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IV. Activities
- The program schedule is flexible, and it offers enough security, independence, and stimulation to meet the needs of all children.
- Children can choose from a wide variety of activities.
- Activities reflect the mission of the program and promote the development of all the children in the program.
- There are sufficient materials to support program activities.
Forward:
In an effort to strengthen "Activities", Kansas City youth-serving agencies want to emphasize developmental youth outcomes by including this forward and the unnumbered Key below.
Activities fill a space and time. Developmental activities, however, are intentionally planned to address specific developmental outcomes.
Development is defined as ongoing process by which children meet their basic needs and seek to build their individual abilities and competencies, with assistance from adults.
One way of describing "development" is a model that outlines 12 developmental outcome areas. They are broken into two groups:
Aspects of Identity
- Safety & Structure
- Self-Worth
- Mastery & Future
- Belonging & Membership
- Responsibility & Autonomy
- Self-Awareness & Spirituality
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Areas of Ability
- Physical Health
- Mental Health
- Intellectual Ability
- Employability
- Civic & Social Ability
- Cultural Ability
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Implementation of all 36 Keys in this set of standards goes a long way toward addressing the Aspects of Identity. For example, by consistently implementing Key #2, "staff respond appropriately to the individual needs of children," the individual child will develop a sense of Self-Worth. Or Key #3, "staff encourage children to make choices and to become more responsible" actively addresses Responsibility and Autonomy. In other words, the standards create an environment in which positive development can occur.
Additionally, implementing the standards creates an environment in which learning can occur. This includes intellectual or academic learning but it also includes development of other Areas of Ability. Even providing the opportunity for fun is developmental: an important part of the Mental Health outcome is the ability to engage in leisure and fun!
Activities are intentionally planned to address specific developmental youth outcomes.
- Staff demonstrate an understanding of the relationship of standards and outcomes by their ability to connect six (6) of these standards with the Aspects of Identity outcomes they address.
- Activity plans will cite what outcome is being addressed by any particular activity.
- Staff will be able to articulate the outcome being addressed by the activity they are implementing.
- Every agency will implement outcome measurement for at least one program annually, as described in United Way's Measuring Program Outcomes: A Practical Approach.
12. The program schedule is flexible, and it offers enough security, independence, and stimulation to meet the needs of all children.
- The routine provides stability without being rigid.
- Children meet their physical needs in a relaxed way.
- When it is necessary for children to move as a group, the transition is smooth.
13. Children can choose from a wide variety of activities.
- There are regular opportunities for active, physical play.
- There are regular opportunities for self-expression through creative arts and dramatic play.
- There are regular opportunities for quiet activities and socializing.
- Children have a chance to join enrichment activities that promote basic skills and higher-level thinking.
- There are regular opportunities for exploration, practice, and reflection.
14. Activities reflect the mission of the program and promote the development of all the children in the program.
- Activities are in line with the styles, abilities, and interests of the individuals in the program.
- Activities are well suited to the age range of children in the program.
- Activities respect the languages and cultures of the families served.
- Activities address specific developmental outcomes that reflect and support the program's mission.
15. There are sufficient materials to support program activities.
- Materials are complete and in good repair.
- There are enough materials for the number of children in the program.
- Materials are developmentally appropriate for the age range of the children in the program.
- Materials promote the program's mission.
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