As a mentor in our program, you are embarking on a journey to help youth develop the knowledge and skills they need to grow up successfully. Over the first year of your mentoring relationship, you are encouraged to do the following activities as often as you like with your Little.
SUPPORT
- Meet with your Little regularly and consistently
- Bring them to Volunteer support sessions
- Attend Match Anniversary Party
- Attend all Volunteer Training sessions
- Introduce your Little to resource bearing adults
- Partner with your Little’s parent/caregiver
HEALTHY HABITS
- Engage in random acts of kindness with your Little
- Give your Little a responsibility, task or chore
- Help your Little identify & solve a problem and/or identify & make a decision
- Give your Little something to make and implement a plan for
- Budget with your Little or do a financial literacy class
- Practice healthy eating with your Little
- Engage in physical activity with your Little
ACADEMICS
- Visit your Little’s School for lunch or to support their activities
- Meet your Little’s teachers
- Meet your Little’s classmates/friends
- Help your Little with homework
- Know your Little’s grades and help where applicable
- Discuss Enrollment, Enlistment & Employment
- Foster a love of reading for pleasure
- Read the same book as your little
- Visit a library or bookstore
- Listen to books on tape
- Do the BBBS Summer Reading Challenge
RESOURCES
- Visit museums or sites in the community that will build your Little’s cultural competency
- Volunteer in the community together, including at BBBS events such as BFKS or at a recruitment booth
- Expose your Little to civic activities such as vote and/or register to vote, community marches such as MLK March, Cesar Chavez March and etc.
- Choose and/or support a creative hobby with your Little (and read about it!)
- Support your Little’s participation in extracurricular activities
- Sign your Little up for another youth program opportunity such as joining the BBBS Girl Scout Troop or joining the YMCA
EMPOWERMENT
- Make sure to keep all of your commitments as a role model
- Introduce your Little to a variety of people and experiences
- Allow your Little to become active in their community
- Learn healthy habits
- Commit to learn
When you do these things, you are helping to develop their character, cultural competency, self-esteem, personal power, sense of purpose and positive view of their future.