Children require consistent, supportive relationships and positive developmental experiences in and out of school to develop the critical skills, attitudes, and behaviors they need to succeed as adults, a report from the University of Chicago Consortium on Chicago School Research finds.
According to the report, Foundations for Young Adult Success: A Developmental Framework (106 pages, PDF), children, in order to succeed in college and a career, form healthy relationships, make wise choices, and become engaged citizens, need to develop a sense of agency, an integrated identity, and the ability to be productive, effective, and adaptable. Underlying these qualities are four foundational components — "self-regulation," or awareness of and ability to manage one's attention, emotions, and behaviors to achieve goals; "knowledge and skills," or an understanding about oneself and the world and the learned ability to carry out tasks; positive "mindsets" through which everyday experiences are processed; and "values," in the sense of both a moral code of conduct and beliefs about long-term outcomes important in life...