HALIFAX PARENTAL GUIDE So, Your Childs 11, Now What?

The Low Down:

Elevens are going through huge changes in their bodies, minds, and social behavior as they begin adolescence. The easy friendliness of ten often gives way to awkward, sometimes rude behavior at eleven. With their growing capacity for higher thinking, children this age like to try work that feels grown up, such as researching and interviewing.

Whats Going on with My Child

Physically
Need lots of food and physical activity Must have 8 hours of sleep Girls experience growth spurt Boys begin rapidly growing taller More colds, ear infections, flu, etc.

Cognitively
Can focus on central information Basic skills become more automatic Imagines themselves in adult roles Emerging interest in languages, music or mechanics

With Peers
Sees several perspectives at once Understand social implications of ethnicity About 50% of interactions happen with the same peer group

With Their Identity

Self-esteem declining rapidly Understands gender difference and similarities Exploring future roles and professions Right and wrong defined by social rules

With Literacy
Willing to practice writing Most have functional use of cursive Enjoy topics of physical development Many boys enjoy nonfiction books

What You Can Do at Home READ non-fiction, like biographies or science magazines. Let them read to younger kids. WRITE light research articles and topics that are more adult-like DISCUSS ethnic similarities between groups and promote intergroup cooperation PROVIDE time to explore interest in the arts and technology
AS
ALWAYS

Visit the LIBRARY and take advantage of FREE programs and workshops

Resources in Halifax
EVCO helps parents acquire job skills and make connections with local businesses 1710 Watkins Drive, Weldon. Hours: 8am-5pm, Mon-Fri. Call Jo Burgwyn at 252-536-4105 for more info. Hannahs Closet provides free lightly used clothes for patrons 258 Roanoke Avenue, Roanoke Rapids. Open 24 hours a day, Monday-Saturday. Call 252-535-5946

Physical
Restless and very energetic Need lots of food, physical activity, and sleep Many girls experience an early adolescent growth spurt and sexual maturation; some boys begin rapidly growing taller Growing pains (bone outgrowing muscle) may cause nightly aches and daily complaints More colds, ear infections, flu, etc.

Cognitive
Developing new abilities in deductive reasoning, making this a good age for scientific study, mathematical problem solving, invention, and debate, but hands-on learning is still critical for most Learn well in collaborative groups Self-absorbed and interested in imagining themselves in adult roles; this makes history, biography, and current events exciting Like adult academic tasks such as researching, interviewing , footnoting, and creating a bibliography Enjoy board games, intellectual puzzles, brain teasers, and even tests Usually challenged rather than defeated by reasonably hard work; need help with time-management and homework skills May show interest in and facility for languages, music, or mechanics; need time to explore these areas Interested in learning about older and very young people

Social-Emotional Moody, self-absorbed, and sensitive Like to challenge rules, argue, and test limits, may be cruel; sometimes

physically aggressive Worry more about whos in and whos out than when they were younger

 Need lots of time talk with peers; heavy users of the phone, cell phone,
instant messaging, and email Impulsive often talk before thinking Often behave best when away from home Have trouble making decisions Need adult empathy, humor, and sensitivity to help them cope with their rapidly changing minds and bodies

Provide opportunities to:

1.
( Reading) a. Take on week-long reading assignments, still using trade books b. Do more nonfiction reading tied to subjects that interest them c. Read biographies d. Read to children in younger grades a. Write articles that incorporates personal interests and is more adult-like in plot, character development, and style; very rudimentary research reports; poetry, cartooning and journaling b. Spell difficult words, learn more dictionary skills

2.(Writing)

3.

(Math) a. Solve complicated word problems b. Study probability and statistics through real-word problems c. Use calculators and computers d. Work on speed and accuracy in computations e. Work with percentages

What You Can Do at Home Talk: About games, history, biography, government, community service, physical development and body systems, plant growth and other forms of measurable, systematic development

 Play: Computer games; adults should make sure that social use of computer does not contribute to problems with cliques, bullying, or other inappropriate behaviors
Encourage:

Join team sports