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Info & Service & Blog (helpful themes)

Youth worker tips & notes concerning youth work

Here I would like to cover findings from the internet, books, film tips, advice – in a nutshell – thoughts and ideas to initiate discussions. This is not intended to be a daily blog, only a place where you can share your thoughts and experiences; issues I came across over the years.

A six years old boy suspended from school for a hand kiss

A 6-year-old boy, attending grade 1, gave his girlfriend a kiss and was subsequently suspended from school for one day. The teacher condemned his actions, classified them as sexual harassment and imposed this disciplinary measure of a one-day expulsion. As if that was not enough, he also received an entry of a “serious offence” (sexual harassment) into his school record. This labelling will follow him through his entire school life (and probably longer) – one can only wonder what that does to a young boy.
Lord of the Flies

The movie, Lord of the Flies, is ideal to watch with a youth group with the aim of a group discussion afterwards. This film is well presented, psychologically as well as metaphorically, and can be seen as the systemic cause of violence and the willingness to be violent.
Giving positive feedback

"If you want to change someone, change yourself!" For youth workers this means we need to learn giving kind and positive feedback. Many of us are conditioned to react in the same way we were brought up: with criticism and punishment. However, it is not easy to change our behaviour. If you succeed though, it will help the young person immensely to understand that he is taken seriously, that your intent is to help and ultimately, it also will help ourselves.
The (self) condemnation by "SHOULD"

The word “should” comprises an accusation; against oneself or towards someone else. In any case, this leads to condemnation of others or self. It makes you feel guilty because you have committed an (assumed) error. This religious attitude of guilt and self-condemnation is symptomatic of us people. To condemn oneself or giving others the powers to condemn you only leads to a feeling of eternal guilt. The person cannot freely open up. Therefore, he will feel small and incapable.
Facebook and Co.: Children/Teens and the social networks

Hardly any other achievement of modern technology has changed the lives of children and adolescents like the Internet. It is social networks such as Facebook which determine the lives of many young people almost entirely.
Dead Poets Society

The film "Dead Poets Society" provides an excellent source within the youth group for discussion on the issue “how do you want to live”?
Youth in the search of identity

During puberty, young people are looking for their own identity. This refers to a phase in life, where the child transitions into adulthood. The academic terminology “adolescence” covers the entire period from late childhood right through to young adults. Puberty by itself, however, is a transitional phase and commonly refers to the sexual development of the young person.
Development of cognitive abilities during adolescence

Unlike most animals, humans have so-called cognitive abilities. Those abilities refer to the thinking process, but also to other factors in this context. For example, the ability to learn from previous mistakes, avoid them in the future and eliminate existing ones. Not at last to aim attention to a desired outcome. The ability to remember/recall is crucial in the development of cognitive abilities. Although these cognitive abilities are innate, and its development begins in the early childhood, however, during the stage of adolescence they imprint - especially during puberty. From here they further evolve.
Moral: What is it? How do we develop morality?

Morality and morals are defined within a community and do not apply to all people equally. In addition, in the formation of morality many different factors come to play within the community. These include personal factors such as self-imposed standards and motives, from the immediate and/or wider background. For example the family, church, employment, etc.
Young people and the right-wing extremism

More often than favourable the media is filled with images of young people who have joined right-wing extremist groups and adopted their dubious ideas. Ideas is more commonly used than ideals. The corresponding depiction is almost always the same: clothing, body language and slogans to create a threatening impression. Members of such groups deliberately set themselves apart from the social norm.
Cool guys – not really that cool

If you could see inside those young men, you would recognize the inner despair many of those super-cool guys inhabit. With this exhibited, cool exterior those guys try to appear invulnerable, even unapproachable.
My image of men and the equity: What does this mean?

My image of men and the way I sense equity stands in the way to understand the child. It also prevents me from creating emotional and mental access to this person.
“While playing you can learn more about a man in one hour, then talking to him for a year.”

Plato's thought regarding play: Who ever watched a playing child, is able to make some interesting observations regarding behaviours and character traits. At a game night, you get to know your kids better than in any conversation.
Strange relationships and behaviours

Relationships create understanding - understanding creates relationships. An idea that we should take to heart to understand strange behaviours and unusual relationships.
"Crazy? So what! "- Help for students with mental health problems

The project "Crazy? So what! "- Offers help for students with mental health problems. Their staff also visit schools with the purpose to educate and sensitize.
Sexting can make you famous - awareness campaign

Sexting is defined as the sending of self-generated intimate photos or videos of oneself via smartphone or Internet. These images, however, are just intended for the "receiver". The mutual sending of nude pictures is initially seen as a proof of trust, loyalty and love, yet, after the relationship ends it can quickly become a nightmare when those once personal images become the property of a third party.

