Kids who don’t feel loved in their lives often end up doing harmful things to themselves and others. They might end up committing crimes. Can you blame them? If no adult is looking out for them, caring for them, asking them questions and showing genuine concern then they’re bound to go rogue and get into trouble. Kids who are ignored or unloved do not usually become good citizens of a community.
The Importance of Positively Engaged Kids
What about kids who are active and positively engaged? Do they have time to do bad things? Not really– they’re busy with things that keep them out of trouble such as hobby clubs or sports teams. They’re part of a group where they matter, and there’s an adult in charge who can tell them, “Nice job! Keep up the good work.” Kids believe what they’re told. If you speak negatively toward/about them, they’re going to hate themselves. If you speak positively, you’re going to encourage them to be good kids.
Kids need some guidance. They crave adventure. They really want to learn even if they pretend they do not. So it’s a good thing to gather kids together and have an adult teach them life skills. This benefits kids physically, mentally and emotionally. Whether it’s how to throw a basketball so it goes through the hoop or how to add several numbers together to figure out how much you’d owe at a store when buying several items (including taxes), involved adults have the power to change a kid’s life for the better by caring about them and teaching them.
Kids have a lot of energy so they should be given opportunities to be active. Playing games or sports together can help kids learn social skills and teamwork abilities. Having others to talk with about all sorts of topics can help manage stress and mental well-being.
In Buffalo, it seems like there is a sad news story involving a child every day. Who is looking out for children these days? The Most Valuable Parents (MVP) group brings together citizens, parents and organizations to help make Buffalo a safer, better place to live. If you want to help keep kids in Buffalo active and positively engaged, call MVP at 585-JOINMVP or email info@joinmvp.org.
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