Social Interaction
Young teens often attach themselves to a group of similar-minded peers. This peer group provides a sense of security and belonging. A young teen who asks, "Who am I?" can find his or her reflection in the group. In that way, peer pressure influences young people to do good or bad, depending on the values and attitudes of the group.
Not fitting in or not finding a group to belong to presents a genuine fear for teens. Because they frequently believe that everyone is watching and judging them, young teens dread looking foolish or different. This isn’t simply vanity; it seems quite real to young people that to not have a group identity is to have no identity at all.
That being said, young teens also have a growing need to assert their independence from the family in order to act "like a grown-up." Such a drive for autonomy, while necessary for healthy development, can lead young teens into adult situations and serious decisions that they’re not equipped to handle. Early adolescents may not admit it openly, but they need and want adult support and guidance.
In your parish, especially if it is in an area where teens say they have nowhere to go, you can offer recreational and social opportunities to help young people realize that the Church values and welcomes them. This provides you the opportunity to plan sessions with community building in mind. Games, snacks, and icebreakers are not a "waste of time," but provide non-threatening social activities to create a welcoming atmosphere. They also enable group members to feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and feelings on more serious matters.
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Respect the relationship between group and individual identity. Instead of always breaking apart groups of friends forcing participants to interact with strangers, stress the importance of reaching out and accepting newcomers as well as friends. This allows and encourages participants to "make the first move" in joining with someone they don’t really know.
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Be willing to overlook or ignore most teen fads. Accept the young people as they are and focus on the underlying desire for belonging, identity, and approval that the fads represent.
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Offer programs to deal with the real-life social issues which early adolescents need to cope with, such as self-identity, relationships, dating, sexuality, peer pressure, and consumerism. Better yet, surface needs from the young teens themselves.
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Books
Fireside Catholic Youth Bible
Call RCL Benziger at 1-877-ASK-4-RCL (1-877-275-4725).
Hard Cover ORDER NUMBER: 1-55665-454-5
Soft Cover ORDER NUMBER: 1-55665-415-4
Thematic Plans and Activities for Catholic Youth
Session plans designed for use with the Fireside Catholic Youth Bible.
ORDER NUMBER: 1-55665-051-5
Handbook for Today's Catholic Teen
by Jim Auer
Addresses social issues relevant to teens while reinforcing Catholic prayers and practices.
Call RCL Benziger at 1-877-ASK-4-RCL (1-877-275-4725).
Handbook ORDER NUMBER: 0-7648-1173-8
Activity Notebook ORDER NUMBER: 0-7648-1378-8
Finding God in the Craziness of Life: Book 2 Includes prayers and meditations on tough issues for today's teens.
by Kathleen Mulhern
Call RCL Benziger at 1-877-ASK-4-RCL (1-877-275-4725).
Available through Morehouse Publishing, 1996
Tough Choices: Bringing Moral Issues Home
by Sean Lynch and Brian O'Brien
Offers concrete ways for teenagers to learn about, apply, and make choices about a number of current and practical moral issues, such as capital punishment, drugs/alcohol, and sexuality.
Available through Ave Maria Press, 2003
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