What Kids Need: Thriving and Sparks

A spark is something that gives your life meaning and purpose. It's an interest, a passion, or a gift. What do you bring to the world that is good, beautiful, and useful?

From Search Institute - Thriving highlights the unique gifts and capacities of each young person. A thriving life involves discovering and nurturing one’s own “spark” and being supported and guided by a family and community that celebrate that spark.

What Are “Sparks”?

SPARKS are…the hidden flames in kids that excite them and tap into their true passions.
SPARKS come from…the gut. They motivate and inspire. They’re authentic passions, talents, assets, skills, and dreams.
SPARKS can…be musical, athletic, intellectual, academic, relational—from playing the violin to enjoying working with kids or senior citizens.
SPARKS can…ignite a lifelong vocation or career, or balance other activities to create an emotionally satisfying, enriched life.
SPARKS get…kids going on a positive path, away from the conflicts and negative issues—violence, promiscuity, drugs and alcohol—that give teens a bad name and attract so much negative energy.
And SPARKS give you the five steps for igniting sparks in your teens.

To learn more about Sparks and to access valuable downloads and resources click here.

To read about the current research on thriving and sparks click here.