Source: Training Development Resources/40 Dev. Assets — "Building Blocks for a Great Life" activity guide

A facilitation activity built around Search Institute's 40 Developmental Assets framework (the "building blocks" that research shows help young people grow into caring, responsible, productive adults). Useful as a ready-to-run group activity for a drop-in or group coaching setting, not just a reference.

How the activity works: Write each of the 40 assets and its short definition on a separate block or card. Participants each pick two, silently decide which is currently stronger in their own life, keep that one, and toss the other back. They then pair up and discuss why they kept the asset they did, who in their life helps build it, and what that person actually does to build it — repeating with a few different partners.

The "snowball" demonstration that follows is the memorable part: a volunteer represents a young person; the group names the forces working against healthy development (no adult time, easy access to drugs, negative media, nothing to do after school) and throws balled-up paper "snowballs" at the volunteer. The exercise repeats with the volunteer protected first by a wall of 19 assets (the average number young people report having), then by a "support network" of people (teacher, parent, coach, friend) standing around them — visibly fewer snowballs land each time. It's a concrete way to make the protective-factor concept land for a group without lecturing.

Discussion questions to close with: What will you remember about asset-building from this? When negative forces do get through, what happens to someone with few assets and a thin network versus someone with many assets and a strong network?

Coaching relevance: this is both content (the 40 Assets as a strengths/protective-factor framework) and a ready-made facilitation tool for building it into group programming.