Tween and Teen Programming

Tweens and teens are a fun group to design programming for as you are able to cover a wider variety of topics, in more nuanced and complex ways. You can also start to ask tweens and teens directly for program suggestions, as many of them will have strong opinions on what they want to learn and experience.

There are many different ways to approach program creation and implementation, so there’s no one right answer. Consider the following:

• Teen Advisory Boards: Depending on how active your teen advisory board, you could put a few of your volunteers in charge of designing their dream programs; they create and execute the program while you support and assist. Less active boards can simply suggest program ideas that you carry out, but getting them as involved as possible is ideal because it exercises their leadership and creativity.
• Creating Opportunities for Social Connection: Tweens and teens prize independence from the adults in their lives, and seek out opportunities to make connections with their peers. Designing programming that allows for these social connections to grow and develop, such as cooperative games, can be an excellent way to appeal to your tween and teen patrons.
• HOMAGO: This acronym stands for Hanging Out, Messing Around, Geeking Out. HOMAGO programming focuses on more unstructured and self-directed learning. Rather than setting participants to a specific task and result, HOMAGO focuses more on the process and letting tweens and teens discover something.

It’s important to point out that there is value in teens just being able to spend time together in a safe, accepting space.  If you find it difficult to get teens to attend your programs, but they do enjoy hanging out together in the department, that’s okay!  In the busy lives of tweens and teens, the library can be a valuable “third space” where teens and tweens feel free to relax, and just exist. You could create ongoing, passive activities for teens and tweens, such as making snacks available for them or providing coloring sheets. Get to know them during this time; strike up conversations and learn their names.  It will go a long way in getting to know teens and earning their respect.