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Homeschool Leadership Training for Teens

19 December 2009 2 Comments

As my oldest is approaching his teens years, I’m starting to think more and more about leadership skills and how to teach them.

I’m just learning about them myself at the age of 38. I went to “leadership camp” as a teen, but I cannot recall learning anything remotely like the leadership I’m learning through being involved in non-profit leadership. So, what can we realistically teach our teens about leadership? And, do we, as parents, understand leadership?

Blake Boles has some thoughts on this.

How have your teens learned leadership skills like money management, local politics, getting a group to work towards a common goal, marketing (selling ideas), communication, etc.?

2 Comments »

Doc said:

When I was a teen, and younger, I was very active in Girl Scouts. In spite of its non coolness, I did it all through high school, and took part in lots of leadership type activities, like leadership over the younger girls and camp counselor. Just doing a lot of the activities like earning badges gave me an opportunity to practice independence, which is a huge stepping stone to leadership. My own kids have all been active in 4H, and through that experience, have had specific leadership training, plus the camp counselor thing, leading meetings and younger kids in projects. I am not sure how a parent could emulate the same experience without the benefit of a group, something we homeschoolers tend to shy away from by principle. I do like 4H for its lack of religious involvement and gender neutrality. Being involved in local volunteer activities is still a good idea too. I do believe that giving kids age appropriate chances at independence, and making good choices, goes a long way to forming leaders.

# 19 December 2009 at 10:01 am

Sandra Foyt said:

In Girl Scouts, we’re encouraged to let the girls take on increasing leadership roles over the years. Right now, my Girl Scout troop of 8th Graders are working on their Silver Award project. The first step was for them to identify an issue that they care for. Three girls are developing a project around Healthy Foods and the other three are working on Drug Awareness. Now, they’re meeting with people who have subject expertise so that they can figure out what are the specific issues in our community, and to get feedback on what they can do.

It’s exciting to see how the projects they’ve undertaken over the years has prepared them to take on more responsibility, and to be more ambitious about what they can do.

Meanwhile, our 4th Grade Cub Scouts are at the beginning of this journey, volunteering in service projects such as helping at the food pantry.

Service projects offer a great way to develop leadership, while giving kids an opportunity to do important work.
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