By William Somerville
Jalen Deer has a lot of value beads, 162 to be exact – but who’s counting. This 11-year old self-described ‘king of beads’, has been attending the YMCA Day Camp for the past four years. The Value Beads Program is used to teach kids to respect each other’s differences and work cohesively.
At the end of each day, a bead ceremony is held. It’s a two-step process. First, each camper is able to share their bead with another child. They tell the story of why they think their friend deserves their bead. Second, the counselor hands beads to each child based on a positive behavior they exhibited. These value beads are teaching children the importance of acceptance and curbing bullying behaviors.
“Inclusion means that if you are playing soccer you make sure to include everybody,” says Jalen, who boasts quite a few yellow inclusion beads on a chain that’s longer than him.
It’s no secret that bullying has become a vital issue facing kids in the GTA . With 1 in 4 young people feeling a weak sense of belonging, it’s more important than ever to focus on developing kid’s confidence and giving them a place where they feel connected. According to Statistics Canada, at least one in three adolescent students in Canada have reported being bullied recently and 47 per cent of parents reported that their child has been a victim of bullying.
The colourful chain, like Jalen’s, demonstrates the unique way the YMCA is using the simplicity of a bead to teach kids good behavior. Each bead serves as a reminder that kids today face all sorts of challenges. The hope is when Jalen and the other kids in the program return to school in the fall, they’ll have the confidence and compassion to make that difference.
