11th Grade Development Guide

11th Grade Development Guide

What’s Going on with My 11th Grader?

By the time your teenager reaches the 11th grade year, they are living like a mini-adult. But they still need your guidance. To help you with that, here is a look at what is happening in the world of your 11th grader.

Physical Development

•         Boys and girls have fully developed physically into their adult bodies.

•         Sexual desire is awakened, and the temptation to be sexually active is common.

•         Stress is a very real physical struggle as they work, perform in school, and prepare for the future.

Emotional Development

The 11th grader may:

•         Begin to be very sentimental as they anticipate life change

•         Experience calmer moods than in previous years

•         Have a desire for more control over aspects of their life

•         Exhibit impulsive behavior with friends and peers

•         Not respond to adult lectures, feeling they know better what is going on than the adult does

•         Be more capable of taking care of others

Relational Development

•         Integrating both physical and emotional intimacy into relationships begins.

•         Friends that share beliefs, values, and interests are sought.

•         Less time may be spent with family, while more time may be spent with peers.

•         Peers influence them to try risky behaviors, such as experimenting with alcohol, tobacco, etc.

•         The relationship with parents is more of a support system.

•         They begin to feel freedom to express themselves as individuals.

Spiritual Development

•         In regard to faith, they value the annual traditions of their Youth Ministry, parish, and family.

•         They can handle the responsibility of most service positions in various parish ministries.

•         They have a greater interest in serving others and in making a difference in the world.

•         There is more planning and preparation for the future.

•         Role models are developed that inspire them either toward or away from faith.

•         Their capacity for self-discipline increases.

•         They begin to imagine what life would be like as an adult away from their parents, and they begin deciding whether or not their faith will be a part of that.

•         There is a temptation to “have their fun now” and be responsible later.

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