How to Relate to Different Age Groups

Elementary School (ages 5-9 years) 

• Children learn mostly by experience

• What people do is more important than what they say

• Proving the facts with consistent role modeling is important

• Excellent age to learn about saying “no”

• Talking to the child means you care about them

• Keeping silence about a subject tends to mean acceptance

Middle School (ages 10-13) 

• Some rebellion and unsolved behavior can be part of finding their identity

• Keeping communication open is vital

• Provide information to strengthen awareness

• Messages of fear and threats can close the door to communication

• Keep advice in the “here and now”

• Adults should educate themselves about drugs and what they can do

• Get to know who their friends are and the adults around them

• Reduce situations that could be potential problems

• Keep youth involved and busy with healthy activities

• Direct involvement by significant adults, especially parents, increases trust and
    acceptance

High School (ages 14-18) 

• Peer pressure is important

• Keeping communication open is vital

• Provide information to strengthen awareness

• Messages of fear and threats can close the door to communication

• Keep advice in the “here and now”

• Adults should educate themselves about drugs and what they can do

• Get to know who their friends are and the adults around them

• Make the youth know what the rules are and what the consequences will be if rules  
     are broken

• Be consistent in your decisions

• Be reasonable, don’t add new consequences after a rule is broken

• Make sure the punishment is appropriate for the situation

For more information or help, please call:

MASTERPEACE Center for Counseling and Development

308 S. Maumee Street, Tecumseh, MI  49286 · 517-423-6889 · www.mpccd.com