Mentoring children and youth offers significant value, both for the individuals involved and for society as a whole. Mentoring provides youth with guidance, encouragement, and constructive feedback, which helps them build confidence in their abilities and decisions. Regular interaction with a mentor allows young people to develop better communication, emotional intelligence, and conflict-resolution skills, which are important for both personal and professional relationships.
A strong mentoring relationship helps children and teens feel connected and supported, which is especially important for those facing challenges or adversity. Through mentoring, young people can learn healthier ways to manage stress, setbacks, and emotions, ultimately developing greater resilience.
Mentors can influence mentees to adopt positive habits, such as setting goals, making responsible choices, and prioritizing health and well-being. By fostering relationships with caring adults, mentoring helps steer youth away from potentially harmful influences, such as peer pressure, substance abuse, or criminal activity.
Mentoring strengthens ties within the community by creating connections between different generations and diverse individuals. It fosters a culture of care and support. Youth who are mentored are more likely to become mentors themselves in the future, perpetuating a cycle of positive influence and social responsibility.
Celebrate mentoring and the growing community of mentors in Alberta with AMP’s Mentoring Month Toolkit
This January, find a mentoring opportunity, download a poster or customizable card and send your mentor a heartfelt ‘thank you’
Learn more about mentoring opportunities, event dates, key messages, social media and additional resources
If you are a caregiver, you may also be interested in the ALIGN Blog The Role of Mentoring for Foster Parents and Why it Matters