Pre-adolescents 10-13 years:- Still like “fun” activities and are physically
very active; - Are very helpful and like being given a
particular responsibility; - Can work well with others provided they are
given tasks they understand; - Are community minded and like taking
action at home and in the neighborhood; - Like remembering facts and being quizzed
on them; - Like watching and taking part in practical
demonstrations (they still find abstract ideas
difficult to understand); and - Need help and support in planning and
doing new things on their own.
Adolescents 14-18 years:- Like to know “why” they are being asked to
do things; - Are interested in solving problems;
- Are very interested in their own development
(as puberty has begun); - Like to be given responsibility and being
trusted to carry things through (although
they do not always do so); - Can understand abstract ideas and like
discussing them; and - Resent being “talked down to” by adults.
(^25) Information compiled from several sources. Health promotion in our schools, Hawes, H Child-to-Child Trust/UNICEF Pg. 25-26;
The Center for continuing education in Adolescent Health, Division of Children’s Medicine, Children’s Hospital Medical Center, 1994;
PHN Center FOCUS on Young Adults project, 2001 as reported in Youth Friendly Services, A Toolkit For Service Providers,
Engender Health Pg. 59; WHO Information Series on School Health, Document Six 1999 Pg. 19-21. Adolescence is categorized into
pre, middle and late adolescence by some authors, while others do not distinguish between middle and late adolescence. In either case,
the age groups mentioned are indicative.
Children and young people go through stages of
development before they reach adulthood.^25 This
period may be divided into broad age groups to
enable the Life Skills Education Program to
respond to the needs of different age groups. These
age-wise characteristics are only indicative, and are
especially true, for children in vulnerable
conditions.
Life Skills Education Programs must be adapted to
the developmental needs of children in different age
groups. In addition, there are broad guidelines
regarding the knowledge, attitudes and beliefs as
well as practice skills that children of different age
groups must know with regards to HIV/AIDS.
While Planning Programs
Remember That
Young children 6-9 years:
- Like active approaches such as games, songs
and dances; - Are very imaginative, love stories and
puppet plays; - Like following rules and being helpful; and
- Do not understand abstract ideas like
“health” or “empowerment.” These concepts
must be introduced at this level through
activities.
Information Sheet No. 5
HIV Information Needs of Children