Mentors play an invaluable role in a child’s life. The right mentor for your child can have a huge impact on the future. Though many parents hope to connect their child with such a person, finding this type of mentor can take some time. As you begin your search for the right mentor for your child, consider the following suggestions:
1. Find Someone Your Child Admires
Parents that are eager to choose a mentor for their child may want to begin their search with people they know. Whether it’s a friend or family member, the best place to start your mentor search is with people that you already know. Daniel Doyle Pleasantville NY recommends that parents should consider someone they’ve known for several years and that they completely trust with their children. Additionally, Dan Doyle points out that mentor-mentee relationships should always begin as a result of the parent choosing the mentor, rather than the mentor choosing the child or the parent.
2. Do Your Research on Potential Candidates
Research is another huge part of the process of vetting potential mentors. After finding potential candidates in Queens, NY, Daniel Doyle Pleasantville NY shares that it’s important to determine if they will be a safe option to consider as your child’s mentor. During the research phase, you’ll want to make sure that every potential candidate goes through a background check for the federal fingerprint database, the sex offender registry, the state’s fingerprint database, and the child neglect and abuse registry.
3. Search Through an Organization
If you’d rather select a mentor from a pool of already- vetted candidates, consider searching through an organization to find a mentor in Queens. Organizations like Big Brothers Big Sisters rigorously check every candidate to determine if they are legally allowed to be around children. Similarly, these organizations train all of their mentors on basic safety procedures and communication skills, ensuring that your child receives a qualified mentor.
4. Create Goals for the Relationship
In addition to researching and vetting potential mentor candidates, parents must make sure to establish clear boundaries. While a mentor may be qualified in their area of expertise, parents must have an idea of how the mentor should assist their child. Whether a mentor is working to improve your child’s public speaking or teaching them a new skill set or hobby, parents must have specific goals in mind for this relationship.
5. Establish Clear Boundaries
Safety should always be a priority when searching for the right mentor. In addition to thoroughly vetting the mentor and setting goals, parents must be sure to find a mentor that is ready and willing to comply with their boundaries. It’s important to find mentors that are able to develop a professional mentor-mentee relationship with your child. Dan Doyle shares that these types of boundaries should address how the mentor contacts your child, where the mentor will spend time with your child, how your child will travel with the mentor, and any details about handling scheduling conflicts.
Mentorship can be a powerful part of a child’s life. Use these five tips to make sure your child connects with the best mentor for them.