Successfully Developing Youth

What is a Teen Advisory Board?

Teen Advisory Boards give teens a voice in all aspects of the library which involve teens. In many instances, teens earn community service hours toward graduation, scholarships and more!

Teens can create, schedule, and implement programs geared toward their age group. They can prioritize the library services geared toward teens.

They can also guide the library in relation to policies and procedures directed toward teens.

Leadership• Leadership is included as one of the big three approaches for growing your 5 C’s. These 5 C’s are one of the positive developmental systems which demonstrate which strengths nurture a successful transition to adulthood.

• Teen programs which include enabling; responsibility granting; and meaningful challenge should be included in any positive developmental setting.

• Teen Advisory Boards give teens an opportunity for demonstration of leadership skills by getting elected as officers and running the meetings.

Nature vs NurtureAdolescent development was characterized by storm and stress.

In the mid-1990’s, five assets were developed by youth development advocates and researchers based on positive development programs. These strengths can help a teen make a positive transition to adulthood.

Five Assets: Competence, Confidence, Connection, Character, Caring

The Search Institute also has 40 Developmental Assets for Adolescents which use positive development principles for adolescents.

Teen Advisory Boards can use positive development principles for assisting youth.

Decision Making

Programs with Youth Development Principles• Wii Gaming for Seniors – Teens can teach Senior Citizens how to use the Wii. Teens learn leadership skills by heading up the programs and deciding how to run the program. They also gain confidence by the successful use of their public speaking skills.

• Morning Show Announcements – Teens in our SouthShore Regional Library TAB create Morning Show announcements for the local schools. They create the script, film and act the parts, and do the final editing of the commercial. The skills in this program demonstrate decision making and leadership.

• Computer Classes – Teens can aide library staff in computer classes taught in the library. When a customer gets stuck, teens can guide the student into the correct steps without delaying the class. The teens aide the instructor by helping keep these customers on the same page.

in Library Teen Advisory BoardsBy: Bill Harris

Cognitive Development• Before recent discoveries, most scientists believed the brain was largely a finished product by the time children reached the age of 12. We have now discovered that these changes can continue into adulthood.

• The dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex brain regions matures into adult dimensions in the early 20s. This area of the brain affects planning, setting priorities, organizing thoughts, suppressing impulses, and weighing the consequences of one’s actions

• The thickening of the white matter which makes nerve-signal transmission faster and more efficient can continue into your 30s.

• Scientist believe the pruning or development are affected by genetics and a use-it-or-lose-it principal.