Join Kids 'n Kinship for Our Bowlathon!

Kids 'n Kinship is excited to host our 15th Annual Bowlathon in the spring this year! It will be Sunday April 27th, from 3:30-7 pm.  We will have two bowling sessions:

3:30-5 pm for our mentors, mentees, youth on the waiting list, and their families
5:30-7 pm for community teams (youth groups, companies, and friends of the program)$25/person includes bowling, chips & pop, as well as free gift (see below)
Register here: http://kinshipbowlfundraiser14.eventbrite.com

Bowling with us is a great way to get service hours, to bond with your co-workers, or just have fun while making a difference for youth needing mentors in Dakota County! All community bowlers get a lovely commemorative gift like last year's cooler bag:

We are also seeking individuals and companies to sponsor us!  Funds will go directly to supporting youth needing mentors here in our community! Donations will be recognized in our newsletter.
Donate here: http://www.razoo.com/story/Kidsnkinshipbowlathon
For $200, you get a lane sign like in this photo:

Please consider participating by sponsoring us, gathering a team to bowl, or donating an item for our raffle baskets!

For more information on Kids 'n Kinship, check out our website www.kidsnkinship.org

Kids 'n Kinship Mentor Wins Be the Change Award!

Congratulations Kids 'n Kinship mentor, Judy Olhoft for being one of 4 winners of the HandsOn Twin Cities Be the Change award for 2014!  She will be given the award this Saturday February 15 at the HandsOn Twin Cities Volunteer Expo at the Mall of America.  The Volunteer Expo runs from 10 am to 3 pm and Kids 'n Kinship's booth will be located in front of Macy's.  Stop by to visit with staff, ambassadors, and mentors and learn more about mentoring youth in Dakota County!

You're also invited to attend the Awards Ceremony from 1-1:30 pm at the Rotunda to see Judy accept her award, along with her mentee.  THANKS FOR EVERYTHING, JUDY!

To learn more about Kids 'n Kinship, visit our website www.kidsnkinship.org. You're also invited to an information session on Thursday Feb. 20, 6-6:45 pm at the Burnhaven Library in Burnsville. To RSVP, call  or call 952-891-3885.

Welcome Moses Dennis!

I would like to introduce a new addition to our Kids ‘n Kinship staff family.  Moses Dennis was hired recently as our Recruitment Coordinator.  His job will be to work diligently to find mentors for the youth on our waiting list for a mentor.

Moses Dennis has more than 25 years of experience in public relations and communications with corporations and non-profits. He joins Kids ‘n Kinship after serving as communications manager for a non-profit international trade association.

"I'm excited to be a part of an organization that truly makes a difference in the lives of our youth and their families, and has an excellent reputation in the community," Dennis exclaimed.

Mr. Dennis has experience with print, web-based communication and social media. As a professional speaker, he has delivered over 100 speeches at fundraising campaigns for local chapters of national non-profit organizations.

 An avid tennis fan, Mr. Dennis has been a volunteer junior tennis coach and served on several tennis committees for the United States Tennis Association Northern Section.

He and his wife, Mary, have lived in Savage, Minnesota for the past 20 years. They have four adult sons.

For more information about Kids 'n Kinship youth mentoring program, go to www.kidsnkinship.org.  Our next information session is Thursday February 20, 6-6:45 pm at Burnhaven Library in Burnsville. To RSVP, call 952-891-3885.

Developmental Stages of Young People: Part Three

RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHERS

Generally, 10- to 12-year-olds still enjoy being around family members. This is typically the age when romantic relationships start to become of interest, and friends and peers become even more important in their lives. As young people mature, they begin to actively seek out ways to be more independent of their family and to bond more closely with peers.

Tips for interacting with your mentee:

• At this age, young people are beginning to think like adults, but they don’t have the experience and judgment needed to act like adults. Help your mentee recognize this.
• Suggest constructive behaviors, but provide multiple options to allow your mentee to make choices. For example, describe the positive aspects of helping a younger child with homework, doing chores without being asked, or volunteering with a friend at a local charity.
• Never give up on your mentee, even when things get tough.

Reprinted with permission from Search Institute®.  From Mentoring for Meaningful Results: Asset-Building Tips, Tools, and Activities for Youth and Adults. Copyright © 2008 Search Institute, Minneapolis, MN; 800-888-7828; www.search-institute.org. All rights reserved.

