who_stole_my_loofa
12-14-2005, 04:19 AM
Understanding the typical developmental traits of children
by Sandy Cameron
(stolen from my camp's Staff manual lol)
The Elementary Years
Five-to-seven-year-old campers are curious and excited. They are learning to share and play cooperatively in small groups. They see the world as a place to be explored. Other typical behavioral traits include:
A strong attachment to their home and family
A short interest span
An awareness mainly of themselves and their own desires
A preference for imaginative, make-believe play
Curiousity, a desire to explore their exanding world
A desire for repetition of enjoyable experiences
Being easily upset by changes in routine or environment
Boys and girls playing together readily
Depending on adults to meeting physical and emotional needs
A need for patient understanding and close supervision
Beginning Independence
Seven-to-ten-year-old campers are beginning to socialize with children their own age. They want friendships and enjoy playing together. They also:
Are ready for a live-away experience
Have a longer attention span
Are aware of others and are willing to share
Desire acceptance from their peers
Need close friendships with playmates
Are able to express themselves freely in art forms and play
Desire better skills performance are interested in group games and activities
Want everyone to obey stated rules and regulations
Strongly identify with own sex and age group
The "Tween" Years
Not quite children and not quite teenagers, camper's ages ten to twelve are beginning to gain more awareness of themselves and their skills. Making friends and being accepted by their peers is a growing concern. Campers in this age group also:
Have a strong desire for a live-away experience
Want to be together in groups and teams
Have the patience to work toward short-term goals
Form cliques and friendships with own sex and age group
Seek status through excellence in skills and knowledge of grown-up things
Are fairly competitive in teams and individual activities
Have a growing concern with their physical size and appearance
Boys and girls can work and socialize in programs where they share planning responsibilities
Like to make, do, and collect things
Enjoy being mischievous and daring
Seeking Independence
Camper's ages twelve to fifteen are becoming more independent, growing away from family ties and influences. However, they still want adult supervision and adult attention to their daily needs. Other traits include:
A strong drive for conformity with own age group
Intense feelings and emotions
Being greatly influenced by popular adults and teenage idols
Rapidly changing interests and ambitions
A long interest span and increasing capacity for self-discipline
A preference for competition with outside groups over competition with friends
Idealism about the world at large
Concern with their personal appearance, self-consciousness and inhibition
The state of puberty; girls begin to mensturate, boys' sex glands begin to function avtively
Boys and girls can work together on projects better than they can socialize
Impatient to Grow Up
Campers ages fifteen to seventeen are eager to grow up. They want independence and responsibility. At the same time, they are beginning to think about their future and possible career plans. Campers in this age group also:
Want to earn money for independence and freedom
Desire increased responsibility
Need to be treated as young adults
Occasionally revert to childish behavior
Are very critical of self
Seek prestige and belonging to the power group
Are able to concentrate and specialize in selected skills and interests
Expansive and changing ambitions
Are encountering a conflict between idealism and materialism
Develop crushes with depth of feeling
Tend to cover own weaknesses with similar weeknesses of the group
In addition to these characteristics, all children and teens want to know what they are respected, loved, and valued for who they are. Show campers that you care, and they will show you respect.
Information in this article is from Camper Guidance: A Basic Handbook by J.W. Bloom and A.C. Ballentine, et al. A related book is Camp is for the Camper.
Originally published in the 1999 May/June issue of Camping Magazine.
by Sandy Cameron
(stolen from my camp's Staff manual lol)
The Elementary Years
Five-to-seven-year-old campers are curious and excited. They are learning to share and play cooperatively in small groups. They see the world as a place to be explored. Other typical behavioral traits include:
A strong attachment to their home and family
A short interest span
An awareness mainly of themselves and their own desires
A preference for imaginative, make-believe play
Curiousity, a desire to explore their exanding world
A desire for repetition of enjoyable experiences
Being easily upset by changes in routine or environment
Boys and girls playing together readily
Depending on adults to meeting physical and emotional needs
A need for patient understanding and close supervision
Beginning Independence
Seven-to-ten-year-old campers are beginning to socialize with children their own age. They want friendships and enjoy playing together. They also:
Are ready for a live-away experience
Have a longer attention span
Are aware of others and are willing to share
Desire acceptance from their peers
Need close friendships with playmates
Are able to express themselves freely in art forms and play
Desire better skills performance are interested in group games and activities
Want everyone to obey stated rules and regulations
Strongly identify with own sex and age group
The "Tween" Years
Not quite children and not quite teenagers, camper's ages ten to twelve are beginning to gain more awareness of themselves and their skills. Making friends and being accepted by their peers is a growing concern. Campers in this age group also:
Have a strong desire for a live-away experience
Want to be together in groups and teams
Have the patience to work toward short-term goals
Form cliques and friendships with own sex and age group
Seek status through excellence in skills and knowledge of grown-up things
Are fairly competitive in teams and individual activities
Have a growing concern with their physical size and appearance
Boys and girls can work and socialize in programs where they share planning responsibilities
Like to make, do, and collect things
Enjoy being mischievous and daring
Seeking Independence
Camper's ages twelve to fifteen are becoming more independent, growing away from family ties and influences. However, they still want adult supervision and adult attention to their daily needs. Other traits include:
A strong drive for conformity with own age group
Intense feelings and emotions
Being greatly influenced by popular adults and teenage idols
Rapidly changing interests and ambitions
A long interest span and increasing capacity for self-discipline
A preference for competition with outside groups over competition with friends
Idealism about the world at large
Concern with their personal appearance, self-consciousness and inhibition
The state of puberty; girls begin to mensturate, boys' sex glands begin to function avtively
Boys and girls can work together on projects better than they can socialize
Impatient to Grow Up
Campers ages fifteen to seventeen are eager to grow up. They want independence and responsibility. At the same time, they are beginning to think about their future and possible career plans. Campers in this age group also:
Want to earn money for independence and freedom
Desire increased responsibility
Need to be treated as young adults
Occasionally revert to childish behavior
Are very critical of self
Seek prestige and belonging to the power group
Are able to concentrate and specialize in selected skills and interests
Expansive and changing ambitions
Are encountering a conflict between idealism and materialism
Develop crushes with depth of feeling
Tend to cover own weaknesses with similar weeknesses of the group
In addition to these characteristics, all children and teens want to know what they are respected, loved, and valued for who they are. Show campers that you care, and they will show you respect.
Information in this article is from Camper Guidance: A Basic Handbook by J.W. Bloom and A.C. Ballentine, et al. A related book is Camp is for the Camper.
Originally published in the 1999 May/June issue of Camping Magazine.