October 27, 2010

Changes to expect Increasing independence Peer relationships gain importance Interested in group activities Awareness of the changes that occur during puberty Learning to solve problems by talking through things Friendships of the opposite sex start to occur

Social and emotional challenges Developing self-esteem and growing more confident Making new friends and meeting new challenges at school Learning to take reasonable risks, to handle failure, and to “bounce back”

Socially & emotionally competent children can more easily access the academic curriculum and be successful students

What skills do socially & emotionally competent children have? Self-aware Ability to regulate emotions Socially aware Good relationship skills Responsible decision making

Here at Field, we have… Snack/Lunch Groups Open Circle Anti-bullying in 4 th and 5 th grade classes Coping skills and decision making - 5th grade Human growth and development - 5th grade Outside presenters

What you can do at home Ask questions that help children solve problems on their own Read books and stories together that prompt a discussion of common issues people face (“teachable moments”) Encourage empathy Focus on their strengths Help them find safe ways to express difficult feelings Talk about ways to stay calm when angry Encourage hobbies and interests Allow time for safe, unstructured play

Yardsticks Brochure All children go through developmental stages that follow a predictable pattern Children go through these stages in the same order, but at different rates and times Various aspects of development proceed at different rates All growth is uneven and has an ebb and flow

Websites For teens: