Welcome To
Stormy Seas:
Managing Conflict
Learn How To Resolved Conflicts With Tweens or Teens
Working With Tweens and Teens
Navigating Parenting and Leading Tweens and Teens During Those Tough years
Tweens and teens experience many changes during their ten- to twenty-year-old years. These changes include physical, emotional, cognitive, social, and sexual development. Understanding these changes and knowing how to deal with them is an important factor in raising or working with these young people. It takes compassion, patience, creativity, and some luck, but with some basic guidelines, you can be successful.
Understanding Tween and Teen Development
Navigating conflict with tweens and teens starts with understanding what they’re going through:
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Physical Changes: Their bodies are changing fast—growth spurts, hormonal shifts, and the onset of puberty can make them feel out of control or self-conscious.
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Emotional Changes: Intense emotions, mood swings, and a growing need for independence can lead to misunderstandings and emotional outbursts.
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Cognitive Changes: They're thinking more critically and questioning more—but that also means they may push back, argue, or challenge authority.
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Social Changes: Friends start to matter more than ever. Fitting in, peer pressure, and shifting social dynamics can be confusing and stressful.
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Sexual Development: Curiosity about relationships, attraction, and identity begins to surface, often with uncertainty and awkwardness.
How Teens View The World
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"It’s all about me." – Teens tend to be egocentric, often seeing situations primarily through their own perspective.
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"You don’t understand." – They may feel misunderstood by adults, believing their experiences are unique or no one has ever felt what they’re feeling.
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"Now matters more than later." – The future feels far away; immediate rewards or consequences carry more weight than long-term outcomes.
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"What will others think?" – Peer approval and social image become critical, often influencing behavior more than adult guidance.
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"Rules should be questioned." – As their cognitive skills grow, teens start to challenge authority and evaluate fairness and logic in rules.
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"I want to belong, but I want to be me." – They crave connection and acceptance but also strive to define their individual identity.
