|
STAGES
OF DEVELOPMENT Pre-teen
through Young Adult PRE-TEEN Approximately 5th
– 7th grades or ages 10-12 years old ·
Onset of
puberty and secondary gender characteristics ·
Beginning of
self consciousness around body image; possible eating disorders ·
Concrete
thinkers ·
Sandy’s Three
Time rule[1]:
to get them to hear and understand any directions they need to be told
three times The
first time, to get them to begin to realize you’re talking to them The
second time, to get them to actually realize you’re talking to them The
third time, to get them to actually hear what you’re saying (Come
to think of it, this rule goes for all ages!) ·
Attachment to
family (as opposed to peers) Their
primary relationships are still their family members, particularly the adults
raising them. They are also
dependent on the adults raising them to help them physically get places and
remember dates for activities. ·
Importance of
same-gender friendships ·
Newness of most
of the experiences you may offer ·
Homesickness ·
Higher need for
“parenting”, especially clear, fair and consistent boundaries and rules ·
Fear of the
dark, ghosts, etc. ·
Simple and
concrete spirituality: trying to make what they’ve been taught fit into a
concrete world view e.g.
“If Adam and Eve only had Cain and Abel, where did their wives come from?”
“When my Grandma died, did she become an angel?” JUNIOR
HIGH
Approximately
6th
– 9th grades or ages 12-14 years old ·
Huge range of
physical, emotional, spiritual, intellectual, and social developmental stages ·
Mood swings ·
Physical and
social awkwardness ·
Gender
difference in social behavior ·
The beginnings
of abstract thinking, however still very concrete.
They have difficulty projecting themselves into the future. They are able to understand that behavior has consequences,
but may not believe that the consequences could happen to them. ·
Development in
sexuality ·
Influenced by
peer attitudes, but parents and other adults continue to be major influences ·
Importance of
same-gender role models ·
Continued
concrete spiritual questioning SENIOR
HIGH
Approximately
9th
– 12th grades or ages 15-19 years old
·
Wide range of
physical, emotional, spiritual, intellectual, and social developmental stages ·
Identity issues ·
Development of
abstract thinking which leads to the ability to: ·
argue more
effectively with adults ·
cultivate deep
friendships and strong romantic attachments ·
appreciate and
enjoy hypothetical situations and discussions ·
Moral
development focusing on issues of fairness and caring for friends and family ·
Continued
exploration of who they are as sexual persons ·
Making their
own decisions about their bodies and health ·
Beginning of
abstract understanding of spirituality and theology; development of personal
theology apart from parents or church YOUNG ADULT
Approximately
12th
grade – college or ages 18-21 years old ·
Identity issues ·
Higher
education and career issues ·
Ability to
appreciate and enjoy hypothetical situations and discussions ·
Moral
development exploring wider community and global issues ·
Continued
exploration of who they are as sexual persons ·
Making their
own decisions about their bodies and health ·
Continued
development of abstract understanding of spirituality and theology, development
of personal theology apart from parents or church [1] Sandy Valinoti, a very wise woman who was a youth leader for years at the Sebastopol Community Church, UCC Deepening Faith: Youth Ministry Resources and Some Miscellaneous Advice Rev. Lizann Bassham, Front Porch Spirit Press Copyright © 2001 |
|
|