Ministry

Characteristics Of A Typical 12 Year Old

By jgiroux ⋅ June 24, 2008 ⋅  Print This Post ⋅ Post a comment

This is a four part series outlining the basic characteristics of a typical junior high aged students.  This is just a foundational list that all are encouraged to add to based on their experience or expertise.

Characteristics of a Typical Twelve Year Old

Physical:

• High energy
• Much rest needed
• Growth spurt; signs of puberty
• Menstruation for majority of girls
• Food important, especially mid-morning in school
• Physical education and sports valued

Social:

• Adult personality
• More reasonable, tolerant than at 11
• Enthusiastic, uninhibited
• Will initiate own activity
• Empathetic
• Self-aware, insightful
• Can set realistic goals in the short-term
• Appears secure
• Peers more important than teachers

Language:

• Sarcasm emerges
• Double meanings, word play, jokes of intellectual interest
• Enjoys conversations with adults and peers
• Peer “vocabulary” (slang) important

Cognitive:

• Increased ability to abstract in intellectual pursuits
• May show emerging ability in a particular skill or content area
• Can and will see both sides to an argument
• High interest in current events, politics, social justice; also pop culture, materialism
• Research and study skills advance with increase of organizational discipline