The Benefits of a Male Mentor
He struggled getting up in the morning, because he was already thinking about sitting alone in the school cafeteria. Jayden didn't have a single friend and he didn't know how to make one.
This elementary school boy had a nice mom, but he had never known an adult male. He was coping with ADHD, anxiety and living in poverty. He was very isolated and didn't go outside. For Jayden, the horizon looked bleak. That’s when his mental health therapist contacted Great Life Mentoring.
Great Life Mentoring matches children receiving publicly funded mental healthcare services with an adult volunteer who plays an active and positive role in their life. It’s a mentoring model unlike any other—and it’s proven to work.
Having a positive male figure can be a major contributor to a child’s social and academic development. Bovine Ritchie, M.S., Associate Director of Programs for The Children’s Trust says, “Playful and affectionate interaction with positive male role models is shown to predict a child’s social-emotional involvement with others ... Children who bond early with a father figure often possess sharper cognitive skills, are better problem-solvers and perform more strongly in school.” The man needs to be a “consistent caring presence who takes delight in being a part of that child’s life.”
That’s who Charles became for Jayden.
Charles began mentoring Jayden with a commitment of once a week for a year. They did every healthy activity you can think of: frisbee golf, cards, Legos, mushroom hunting, bowling, swimming--the list goes on. But the best activity by far was when Charles taught Jayden how to ride a bike.
First they learned about bike safety, then jumped right in. There were ups and downs, some mud on the face, and it went slow for a while. Jayden was hard on himself, but Charles was patient and encouraging. Eventually, biking became second nature to Jayden.
These guys became good friends, and the one year grew into two, and then three, with Charles showing up every week. He’s really been there for Jayden. To date, they’ve been on hundreds of outings together, and whether they’re reading a book out loud together, stargazing or playing tennis, Charles is present with no agenda and no demands.
Jayden’s mom shares that her son has really “improved in his attitude toward school and his relationships" since Charles began mentoring him. She said he has found a “caring friend who provides consistent support, listens and encourages” her son. Jayden has found a loyal friend, and it has made all the difference.
Contact Great Life Mentoring and volunteer in Vancouver WA or volunteer in Portland OR where you can make this kind of difference in a child's life.