
Do you know a grandparent, a special teacher, a pastor, a friend, or a neighbor? Any of these people can be a mentor! A mentor is someone willing to take another under their wing. These mentors can give advice and suggestions to help others cope or improve their skills. They can also show how they do something and provide encouragement and support.
Mentors can be anyone who provides guidance and support as we make our way through the easy and difficult times.
For families with children, having a mentor who has been there and done that can provide an example or a shoulder to lean on when needed.
Can you be a mentor to a family or child? Know what you can offer another. Mentors build committed, trusting relationships. They listen. They offer understanding and respect. They help others overcome challenges and disappointments and celebrate successes.
What can you provide as a mentor? While mentoring can be as informal as sharing a conversation and support with a friend at an early childhood education program or as formal as volunteering as a “Big” in a Big Brother Big Sister program, decide how involved you would like to become. It’s not about the answers. To be a mentor, you don’t need all the answers, and you don’t need to be an expert. The purpose of a mentor isn’t to provide answers but support, understanding, and respect. Share your experiences if asked, but your most valued role is that of a friend.
Could you benefit from a mentor? Would you like to have a support system? Do you often wish your extended family lived closer or were more supportive? Would you like to have friends you could turn to for advice? If so, you may benefit from having a mentor.
- Do you want a different way of doing something? A mentor may provide helpful suggestions, tips, examples, and support for finding and learning new ways of doing things, like coping with the demands of a new baby, the terrible two stages, or balancing work and family time.
- What kind of mentoring could you use? Would you want someone as a formal mentor—like through a program, or that one meets with you at a specific date or time —or would you want someone you could turn to now and then on an informal basis?
How do you become a mentor or find one?
It’s important to consider all possibilities. A person you may not have initially thought could be the mentor of your dreams. Keep open to those who might benefit from your support and guidance.
- Check out our list of resources below.
- Ask others. Ask your child care provider, friends, church members, or pediatrician if they know someone who might be a good mentor.
- Look for examples of someone you’d like to learn from. Is there a fellow parent or caregiver demonstrating a particular skill you admire? A friend who always seems to know what to do or say? A teacher who seems to have more than enough patience? Ask that person to share with you how they do it!
- Reach out to others. See someone you think could use a helping hand or support? Start small with a way for the other person to identify with you. “I remember when my son was going through that stage. Two-year-olds can be challenging!”
Mentoring resources
- Strengthening Families
- Parent to Parent of Pennsylvania
- Family Promise
- Pennsylvania Family Centers
- Mentor
- The Mentoring Partnership of Southwestern Pennsylvania
- National Fatherhood Initiative
- United Way of Pennsylvania: Many local United Way offices have resources available within specific regions.