Not a real blog, but similar...

some collected themes, thoughts and ideas for your program and work with childrens

Snow camp with fire tent
It sounds a little odd, even worrying for parents when planning a snow camp with the youth group in freezing cold weather.
Crafting for Christmas
The time leading up to Christmas might be well spent, crafting some appropriate decorations or Christmas presents for the parents.
Cyber bullying: When the network becomes a trap
Principally, cyber bullying is the same like the “classic” bullying, only with a new dimension, given by the modern communication technology. It is this new technology, which makes this Cyber bullying so dangerous.
A game reveals the character - a figure of speech
Everyone knows that playing is very important. It is here where we learn to deal with each other; learning skills that are useful later on in life. Skills, which give us a certain perspective on life. Your attitude, your character, both will be crucial as you go through your life. After all, what can be learned while playing, you learn for life. At the same time, while playing, the child displays what it has already learned. – In positive and the negative character traits.
Be Confident
What does it mean to be assertive? How can a person gain self-assurance, how can we convey assertiveness to children and adolescents?
Gaming program for January: Board games
In the cold, rainy season, a gaming night at the youth group makes for a great group evening, or as a recreational program (school camp, summer camps, or holiday program). There are some board games, which are ideal for a youth group.
Tournaments (TT tournament, pool tournament, table football) - group program for January
Many youth groups have Ping pong tables, a table football or maybe a pool table available from their centre. Corresponding tournaments can be organized 1-2x a year.
Karting
Go-Karting is thrilling, has a high fun factor and promotes, as mentioned above self-confidence, consideration and fair play.
Group program for February: Games with cotton
For February, I planned a game night in the group room with cotton. All you need to get are 1-3 cotton bags, which are available in every supermarket in the drugstore department.
Group program in February: indoor pool visit
In the summer we go to the outdoor pool, the nearby lake or river, in winter, however, we visit the (spa) indoor swimming pool or water park.
Albert Einstein - Humiliation and the disastrous consequences
If you need to humiliate a child to satisfy your own needs, youth work is not for you. Walk away before you do any (more) damage.
Racetracks - Carrera race
A Carrera race is an excellent social event for the colder season.
Sledding - what to consider?
Sledding is considered a harmless, recreational fun, which can be done by almost everyone during winter. After all, all that is needed is a sled, warm clothing and, of course, a hill to fully enjoy this snowy fun.
Tipp-Kick - the all-time classic of all table soccer games
The Tipp-Kick tournament provides fun and you can implement it spontaneously to substitute for another group program. The Tipp-Kick requires calm and concentration, good judgment, skill and dexterity, as well as a little feeling in your technique.
Indoor Hockey
With a set of hockey sticks for the hall or the small play field, a suitable group room can easily serve for an indoor hockey game.
Quiz night - exciting and varied
Usually, knowledge questions are not so popular with the kids because they remind too much of school. Nevertheless, quizzes can be designed fascinatingly and funny.
Tinkering in the group meeting - Shadow Heads
A beautiful craft idea for kids is Shadows Heads. The preparation is quite simple and can be achieved during a children's or youth group meeting.
Making carnival and plaster masks
Tinkering ideas for Carnival, or group meetings Making plaster masks is simple and easy to do in one group meeting or as part of a program at the holiday camp.
Rabomberless and Shuffleboard
What do Rabomberless and Shuffleboard have in common? Both games can be played with playing pieces. Rabomberless goes without much effort. You need only one or two long tables, and some playing pieces.
There are five Gospels
“There are five Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and the life of Christians. Many people never read the first four.”
Education is the organized defence of adults against youth.
Education may also mean: to watch and rejoice. Permanent intervention, regulations and disapproving of the child creates only fear and prevents the development of independence. The ideal environment for the young person would be an advisory position and only then to intervene, if the situation has the potential to harm the child or someone in the community. Our own experiences are the best experiences.
Outdoor games (3-Sticks / Capture the Flag)
In April, when the season is getting warmer again, it’s a good time to start with some outdoor games. The classic games are 3-Sticks and Capture the Flag.
YouNow: A harmless hype or dangerous trend
YouNow is a streaming service which enables users with only 2-3 clicks to show (expose) themselves on the internet. All you need is basically a computer, the internet, a webcam and a microphone and the respective app.