Creating Community-minded, Confident Leaders Scouting America

WRITTEN BY KATIE DAUGHENBAUGH

Parenting in today’s post-COVID culture can cause an overwhelming sense of anxiety. We want our kids to get out, experience life and have a little fun, but we also want to keep them safe. As our kids go back to school this fall, now is the time to consider what extracurricular activities are best for them. But what do we pick? In the context of child development, contemporary research shows that children do best with activities that provide some structure, but not too much; that have some rules, but not too many; where parents and other trusted adults prioritize safety, but not obsessively. We as parents want to choose activities that let our kids be creative, happy, effective and successful, but we often impede this by hovering and directing. Sometimes when we try to create and manage an experience for our kids, it often doesn’t yield the results we want. Why? Because kids need the autonomy to do it for themselves.

I know, the world is a scary place and it’s our job to stand between it and our children. Pandemics, war, social media, gun violence and even unkind social groups at school all remind us of this daily. As parents, we find ourselves stepping in when our child is unhappy with a friend, complaining to the school when they have an uncomfortable experience with a teacher or speaking with a coach if they don’t get enough playing time. Despite our herculean efforts to create an idyllic childhood for our kids, often when we engage in these behaviors and we may be doing more harm than good. Without giving our kids opportunities to do some independent experimenting, thoughtful risk-taking and personal problem solving, we may deprive them of life experiences that create self-confident, highfunctioning adults.

As the beginning of the school year approaches, I encourage all parents to consider what their kid needs most at this moment. Perhaps they need more physical activity and structure, and a sports team is the best solution. Or, they need to get away from their electronic devices and spend more time outside. Maybe you’re looking to find an opportunity where they can learn independence and autonomy, or find an appropriate friend group. Wouldn’t it be great if there were a program that addressed all of these needs? There is, and it’s Scouting.

Scouting America, previously known as Boy Scouts of America, offers a time-tested program that creates community-minded, confident leaders, who also happen to know how to tie knots, start a campfire and paddle a canoe. To top it off, Scouting America is open to both boys and girls from kindergarten through young adulthood and fits well into a busy family’s life. To learn more, go to https:// beascout.scouting.org or email renee.stephens@scouting.org.

As Robert Baden-Powell, the founder of Scouting, said, “In Scouting, a child is encouraged to educate themself instead of being instructed.” Give your kids the opportunity to find it within themselves to grow. Join Scouting America today.

Katie Daughenbaugh is the Scouting America Mountain Valley District Commissioner.