newsletters for details on all six support assets!

❑ Caring neighborhood—Your childexperiences caring neighbors.

❑ Caring school climate—School provides acaring, encouraging environment for yourchild.

❑ Parent involvement in schooling—You areactively involved in helping your childsucceed in school.

Search Institute researchershave identified six specific

assets in the support category thatare crucial for helping youngpeople grow up healthy. Check theareas of strength in your child’s life:

❑ Family support—Family life provides highlevels of love and support.

❑ Positive family communication—You andyour child communicate positively, and yourchild is willing to seek you out for adviceand counsel.

❑ Other adult relationships—Your childreceives support from three or more non-parent adults.

6 Key Areas of Support

BuildingSupport

African

American

Parents Say:*

•“Praying

together, eating,

going out.”

•“Eating meals

[with teens], it’s

a way to get

out from teens

what they might

not tell you.”

Newsletter #2

Age Ways to Love and Support Your Child

0-1 • Hold your baby and look at her or him during feedings.• Respond to your baby’s needs.• Rock your baby often.

2-3 • Cheer your child on as he or she masters new skills.• Touch your child often. Hug. Cuddle.• Stay positive when setting limits for your child.

4-5 • When you interact with your child, get down to her or his eye level.• Share you child’s excitement about her or his interests.• Find other caring adults to participate regularly in your child’s life.

6-10 • Answer your child’s questions. If you don’t know an answer, say so and work together to find it.

• When you and your child disagree, point out you still love her or him.• Be silly with your child.

11-15 • Accept the identity your child is forming.• Affirm independence and interdependence.• At least sometimes, be available to listen.

16-18 • Continue to show affection for your teenager.• Let your teen overhear you complimenting her or him to someone else.• Seek your teen’s opinion or advice on a big decision.

More Help for ParentsWhat Kids Need to Succeed: Proven, Practical Ways to Raise Good Kids. This book gives practical tips for building assets forand with young people. (Available from Search Institute,www.search-institute.org; 800-888-7828.)

Quick Tip:

A good way to

love your child is

to be accessible.

“It isn’t walls and furniture that make a home. It’s the family.”—Natalie Savage Carlson

Support forParentsParents need

support, too.

Research shows

that parents need

the help of imme-

diate and extended

family, friends, and

communities.

So asking for

help or advice is

not a sign of weak-

ness. Instead, it

provides good ideas,

encouragement, and

reinforcement—

all of which are

needed to face the

challenges of

parenting that will

come along the way.

Support through the Years

WoRDFiNaL

This newsletter and other asset resources are produced by Search Institute, www.search-institute.org; 800-888-7828. Copyright © 1997, 2003, 2005 by Search Institute. Major support for Search Institute’s Healthy Communities • Healthy Youth initiative

is provided by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.

52 Weekly

Newsletters in

Easy-To-Use,

Customizable

PDF Format

2.0

A S E A R C H I N S T I T U T E P U B L I C A T I O N

2.0

Thousands of organizations have used the Ideas for Parents newsletters to deliver fun and functional information to parents. Now this popular product for family-serving professionals is available on CD-ROM as a set of easy-to-use, customizable PDF documents: Ideas for Parents 2.0.

Filled with activities, discussion prompts, and practical tips for raising kids, the Ideas for Parents newsletters not only introduce parents to Search Institute’s Developmental Assets™ framework, but inspire them to draw on its commonsense wisdom in their own families.

Ideas for Parents includes 52 black-and-white newsletters, one for each week of the calendar year. Each newsletter has two customizable spaces, perfect for inserting an organization’s name, upcoming events, or other initiative-specifi c information. The newsletter set also includes a User’s Guide, with tips for distribution and printing. An additional instruction sheet on manipulating PDF documents will have users up and running in no time.

If you’re an educator, health care professional, congregation leader, or simply interested in spreading the word about positive youth development, Ideas for Parents 2.0 provides the convenience and reliable information you need to communicate with parents.

2.0

MAC AND PC COMPAT IBLE

FAM I LY & RE LAT IONSH I PS / PARENT ING