We all know that when young people have a voice, they have more buy-in, growth, and impact. But how often do we truly listen—beyond the surface—to what they’re telling us?
This month, we’re diving into strategies for active listening that move past token input and into meaningful collaboration. Let’s explore how we can create spaces where youth feel heard, valued, and empowered to drive the programs designed for them.
Let’s build the skill.
Build the Skill:
Active Listening to Youth Input
- Youth Leadership Time: Schedule 10-15 minutes at the start of each weekly meeting for “Youth Spotlight.” Have students sign up to lead an icebreaker or team builder of their choice and provide them with a simple planning template 48
hours in advance. - Guided Suggestion System: Create a physical and digital suggestion box with weekly “How might we…” prompts (e.g., “How might we make STEM activities more exciting?”). Review suggestions every week and post responses on a dedicated bulletin
board regularly. - Community Mapping: Lead youth through a structured neighborhood walk with observation guides. Have them photograph community assets and areas for improvement, then create a visual map with potential service opportunities.
- Unstructured Feedback: Running student feedback sessions without structure – instead, use techniques like “Start, Stop, Continue” or “Two Stars and a Wish” to gather specific, actionable feedback.
- Incomplete Loops: Collecting youth input but not closing the feedback loop – create a “You Said, We Did” board to show how youth suggestions led to program changes.
Creative Ways to Solicit Youth Input Manual:
A manual to go beyond traditional surveys and observations to gather actionable, feedback from youth.
Ready to learn more?
Make it your March challenge- dedicate 30 minutes to this valuable FREE e-course.Innovating Youth Program through Creativity & Engagement
Take your youth programming to the next level! This on-demand course empowers youth development professionals with research-backed strategies to infuse creativity, innovation, and meaningful engagement into their programs. Learn how to design dynamic activities that reflect the passions and perspectives of the youth you serve, fostering deeper connections and lasting impact.(Visited 3 times, 1 visits today)
