EPIC Teens

When I started my teaching career, I never expected to work with teens.  But as the years went by, I had the opportunity to work with older students - and I am certainly glad that was God’s plan! Teens have so much energy…so much to offer. 

As I observe, learn and live surrounded by an exceptional group of young people, I want to continue to learn about what makes this age group tick! A few years ago, I read that this generation is an EPIC Generation (from the research by Dr. Leonard Sweet):

E- Experiential: They don’t want a sage on the stage with a lecture, but an experience.

P- Participatory: They want to participate in the outcomes of where a message goes.

I - Image-rich: They grew up with visual images and prefer them over facts and figures.

C - Connected: They are connected socially and technologically with people.

I find the EPIC description of this generation to be pretty spot on. I love hearing teens’ perspective on the things of the Lord, how He’s directing them, and what they hope and dream for the future. And I realize that as much as it is my job to help students grow, I also need to actively learn and grow along with them! I need to understand the generation I want to nurture and equip for Christ.

So how can adults take an EPIC approach to our relationships with teens? From Tim Elmore’s Blog (Growing Leaders - a great resource!), he suggests we can make the following shifts in our leadership of today’s teens:

1. Don’t think CONTROL, think CONNECT.

Control is a myth. What’s more, the more we seek to control the environment, the less kids own what’s happening. Instead, seek connection with students and engage them at the heart level. This is how trust and ambition are built.

2. Don’t think TELL, think ASK.

By asking questions, you foster ownership in the conclusions and the subsequent application in students. As they age, students require us to lead them by asking questions instead of imposing our ideas.

3. Don’t think PRESCRIPTIVE, think DESCRIPTIVE.

We do too much for kids. It’s why so many are unready for adult life at 18. Instead of prescribing each step of an assignment, prepare students to create the path themselves. Describe the goal, but let them determine the steps.

4. Don’t think RULES, think EQUATIONS.

Life is full of equations: If we do this, that becomes the consequence. If we do that, this is the benefit. Few students like rules. We can help them own choices by insuring every decision is an equation with positive or negative outcomes.

5. Don’t think DO IT FOR THEM, think HELP THEM DO IT.

The bottom line is this: Students support what they help create. We must let young people actually do the work themselves. Parents—stop doing your child’s homework. Stop negotiating their grades with the teacher.

You can read the full blog at https://growingleaders.com/blog/five-shifts-that-lead-kids-from-apathy-to-ambition/

Teens sit on the threshold of their adult lives and they face countless choices that will help launch them into their future. What an honor it is to disciple God’s children during an EPIC phase of life! If you would like learn more about how Big Valley Christian School nurtures and equips students to impact the world for Christ, visit our website now.