Session 14/21

Mapping your professional knowledge about teenagers

What expectations and challenges arise for caregivers, when a child reaches puberty and becomes a teenager? We already have valuable experiences from our own youth.

This first activity is a two-by-two interview about your own experiences with challenges as a teenager. You will discuss in the group how you can use these experiences to understand and work with teenagers in your everyday life

EXERCISE: WHAT DO WE KNOW FROM OUR OWN TIME AS TEENAGERS?

Two-by-two interview

20 minutes

Use the following questions to interview one another two-by-two, 10 minutes each.

1. How did you experience your own transition from childhood to adulthood?
2. How did your social relations with your peers change?
3. How did you experience the physical changes of your body?
4. How did your view, behaviour and attitude towards your parents/caregivers change?
5. What did your parents and other adults do to help you – what did they do that was not helpful?
6. As a conclusion: What do you think was most difficult for your parents when raising you as a teenager?

GROUP DISCUSSION

15 minutes

Use your experiences to discuss and write down three important values that are essential for caregivers working with teenagers. 

Value 1: Our teenagers need us to show … (for example respect and understanding, guidance, structure)

Value 2: Our teenagers need us to…

Value 3: Our teenagers need us to…