This presentation covers the 6 Developmental Stages of pre-treens and teens and how to identify and care for red flags when working with teenagers

2.  6 Developmental stages and the Effect of Culture on them
 1. Physical Development: Today’s teens are
maturing more rapidly yet they are not prepared
to handle the situations that correspond to their
physical growth.
◦ No life experience
◦ Not emotionally
 2. Emotional Development: Ability to make
decisions independent of their peers and others;
NOT based on others or the influence of others.
 They need to know how to make healthy choices
that are best for them. Want vs Need. Teen
mentality is “I am invincible”.

3.  3. Social Development: 8th and 9 graders
 And technology- Pew Research Institute
 75% have cell phones
 Average send 60 texts daily
 Average make 2 calls daily
 High schoolers will make 5 calls daily
 Meaning?=They relate better to technology than
to humans. Relationally challenged.
 As teachers/youth workers we must be
intentional in creating opportunities for students
to interact and build relationships.
 ARE YOU RELATIONAL?

4.  4. Mental Development: What happens to the
information once it is in the minds of our
students? Generally, teen students are
comfortable with multi-tasking
 Open your Bibles vs Download Bible app and read.
 Are we teaching in ways that are designed to
reach our students or are we doing what is most
comfortable for us? Make sure learning activities
are multi-sensory. Include as many senses as you
can.

5.  5. Sexual Development/Sexual Identity:
 Average 15 year old has been exposed to 300,00 TV
commercials.
 In the book “Youth Culture 101” a marketing
executive was interviewed and he said “We identify a
point of lust and we market to it..” referring to
marketing to youth.
 Youth are responsible for $20B in sales and are
influential in additional sales of $200,000. Our
students influence purchases
 How many sexual references are made in these
300,000 commercials? The impact of culture on our
students is huge.
 Example of lesson activity: Have your students list all
the different places they see logs. Discuss how they
are being marketed to. Many times they are marketed
to in unhealthy way/ungodly ways.

6.  6. Spiritual Development:
 Focus on students who have never been inside a
church building: Research show they can be 2
generations separated from church
 They are being influenced by different sources,
not consistent spiritual development

 We need resources to keep up with how cultural
is impacting on our young people. Here are a
few:
◦ Walt Mueller – Youth Culture 101
◦ Pew Research Institute
◦ Fuller Youth Institute
◦ http://www.YouthMinistry360.com
◦ http://www.Youthministry.com

7. Presented by:
Glenda M Thomas

8.  Trusting people because they belong to our
church
 How we apply repentance and confession in
these matters
 Not wanting to offend youth
volunteers/workers
 Not questioning confusing or uncertain
behavior
 Lack of policies to protect children and adults

9.  Protect our faith community by speaking out
 Some people think that simply by talking
openly about the potential risk of sexual
abuse occurring within the community, they
are sending a message that children are not
safe here. The opposite is true. Child sexual
abuse thrives in an environment of silence
and denial. Shining a light on the subject
protects children.

10.  A student tells you that they are being
abused:
◦ Sexually
◦ Verbally
◦ Bullied
 Confesses behavior that is criminal?
 Ask you to “Please don’t tell anyone”
 Tells you they:
◦ use drugs or alcohol
◦ Suicidal
◦ Eating disorder

11.  Prevention Tools – see handout
 Safety Plan – See handout
http://www.stopitnow.org/help
 Let’s Talk Guidebook
 Sample Journal Page
 Online Help: http://gethelp.stopitnow.org
 See Tip Sheet

12.  Mistake: “I won’t tell anyone.”
 Our response should be:
 “Trust me to make the right decision with the
information you share with me. You know I
care about you. You need to trust me to make
the right decision.”
 99% out of 100 times the student will
probably still disclose to you.

13.  When abuse is involved there needs to be a chain of
responsibility:
 For example:
◦ Youth Worker/Teacher
 Principal sheparding these children
 Pastor
 Put together a strategic plan for this young person.
 List scenarios and the contact person such as
professional counselors in our community. Reach out
and talk to counselors we might refer families to.
 Dept of Children services- Find out who the
Mandatory Reporters are, should an allogation of
abuse arise.

14.  We need to immediately engage the parents
 Make sure parents are aware.
 Make sure parents know that we want them
to be involved in the well-being of their
children.

15.  Facebook comments
 Aware of youth culture: (“The quality in a person or society
that arises from a concern fro what is regarded as
excellent in arts, letters, manners, scholarly pursuits, etc.
and a particular form or stage of
civilization”…dictionary.com)
◦ Change in behavior
◦ Engage in conversation
 Signs of depression and hopelessness
 Lack of interest or energy
 Changes in eating habits, personal appearance
 Increased anxiety
 Preoccupation with death, dying or suicide
 Dramatic changes in behavior, actions, attitude
 Hesitance to speak openly about a conversation they had
with an adult or older child
 Hesitance in revealing text messages, social media

16.  Seek out counselors
◦ Ask them to come and speak to parents on various
subjects relating to abuse.
 Example: How to create a family plan on how to
prevent abuse. Etc
◦ Meet with Officials in the community
◦ Doctors: For eating disorders

17.  Two-adult Rule
◦ Whether at the church building or in a small group
meeting or fieldtrip there must always be no less
than 2 adults with students.
◦ Why?
◦ So that no crisis can occur that will overwhelm a
youth worker. There will be at least 2 adult to
handle it together
◦ This is a protective measure for students and
workers alike.

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19.  www.youthministry.com
 http://www.Youthministry360.com
 http://www.Youthculture.com
 http://www.stopitnow.org