Fostering Safe Spaces for Young People to Take Ideas to Action
Creating safe spaces allows young people to freely unleash their creativity, explore their passions, and fearlessly turn ideas into actions. These safe spaces are created both in and outside of the classroom. Traditionally, they are built with established rules and initiatives, but I believe there is so much more, sometimes intangible components, to creating safe spaces where young people can truly thrive.
In my experience leading social-emotional learning, I find that safe spaces aren’t really bound to an actual physical location, like a classroom, church, or community center. Instead, the adults around them cultivate safe spaces for young people. It’s the attitudes and behaviors of the adults around them that influence and shape their mindset to encourage failure, exploration, and discovery.
The fuel for safe spaces is derived from three things. First, positive child-adult relationships. Second, a sense of belonging and third, encouragement that gives young people the freedom to tinker, practice, and experiment with their own ideas, interests, and self-identity.
So how do we do this? Here are a few of my thoughts on what it takes to truly build safe spaces where young people can take their wonderful ideas to action.
Creating safe spaces for young people requires a thoughtful and intentional approach that is ultimately shaped by the mindset of the adults around them. For us to impact the way young people approach ideation and action, we as adults need to consider how we think about starting something new, taking action on things that aren’t yet clear, and how we cope with and grow from failure.
Enable Young People to Explore Fearlessly
Allowing young minds to express themselves freely without fear of judgment or criticism fosters creativity. In a nurturing environment, they can explore diverse ideas, perspectives, and artistic expressions, paving the way for innovative thinking and problem-solving.
Growing up, I discovered the enchanting world of 'blipping.' Something I defined to describe the exhilarating feeling when a new idea consumes your thoughts and heart. Once this idea consumes you, you can’t help but make it your ‘thing.’ You spend hours researching, fantasizing, dreaming, and planning. This is something I still do today, but as a child, I hadn’t quite realized this is what was taking place. Many young people experience blipping throughout their development, but few have the right spaces or influences to actualize the magic that can grow from this focus and intention.
Thanks to my supportive parents, who taught me to embrace failure as a stepping stone to success, I learned to normalize setbacks and take bold action. I was fortunate enough to have the resources to explore my blips. I realize that not all young people have access to these environments, which is why it’s important for any adult that interacts with young people, be it your niece, nephew, cousin, or co-workers’ child, to understand what it takes to pour into young people as they navigate these feelings.
I believe These seven steps are required from adults to help young people feel safe, supported, and empowered to blip.
Encourage Excitement: Even if you don’t understand the blip of a young person you know or encounter, it’s important to encourage and feed into their excitement. Push them to explore, research, and learn. This is the starting point of shaping their confidence to push through to realize their ideas.
Embrace Failure: Failure is part of the process, especially for young people exploring and experiencing these for the first time. Teaching them to embrace failure teaches them resilience and enables them to learn from setbacks rather than be discouraged.
Offer Mentorship: As an adult, you have the power to point them in the right direction. The guidance doesn’t need to be hand-holding. It can be something as small as introducing new ideas, ways of thinking, or approaches to helping them get closer to better understanding their blip.
Promote Inclusivity: Remind young people that their environment, resources, perspective, and diversity are opportunities to help them bring their own individuality into problem-solving. Enable them to realize the power of their unique identity as a way to lead their exploration with authenticity. They don’t have to be anyone but who they are to try new ideas.
Empower Decision-Making: As adults, it can be tempting to help feed how young people think about decision-making towards their blips or ideas. Instead, ask questions that further promote their autonomy and enable them to take ownership of their decisions.
Encourage Collaboration: If you can help, do so. This could be supporting as a thought leader or being a listener. Collaboration doesn’t need to be as hands-on as you imagine. Taking an interest in their ideas and encouraging collaboration with their peers can go a long way.
Celebrate Efforts: Recognize any and all progress. Small actions lead to big actions, and young people must be reminded that progress doesn’t have to be immense to be impactful.
Fostering safe spaces for young people to explore, fail, and build is truly inspired by those who have the greatest influence on them, the adults in their lives. With the guidance of mentors and supportive adults, young minds can confidently navigate their journey, unlocking their full potential and positively impacting the world.