Working with Teens

What about journal writing? You can really open up a dialogue with teens that you... also, it gives them an outlet for their anger/happiness/fear.

Try reading The Freedom Writers for inspiration.

I, like Jill, am very surprised that they don't have something already in place for you to follow. Just remember that these are kids that are really not little kids but they're not adults either. Find out what the clubs wants as programs. I like the idea of setting up a group just to help handle problems with their peers and what punishment (for the lack of a better word for it) could be used to handle problems that someone may have. You can suggest maybe forming a group to help setting goals of what they want to do with their lives. I know that our Boys and Girls Club has a homework hour and has the older kids helping the younger ones with homework problems. I do have a suggestion that may or may not fly but you'll have to bring it up to the staff for approval. How about starting a group of older children on discussing a death in the family. Don't shoot it down until you read further. My husband passed away at the end of September very suddenly. I found that the school was very unequipped with ways to help my teen aged boys (17, 15, 13) on how they could deal with this, and even the counseling center didn't have really any thing either. Who did have the inbreed knowledge were my boys friends. They got them talking about what was really bugging them, how they were feeling or what they felt. These kids had sent two different, hand made cards to my home at that time with some of the most beautiful things written on there. These young adults knew what most adults didn't know and that was how to put things into words that will help with the healing. Many haven't had to face this but most have in some way or another. Teens for the most part really don't want to hear what the "adults" have to say, they want to hear what their friends have to say about this. Also remember that death can also include the divorce of parents or loss of a job of one or both of their parents or even the loss of a best friend (this is on the very minor side) but those feeling are just as real and sometimes just as strong as the loss of a parent to physical death in some of their minds. You may find that these kids will surprise you to no end. Good luck

Let the Teens help come up with the ideas with in reason. I would look for sites about Oppositional Behavior. Some type of activity to burrnoff their high energy. Teaching YOGA or Meditation, if allowed. Offer rewards for positive behaviors. Take away the rewards for negative behaviors. Keep them busy with activities so their is less time for conflict. Think of project based activities for common good.

I like to teach teens about there rights..
1.It makes me feel blaa blaa blaa when you do
blaa blaa blaa.
2. If you keep doing Blaa blaa blaa we are not going
to be able to blaa blaa blaa...Be friends, hang, do this game.
Good luck

S.,
There is a book called "Top 20 Teens" if you search for it on the net. They have a training too. The book is great and so is the training.

I'm surprised the club doesn't have resources for you or procedures already in place. Depending on how many kids are there and how often they are there, you could start a peer mediation program (there are several out there, you would need to google to find more information). Or, start a student council of sorts.

Troubled kids (of all ages) need positive attention and when you give them responsibilities that encourage this, they will "eat out of your hands."

Good luck and have fun with this wonderful adventure!

Hi S.,

There is inexpensive/free material from Toastmasters international for Teens. They could write their own raps and perform them. How is it going so far?

Maybe a stretch, but there are lots of youth games and object lessons on the internet and in Christian book stores. Making things fun and moving around but having a little message can help. Smaller group time often helps too because they can be engaged with one or two others while they often clam up in a larger group. www.creativeyouthideas.com was a web site I most recently used.