Developmental Stages of Young People: Part Two

DECISION MAKING FOR THE SHORT TERM AND THE FUTURE

Adolescents typically start to understand the consequences of different actions by about age 13 or 14. At this age they also are increasingly considering who they are in the world. As they age, adolescents mature in their ability to think through problems on their own. By the time people are close to 17 or 18 years old, they are both excited and scared to be on their own.

Tips for interacting with your mentee:

·        Encourage her to take responsibility for her actions.

·        Help him make good choices, like getting his homework done before you do a fun activity together.

·        Suggest that your mentee break planning and decision making down into a series of steps.

·        Ask questions that highlight the positive results of good decisions and the unpleasant consequences of poor planning.

·        Listen carefully without criticizing.

·        Listen to you Mentee’s thoughts about the future.

·        Support and respect his decisions.

·        Offer ideas about what you think she might like to do or be good at.

·        Find other mentors who can help direct his choices.

·        Share your own excitement about the world and its possibilities.

*Look for part three next week.

Reprinted with permission from Search Institute®.  From Mentoring for Meaningful Results: Asset-Building Tips, Tools, and Activities for Youth and Adults. Copyright © 2008 Search Institute, Minneapolis, MN; 800-888-7828; www.search-institute.org. All rights reserved.

For more information on Kids 'n Kinship mentoring program in Dakota County, go to www.kidsnkinship.org

Developmental Stages of Young People: Part One

You may feel as if it wasn’t all that long ago that you yourself were taking that roller-coaster ride through adolescence. If you’re a peer mentor, you still may be going through adolescence yourself. Or maybe you’re an adult mentor with children who have gone through or are currently going through adolescence. No matter what your level of experience is with young people, it helps to understand a little more about typical changes that happen to them as they approach and go through different stages. This helps you identify normal behaviors in your mentee and better equips you to react to them.

Below is a summary of typical developmental experiences of young people at different ages, as well as some tips for helping your mentee thrive during these critical developmental changes.

APPEARANCES AND SELF-IMAGE

By the time young people are between the ages of 10 and 12, they are well into puberty. As they age, they may worry about personal traits that are vital to them, but are hardly noticeable to others.

Young people also go through emotional changes that impact their self-image. By the time they are between the ages of 13 and 16, they will likely experience emotional extremes, from being happy to feeling sad or from thinking they are smart to believing they are dumb. They may want both to fit in with the crowd while at the same time stand out and be special. It is normal to see these kinds of emotional extremes continue well into their teen years as they take on more independence and make more decisions for themselves.

Tips for interacting with your mentee:
·        Be sensitive to how she feels about her body or other issues.
·        Acknowledge feelings, positive traits and abilities, and help him recognize his own genuine worth.
·        Make sure your mentee knows how important she is to you. Don’t assume she knows.
·        Bolster his self-confidence by emphasizing independent choice, encouraging self-respect, and recognizing  positive behavior.
·        Find out what your mentee loves learning about or what she’s interested in studying.

Reprinted with permission from Search Institute®.  From Mentoring for Meaningful Results: Asset-Building Tips, Tools, and Activities for Youth and Adults. Copyright © 2008 Search Institute, Minneapolis, MN; 800-888-7828; www.search-institute.org. All rights reserved.

Thank Your Mentor Day

Take a moment to think about who cared for you when you were growing up.  Was it a teacher?  A coach?  A caring neighbor? Perhaps an uncle or aunt?  Or a grandparent? Every child needs at least one caring adult to help them navigate the murky waters of childhood and the teen years.  Who helped you by believing in you?  Cheering you on in your sports or hobbies, encouraging you to work hard at school, letting you know that you matter and that you can achieve your goals in life.  I remember a kind older lady who lived down the street who always came over at Christmas and who just spent time with us when my brother & I were kids.  I also remember several teachers at school and instructors in my hobbies/sports who made a special effort to let me know they saw potential in me.  Without them I wouldn't be who I am today.

Who was your mentor? Have you ever thanked them for being so supportive of you? Now's your chance!  Thursday January 16th is National Thank Your Mentor Day.  

Think about the mentors in your life, send them a thank you card (scroll down to 3rd row to download & print) and tell them thank you on social media using #SomeoneWhoMatters. For more information on this initiative and National Mentoring Month - go to http://www.nationalmentoringmonth.org/

To become a mentor to youth in Dakota County, attend an information session on Thursday Jan. 23rd, 6-6:45 pm at Burnhaven Library in Burnsville. Learn more about Kids 'n Kinship, the local mentoring program serving youth in Apple Valley, Burnsville, Eagan, Farmington, Lakeville, & Rosemount for over 40 years: www.kidsnkinship.org