Today’s students; children and teenagers are inundated with messages on various platforms and a close look at the messaging has both parents and teachers worried about the effects on the young generation.
What is considered child- or teen-friendly content is a far cry from what we would routinely want children exposed to. Of greatest concern are messages that present both children and teenagers with skewed information about their identity with an emphasis on who they ought to be rather than celebrating who they are.
In a world that boasts of being more self-aware than previous generations, it is unfortunate that we have increased cases of children and teenagers weighed down with issues of low self-esteem, poor self-perception and body image, and a loss of confidence in who they are as individuals.
It is in response to this sad reality that Crawford International School introduced the “I am enough” program for the Year 6 to Year 13 students. This is a character development and integrity program whose aim is to help students develop the skills and aptitudes necessary to navigate adolescence in the twenty-first century.
The program has been created to meet the unique needs of girls and boys, with each age group exploring topics that are relevant to them.
The younger students, ages 11 to 14, have teachers within the school who serve as mentors and meet with them twice each month. On the other hand, the older students, aged 15 to 18, have sessions that are facilitated by external youth counselors, with whom they meet twice a semester.
Openness among students is encouraged with mentors using different tactics to share information. These approaches include power point presentations, videos, discussions, and experience-sharing. Students are encouraged to ask questions or make comments about the various topics without fear of being judged.
The program has created a safe space for most students, with a number seeking professional counseling services either at school or externally to deal with issues affecting them. It is hoped that students will grow in their sense of personal value, worth, and purpose as they go through the “I am enough” program.
Character development is a lifelong process that requires collaboration between the school and parents. Both parties have the moral responsibility to nurture children and teenagers into adults that will contribute meaningfully to society by exercising values such as respect, citizenship, and responsibility for self and others.
A healthy collaboration also means there is an agreement on messaging for students at home and in school. When children and teenagers are able to discern the unity of voice and purpose between the home and school, they will be motivated to not only put into practice lessons drawn from the “I am enough” program, but also critically analyze messages they access on different platforms.
As a result, we will have a generation of children, teenagers, and young adults who are not afraid to question what they consider unhealthy rhetoric.
The active engagement of students in defining who they are and giving them the opportunity to participate in their own character development will go a long way in changing the current tide which if left unchecked promises to derail a generation that is uniquely talented and equipped for the twenty-first century.
BY LUCY SIMIYU, CRAWFORD INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST
