Valued participation helps a lot!
Describing the value of a child and their contribution goes along way towards belonging.
Participation is one thing. Valuing participation is that extra dimension that helps foster belonging. For children, it is more likely the lack of opportunity to participate which provides a negative influence in this factor.
ARTICLE: Series: Help children belong #04
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If a person thinks or feels that, “All I’m good for is turning up, doing a job or putting my money in!” then something is wrong. That person’s participation is important but all the indications are that it is either undervalued, not building towards a sense or belonging to the team or both.
Communicating value in a person needs to be both expressed and heard for it to be considered effective communication. A sender might say just how much a person is appreciated but fail to check if the message was effectively received. This is an important aspect of helpful, healthy communication. It’s particularly important when delivering descriptive recognition that values a child for who she is or for the part she has played.
Normally there are many opportunities for participation in a functional group. While participation is certainly helpful in forming connections and friendships, a sense of belonging is the added dimension. In many cases, participation is an important vehicle for fostering belonging.
[blockQuote position=”center”]A group’s normal rostered roles and responsibilities provide a wide range of opportunities for participation, probably for children too![/blockQuote]Add to this an emphasis on discerning interest, skill and gifting of people for particular roles and everyone can be involved in even more meaningful ways. If children are considered for roles they can be mentored in so they too can participate then children are also encouraged to experience the benefits of growing relationships with others and fostering a sense of belonging.
Learning how to involve more people, including children, in aspects of the role of leadership and governance is the area that adds to the experience of merely participating on a roster.
After a period of time spent on a roster, expressing value in a child is expressed when she is:
[ul style=”1″] [li]descriptively recognised and thanked for the role they are playing,[/li] [li]helped to review their role as part of a mentoring process[/li] [li]invited to play an appropriate part in decision making, providing discernment, sharing insights as to how the role can be developed according to the values and directions of the group[/li] [li]invited to contribute to a review on the function or purpose of the roster.[/li] [/ul] [spacer height=”10″ mobile_hide=”true”]Such activities changes participation in a group into belonging to a team.
[phildup55/Phillip Day © midst.com.au This article is FreeShare.
Part or all of the text may be used provided it is not for profit
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For reflection
What have you seen or heard of or experienced that relates to this?
• Think about the times you have made a valued contribution and have been recognised for it. Embarrassing? Good feeling?
• Does this article help you to consider a child’s sense of belonging? What is a practical next step for you in this regard?
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Reference
The following area of midst deals extensively with this topic.
[spacer height=”20″ mobile_hide=”true”]Notes
• Author: phildup55 • Date: 04/09/2014
• Personal pronouns used as required in this article: she/her
Copyright/freeshare
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