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Developmental Characteristics of Campers

Developmental Characteristics of Campers

Developmental Characteristics of 5 -7 Year Olds

Physical Growth and Development Behavior Characteristics Special Considerations
  • Period of slow growth.
  • Body lengthens, hands and feet grow larger.
  • Good general (large) motor control, small muscles and eye-hand coordination not as developed but improves about 7.
  • Permanent teeth appearing.
  • Attention span short, but increasing.
  • Activity level high
  • learning to relate to persons outside family.
  • Becoming aware of sexual differences.
  • Developing modesty.
  • Becoming self-dependent and given time, can do things for themselves.
  • Inconsistent levels of maturity, can be eager, self-assertive, aggressive and competitive.
  • Active, boisterous games with unrestrained jumping and running good.
  • Climbing and use of balance good.
  • Rhythmic activities, songs and dramatics good.
  • limit activities to 15-30 minutes since attention span is still short.
  • training in group cooperation, sharing, and good work habits important.
  • Needs concrete learning and active participation.
  • Freedom to do things for self, use and develop own abilities.

Developmental Characteristics of 8-10 Year Olds

Physical Growth and Development Behavior Characteristics Special Considerations
  • Growth slow and steady.
  • Girl’s growth spurt occurs about two years ahead. of boy’s.
  • Slow maturing boys at a disadvantage because of stress on physical ability.
  • Before the growth spurt, boys and girls are of equal strength, afterward boys are stronger and often develop athletic skills and prowess.
  • larger muscles still developing, but control over small muscles is increasing.
  • Manipulative skills and eye-hand coordination increasing.
  • Stable traits are aggressiveness in males and dependency in females.
  • Age group is usually energetic, quick, eager and enthusiastic.
  • Often restless and fidgety, need action continuously.
  • Eager for large muscle activity, organized team games.
  • Noisy, argumentative, yet highly imaginative and affectionate.
  • Self-conscious and afraid to fail, sensitive to criticism.
  • Interest fluctuates, time span interest) short.
  • Group-conscious, the age of clubs and the “gang” element.
  • Boys still tend to play with boys, girls with girls. Boys and girls becoming rivals and beginning steps toward hetro-sexual relationships evident.
  • Beginning to learn about moral judgments and learning to apply principals to determine right and wrong.
  • Tremendous interest in curiosity about everything around them.
  • Beginning to achieve independence outside family and learn to relate to adults.
  • Need praise and encouragement.
  • Exercise of both large and small muscles, by using whole body activities, team sports, arts and crafts, dramatics.
  • Want a best friend, and membership in a group.
  • Need definite responsibility and training without pressure.
  • Need a reasonable explanation and guidance to channel interests and answer questions.

Developmental Characteristics of 11-13 Year Olds

Physical Growth and Development Behavior Characteristics Special Considerations
  • A “resting” period followed by a period of rapid growth in height and weight. This usually starts between 9 and 13 although boys may mature as much as 2 years later than girls.
  • At these ages, girls are usually taller and heavier than boys.
  • Reproductive organs maturing. Secondary sex characteristics developing.
  • Rapid muscle growth.
  • Danger of over-fatigue. Girls are becoming gradually less active.
  • Wide range of individual difference in maturity level.
  • Gangs (groups) continue, although boys tend to be more loyal to the group than girls.
  • Time of awkwardness and restlessness.
  • Teasing and antagonism exist between boys and girls.
  • Opinions of group become more important than those of adults.
  • Tend to be overcritical, rebellious, changeable, uncooperative.
  • Self-conscious about physical changes.
  • Interested in making money.
  • Imaginative and emotional with hero-worship evident.
  • Asserting independence from adults, although time of strengthening affectionate relationships with specific adults.
  • Greater interest in outdoor activities.
  • Competition keen. Willingness to submerge self for benefit of group (team).
  • Organized games needed. Boys and girls begin to differentiate play preferences, thus making co-recreation difficult.
  • Skill is essential for successful group participation. Willing to practice skills, but need guidance.
  • Boys greatly interested in team (group) sports.
  • Discipline can be a problem because of “spirit” of group.
  • Good age for camp because of general enthusiasm.

Developmental Characteristics of 14-16 Year Olds

Physical Growth and Development Behavior Characteristics Special Considerations
  • Sexual maturity, with accompanying physical and emotional changes.
  • Skeletal growth completed, adult height reached (95%), muscular coordination improved.
  • Girls achieve puberty at 13, boys at 15 (on average).
  • Variance great because some complete adolescent development before others start. Girls are generally ahead of boys.
  • Skin difficulties and complexion problems evident. Can require medical care and be a cause of real emotional concern.
  • Between 12 and 15, shift from emphasis on same sex to opposite sex. Girls develop interest in boys earlier than boys in girls.
  • Concern about physical appearance.
  • Social activity increases, preoccupation with acceptance of group.
  • Increased learning and acceptance of sex roles.
  • Time of adjustment to maturing body.
  • Achieving independence from family a major concern, yet may have strong identification with admired adult.
  • Searching for self and self-identity.
  • Beginning of occupational choice.
  • First love experiences and going steady occur.
  • Going to extremes, “know-it-all” attitude may be evident.
  • Acceptance by and conformity with others of own age important.
  • Need opportunities to make decisions.
  • Provision for constructive recreation.
  • Assurance of security, being accepted by peer group.
  • Opportunity to  make more money.
  • Boys leisure activities tend to still center on “sports,” but girls generally spend more time “going places with friends,” talking on the telephone and other indoor activities.

Developmental Characteristics of Older Campers

Older Adolescents and Young Adults Adults Older Adults and Senior Citizens
  • Becoming independent and making it on their own
  • Developing skills, knowledge, and competencies to earn a living and achieve success in adult life.
  • Continuing to learn about self.
  • Idealistic view of adult life.
  • Interests narrow and “specialization” in one or two areas emerge.
  • Acquiring skills, attitudes and understanding of persons of opposite sex.
  • Choosing a mate.
  • Formulating values and developing a philosophy of life.
  • Choosing and entering a vocation.
  • Achieving satisfaction in ones vocation.
  • Assuming social and civic responsibility.
  • Developing skills that are family centered.
  • Becoming parents and raising children to become responsible and well-adjusted.
  • Learning to relate to parents and older adults.
  • Testing and refining values.
  • Learning to cope with anxiety and frustration.
  • Building a new relationship with grown children.
  • Learning to relate again to one’s spouse.
  • Adjusting to declining energy and physical changes of aging.
  • Coming to terms with one’s life goals and aspirations.
  • Developing leisure activities.
  • Adjusting (if necessary) to reduced incomes.
  • Adjusting to changing role, interests and capabilities.
  • Accepting the reality of death.

 

Brian Crater. Director of Camping. Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times
PO Box35, Mountain Center, CA 92561 Tel: (909) 659-4609 email: craterclan@idyllwild.com
Reprinted from Basic Camp Management -Armand & Beverly Ball -American Camping Association