Characteristics |
Implications for Volunteers |
Physical |
| Experience
rapid changes in physical appearance, with growth spurt happening earlier for girls than
boys. |
Be
willing to talk about physical changes because new teens are often uncomfortable with and
embarrassed by their changing bodies. |
| Have
intense sexual feelings and a keen interest in their own bodies. |
Provide
honest information to the sexual questions they have. Prepare opportunities to help youth
discuss body development as a natural, normal process. Listen to their fears without
judging or trivializing. |
| Interested
in sports and active games. |
Encourage
active, fun learning experiences. |
Social |
| Concerned
about social graces, grooming, and being liked by peers. |
Encourage
learning experiences related to self-discovery, self-understanding, and getting
along with others. Be patient with grooming behaviors that may seem excessive. |
| Moving
away from dependency on parents to dependency on opinions of peers. |
Parents
may need help in understanding that this shift is a sign of growing maturity, not
rejection of family. |
| Becoming
interested in activities that involve boys and girls. |
Provide
opportunities for boys and girls to mix without feeling uncomfortable -- seems to work
best if youth plan activities themselves. |
Intellectual |
| Tend
to reject solutions from adults in favor of their own. |
Involve
young teens in setting rules and planning activities for your group or program. |
| Beginning
to think more abstractly and hypothetically. Can think about their own thinking and are
becoming skilled in the use of logic and cause-and-effect. |
Ask
questions that encourage predicting and problem solving. Help youth to find solutions on
their own by providing supervision without interference. |
| Can
take responsibility for planning and evaluation of their own work. |
Allow
young teens to plan activities and expect follow through. Help them to evaluate the
outcome. |
Emotional |
| Can
be painfully self-conscious and critical. Vulnerable to bouts of low self-esteem. |
Plan
many varied opportunities to achieve and have their competence recognized by others.
Concentrate on developing individual skills. |
| Changes
in hormones and thinking contribute to mood swings. |
Remember
that early adolescents are known for their drama and feelings that seem extreme to adults.
Accept their feelings and be careful not to embarrass or criticize. |
| Desire
independence, yet need their parents’ help. |
Encourage
youth to work with adults and older teens. |
