Easy Ways to Show You Care

If you're a mentor or a caring adult to a young person, you know that sometimes it's the smallest tips and tricks that can make big differences. As Mr. Rogers said, "the deep and simple is far more essential than the shallow and complex." Here are some simple, tangible tips from other caring adults that you can use in your own interactions with young people!

Question of the Day - Especially if you see a young person day-to-day, a Question of the Day can be a fun way to learn more about one another. Switch up between fun, silly questions and more thoughtful or serious ones. Setting up a routine of asking a question each day when you see a young person helps create consistency and expectations as well. 

Snacks, Snacks, Snacks - Everyone likes snacks! They can be especially important for young people who need to re-energize after a long day of school and activities. Keeping a bin of snacks in your space or car can be a great touch and also help save on costs of buying snacks while you're out. Learn their favorites to keep around and let them know that they're there for whenever they need them!

Space for Silence - People of all ages are often afraid of silence, so we try and fill it with lots of questions, stories, and small talk. While it's great to keep the conversation going to learn more about a young person and build your relationship, it's also okay to allow for silent pauses sometimes. Especially if a young person doesn't seem particularly talkative at the moment, give them and yourself a break from talking and embrace some quiet time together. 

Let Them Take the Lead - Whether it's ideas for activities, conversation topics, or what music to listen to, let young people take the lead on decision making. Ask them what they're interested in or what they want to do and, if they're having trouble coming up with things, help by providing some choices. Not only does this help take some pressure off of you to decide, it helps create a reciprocal relationship where the young person feels heard and involved. 

Know Your Boundaries - It can be hard to say "no," but it's an important part of any relationship. When you're going into an interaction or relationship, try and determine generally what your boundaries are, whether that's related to budget, types of activities, time spent together, etc. For some topics, you may want to open up discussion from the very beginning, but some you'll have to address as they come up. Remember, even if a young person is upset for a moment after you say "no," they won't be upset for long and your relationship will be better and healthier because of it. 

What tips and tricks for showing care have you learned during your interactions with young people? We want to know! Share your knowledge and insights with us on social media or email us at info@mentoringpittsburgh.org.