Someone to Look Up To
Many children don't live in a traditional two-parent household, and sometimes this can lead to a situation where they aren't getting enough support to either establish or work towards fitness and weight goals. In other situations, kids may have plenty of support at home, but they may still feel adrift when they're at school and have to make choices about what to do with their free time and how to handle social problems.
Over 200,000 American kids between the ages of five and eighteen participate in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. Research has found that these children (called “Littles” in BBBS lingo) perform better in school and have more self-confidence. They come from all socioeconomic backgrounds and family structures. The only qualification for becoming a “Little” is that the child's guardian believes he or she could benefit from additional adult support. BBBS runs both in-school and community-based mentoring programs.
For the child who needs a little extra attention from an older child or adult, a mentoring program may be just the thing. Many are school-based, pairing up children with older kids or adults for regular sessions of one-on-one activities, games, and tutoring. These programs can form lifelong friendships, and they may also provide your child with an extra support outlet for her fitness goals. A child's sense of self-worth is often boosted by the idea that a “big kid” or adult wants to take time out of the day to be with him.
If the school district has a mentoring program available, and you think that a child in your life could benefit from the contact, see about getting him involved. When requesting a mentor for your child, you might suggest to the coordinator that he be matched up with someone who would enjoy and encourage more active play during together times, and who would be a good role model for a healthy and fit lifestyle.
Older Children As Mentors
Child-to-child mentor programs often work best when they are voluntary for the older children, so they are participating by choice rather than mandate. The program director or teachers in charge should also screen the children and explore the best matches for your child based on her needs and personality and those of the potential mentor.
Beyond providing a role model and a positive friendship, having a mentor who is “one of the big kids” at school may help your child cope better in the schoolyard. If any teasing is happening at school, an older buddy on the playground can often help defuse the situation simply with his or her presence. (If the situation deteriorates, however, or if the child is being persistently bullied, an adult should still be notified.)
Adult Mentors
For children of single-parent families or families in which a guardian, grandparent, or relative is raising a child, a friendship with an adult mentor can be a very rewarding experience. Mentors give kids another reliable and caring adult figure in their life to confide in and to turn to for guidance and support. Some mentors also tutor and work with children on academic issues. If an adult mentor program isn't available at school, contact the national Big Brothers and Big Sisters organization (online at 215-567-7000) about getting your child involved with a mentor in your area.
