Teen Behavior and Developmental Needs

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Adolescence is a turbulent time. Teens are dealing with physical and emotional changes, internal and external pressures, and striving to find their place in the world and figure out who they want to be. This can lead to challenging behaviors that are difficult to handle, but once you know more about why teens act the way they do, you’ll be better equipped to figure out how to enforce safety rules and expectations.

After participating in this event, you will:

  • Understand human development and what happens during adolescence, including how the teen brain differs from children and adults and how those differences impact their behavior
  • Have strategies to build relationships with teen patrons and manage challenging behaviors
  • Be able to share information with other library staff and patrons to help them understand (and be more understanding of) teen behavior

Registration for this course is included in the Teen Services 101 bundle.

Julie Jurgens has worked with children and their families for almost 25 years, with close to 20 spent in public libraries. In her career she's worked in a variety of roles, including as a teen librarian, a school outreach librarian, and an assistant manager. She's also presented on outreach, readers advisory, trauma informed practice, and using music in programming at a variety of local, national, and international venues. Learn more about her work at himissjulie.com.

If you have questions or requests regarding accessibility, contact us at ce@ala.org or at 312-280-5100.

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