TRANSITION

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TRANSITION

• A time of change, challenge, and opportunity
• FCHS 1/12/2009

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TEAM Fort Collins

• Background/History
• Presenters- Scoot Crandall and Stacey Clark

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Overview of the presentation

• A look at transition times as a risk factor
• The expectations of the adolescent
• Common fears of the student
• Expectations and adolescent development
• Helping students make the transition
• A checklist of crucial conversations

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• Its good to be able to think about the future.
  Even though sometimes at the age of 16 or 17, the
  age of 28 feels like a lifetime away. Every
  decision I made when I was 16, has led me to
  where I am now.
• Jon Foreman, Lead Singer, Switchfoot

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• In todays society we seem unable to accept the
  fact of adolescence, that there are young people
  in transition from childhood to adulthood who
  need adult guidance and direction. Rather we
  assume the teenager is a kind of adult. They are
  not adults and they are not children.
• David Elkind, All Grown Up and No Place to Go

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• Even normal school transitions can predict
  increases in problem behaviors. When children
  move from elementary school to middle school or
  from middle school to high school, significant
  increases
• in the rate of drug use, school drop-out, and
  anti-social behavior may occur.
• Hawkins,Chappell,Catalano- Developmental Research
  and Programs

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Antisocial behavior

• Antisocial behavior can generally be
  characterized as an overall lack of adherence to
  the social mores and standards that allow members
  of a society to coexist peaceably
• www.wisegeek.com

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3 or more shown consistently

• Behaves impulsively, thoughtlessly jeopardizing
  the safety of himself and others
• Is manipulative, lies or cons his way through
  situations
• Will not follow rules, enjoys breaking the law
• Steals

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3 or more shown consistently

• Is overly aggressive, often picking fights
• Is willing to hurt others emotionally or
  physically without remorse
• Is arrogant and overly confident
• Likes to set fires
• Is cruel to animals

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Expectations of the adolescent

• Time management- homework, sports, work, extra
  curricula's, family, relationships, sleep
• Decisions regarding drugs, sex, limits
• Driving
• Planning for the future
• Technology, social networks
• Manage their emotions!!

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Common fears of students

• Fitting in
• Getting lost
• Body image
• Competition- academic, social, athletic, fine
  arts
• Time management
• Relationships
• Pressure to plan for the future

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A problem of timing

• BIG decisions, REAL fears, limited and emerging
  capacity- very important for parents to
  understand!
• Powerful outside voices- FRIENDS, PARENTS, other
  adults and media messages
• What is going on in that BRAIN!?

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The typical adolescent brain

• Very much in process and experiencing rapid and
  tremendous integration and change
• Not done with this work until approx. age
• 25
• Much neuro activity focused in the emotional
  center
• The area that aids many of adult expectation is
  still under construction!

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• Much is going on in an area called the Amygdalla-
  the emotional center as well as the Nucleus
  Acummbins- the pleasure center.
• Amygdalla- Emotions trump knowledge
• Nucleus Acummbins- High stim-Low effort

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Bridging the gap

• Parents recognize and understand what the
  adolescent is going through with transitions
  coupled with normal teenage development
• Do not underestimate your very important
  influence
• Be that Pre-frontal cortex !

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OPPORTUNITY?

• A great time for three new Rs
• RESPECTFUL
• RESPONSIBLE
• RESOURCEFUL

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Okay fine, give me some tips!

• Be strong and be there
• Eat dinner together
• Give them safe thrills
• Insist on extra curricular activities
• Let them know your values, and model those
• Understand what matters to your child
• Have those crucial conversations

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Tips at transition times

• Be open and understanding
• Be available and reassuring
• Be supportive and loving
• Set routines and limits
• Be aware of course selection and class schedule
• Stay appropriately involved

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Crucial conversations

• Peer relationships
• Sex
• Drugs/alcohol/tobacco
• Time management
• Off hours
• Driving

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Crucial conversations

• Money management
• Goal setting
• Attendance, Grades
• Internet, cell phones, etc.
• The real norms of this group, anticipatory
  socialization

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• Its a kid with a chance.
• Rodney Atkins- Its America