NEW! Sparks! How Parents Can Ignite the Hidden Strengths of Teenagers
In his latest book, Peter L. Benson, Ph.D., offers practical, research-based guidance for how parents and other caring adults can help teenagers discover and nurture their SPARKS. Learn more about the book and the idea—including free downloads and tools.
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.
The Research on Thriving
The following scientific publications provide the scientific basis of the theory of thriving in adolescence. “Sparks” is a central metaphor to understand the process of thriving.
Benson, P. L., & Scales, P. C. (in press). The definition and measurement of thriving in adolescence. Journal of Positive Psychology.
King, P. E., Dowling, E. M., Mueller, R. A., White, K., Schultz, W., Osborn, P., Dickerson, E., Bobeck, D. L., Lerner, R. M., Benson, P. L., & Scales, P. C. (2005). “Thriving in adolescence: The voices of youth-serving practitioners, parents, and early and late adolescents. Journal of Early Adolescence, 25, 94–112.
Scales, P. C., & Benson, P. L. (2005). Adolescence and thriving. In C. B. Fisher & R. M. Lerner (Eds.). Encyclopedia of Applied Developmental Science, vol. 1 (pp. 15–19). Thousand Oaks: Sage.
Scales, P. C., Benson, P. L., Leffert, N., & Blyth, D. A. (2000). Contribution of developmental assets to the prediction of thriving among dolescents. Applied Developmental Science, 4, 27–46.
Learn more about the research behind thriving and sparks.
