For Leaders

Ideas and Helpful Articles

Youth and Adult Partnerships
By Lisa Woessner
Youth Development Educator
Freeport Extension Center

Think for a minute ... Are youth equal partners in your 4-H club? Who really is in charge - you, the officer team, the entire club? Or is it a shared effort?

Generally youth and adult relationships can be thought of one of three ways. Do you, as an adult leader do projects and activities:

To youth - this implies that youth are objects - not part of the actual process.

For youth - this implies that youth are helpless, and can't do things for themselves

With youth - this implies that youth see themselves as equals in the partnership.

Obviously, most of us strive to work with youth - but it can be tough. It can take extra time and planning when working with youth as an equal partner. You probably will even have to endure some frustrations and setbacks.

So, why involve youth? There are benefits when youth become partners for: organizations, communities, adults, and youth themselves. Let's look at some of those benefits:

Organizations Benefit when youth are involved:
Youth recruit other youth much more effectively than adults can. Young people tend to have a fresh perspective on problems. They don't think that things have to be done the way they have always been done in the past. Youth have access to information that is difficult for adults to obtain.

Communities Benefit when youth are involved:
Communities gain a pool of future leaders. There is a reduction of negative youth activities. Communities enjoy new youth role models.

Adults benefit when youth are involved:
Adults learn that they don't need to be responsible for everything. They gain better understanding of the needs of youth. Youth can revitalize adults with an infusion of energy and creativity.

Youth benefit when youth are involved:
Youth gain self-esteem. Young people gain new skills and community lead-ership experience. Youth better understand the many roles that adults play, like: teacher, volunteer, mentor, etc. . .

Hints and Helps

Don't expect more from youth than you would from another adult. Think about the last meeting that you attended where there were youth and adults. If a youth showed up to the meeting 15 minutes late - what would have your perception been? If an adult had shown up 15 minutes late, would you have thought something different? Just like adults, youth have busy schedules and deadlines.

Treat youth as individuals. Don't make one youth represent all youth. Would you be comfortable if you were asked to answer a survey on behalf of everyone in your neighborhood? Let youth know that you are interested in their individual opinions, and don't expect them to embody an entire population.

Don't interrupt. Youth can get discouraged easily. Sometimes when they are interrupted they stop talking, sometimes permanently! Make sure that youth have the chance to finish their thoughts.

Don't excuse everything because you are dealing with youth. If you hold youth to a low standard-you won't be disappointed. Being a partner means doing your part. Don't excuse lack of responsibility just because someone is young.

Information from this page came from Supporting Positive Youth/Adult Connections from the University of Wisconsin, Extension.