Understanding Your Young Teen: Practical Wisdom for Parents

by Mark Oestreicher

Publisher:

Zondervan

, 2011

Overview

Understanding Your Young Teen is a book on early adolescent development for parents of young teens and pre-teens. Parents of young teens will 1. Gain an understanding of the unique and not-always-obvious realities of early adolescent development. This new understanding can greatly enhance parents’ patience, parenting approaches, and relationship with their child. 2. Review the developmental uniquenesses of the young teen years. Most parents don’t fully appreciate the changes that are taking place in their teens bodies, minds and relationships. This resource will give them a solid understanding of those areas. 3. Explore new research and cultural changes. Parents will get a better understanding of the changing landscape of teen culture and see how much as changed since they were young teens. The bulk of the book will be based on the first half of: Middle School Ministry. The developmental chapters will be re-written for parents, and will not only include the developmental issues themselves, but the practical implications for parenting and living with young teens. A strong pro-young teen bias will permeate the book, as my affection for young teens and conviction that this age is a great opportunity for faith formation will be woven through all chapters. While the book will be based on research and experience, the tone will be conversational, from one parent of young teens to others. First-person tense will be used throughout, along with examples from my family and extensive involvement with young teens.

Contents

Foreword? (maybe Jim Burns? Or Chap Clark? Or John Townsend?)

Introduction

Chapter 1: Can Anything Good Come of This Age?

Chapter 2: Addressing Common Myths of Young Teens

Chapter 3: It’s All About Change

Chapter 4: Walking Hormones? (physical and sexual development)

Chapter 5: Mind-Warp (cognitive development)

Chapter 6: Rollercoaster Freak-Show (emotional development)

Chapter 7: Best Friends Forever! (relational change)

Chapter 8: I Can Do It! (Just Don’t Leave Me) (independence)

Chapter 9: Operating System Upgrade (spiritual development)

Chapter 10: White-Hot Temporary (early adolescent culture)

Chapter 11: The Overlapping Transition (some implications)

Appendices

Qand A with Marko

A few words to parents about your church’s youth ministry

Endnotes

Product Details

• Title : Understanding Your Young Teen: Practical Wisdom for Parents
• Author: Oestreicher, Mark
• Publisher: Zondervan
• Publication Date: 2011
• ISBN: 9780310671169