Celebrate Nebraska 4-H Month - How Teens Think: Implications for 4-H Programming

CENTER — Understanding how teens think can be an important tool for engaging them in 4-H and in helping support their development. In recent years, advances in science and technology have given researchers a lot of insights into teens’ thinking processes from which we can draw best practices.

1. Engaging them in problem solving and decision-making. Brain development continues well until their 20s and the most advanced forms of thinking such as problem-solving and decision making are the last to fully develop. Giving youth opportunities to practice these skills through 4-H can be valuable for their growth. This includes giving them guidance but enough room to make decisions, plan, and reflect on their errors and successes.

2. Safe risk-taking. Teens can assess risk just as well as adults. However, they are more likely to chase rewards even given the same risks. Seeking excitement and risk-taking can indeed have dangerous consequences. Within 4-H, however, risk-taking can be experienced safely. Provide opportunities for them to experiment and try out ideas. More importantly, help them process their experience and learn from both their failures and successes. Reflect on outcomes on what helped or hindered success.

3. Engaging the peer group. We all know that peers become quite important during the teen years. Research shows that teens’ brains are especially sensitive to rewards in the form of peer approval. 4 -H can be a venue to engage youth in productive peer interactions – allowing them to interact, collaborate, and learn from each other.

Indeed, the teen years can be a time of risktaking, peer focus, and development. 4-H can be an important opportunity for them to work out this continued development in a positive and productive way.

To join 4-H or for information, contact the Nebraska Extension Office in Knox County at 402-288-5611 or visit http://extension.unl.edu/statewide/knox/educational-programs/knox-county....