By Greg NashScouting has more going for it than many of us give it credit for. I have spoken about scouting and resilient children (presented at a combined all-leaders meeting in 2008) and how by default scouting programs foster better-equipped youth to resist stress and adversity, cope with change and uncertainty, and recover faster and more completely from traumatic events or episodes.
Another positive outcome of scouting is confidence. Time and time again experts give parenting advice on building confident kids, we only need to look at our own training and the scouting program to peel away the barriers preventing children to explore their own confidence. We do this by creating within a safe environment opportunities for our youth to discover their limits, deal with failure and have a go.
All this is good but without the right delivery, all our good work and planning will let those learning possibilities amount to disappointment for youth and leaders. The way we deliver scouting programs can make or break the very confidence we are trying to encourage in those first and vital steps that can be taken.
Leaders need to model confidence in the language that they use because kids need to hear what a confident mindset sounds like. Kids pick up your thinking as well as your language so teach kids how to approach tricky or new situations confidently by doing so yourself. That means, don’t put yourself down if you make a mistake. Instead make sure your thinking reflects that mistakes are acceptable and part of learning, rather than a reflection of your personality.
Encourage kids to look on the bright side because optimism is catchy, and helps kids overcome their fears. Help kids set their antennae to look for the good, something positive, or learning in any situation. The best example I use for this is that moment when abseiling for the first time and just before taking that apprehensive step down the cliff face, all around your friends are telling you it's okay, it is safe, you can do it and no one is saying you’ll fall, you can’t do it, give up.
Look at the many opportunities scouting can offer our youth and take the time to develop and explore new ways of fostering confident children and the adults around you.
Often it is the voice of a freind that reminds us why we became scout leaders and how at times we forget that everything we do and say is being observed, absorded and copied. We need to be the best we can to ensure that our scouts can be the best they can be.
ReplyDeleteSo to my friend thank you.