Diversity of Maturity in Middle School

A few weeks ago I talked with a group of middle school students about sex. As always, it was intriguing to notice the diversity of maturity around the room. I saw a 75 pound 6^th grade boy who looked like he was plucked straight off the elementary school playground, sitting next to an 8^th grade girl who looked like she was ready to leave for college next week.

How do you address a crowd with this kind of diversity in maturity?

Or for an added twist, add a bunch of high school kids in the mix—considering the many groups who combine middle school and high school. I speak to groups like this frequently, with 6^th and 12^th graders in the same room. Talk about a spread!

So how do you address groups like this?

Here’s how I introduced my Sex Matters talk to this particular group of middle school students a few weeks ago:

As I talk with you about this subject this morning I realize that each of you have different attitudes about and experience with sex. Some of you when I say “sex,” you think, “Yes! Sex!” Others are like, “Sex? Ewwww!” And still some of you think, “It’s not like I’m going to have sex or anything, but I have heard some things and I definitely have some questions.” My guess is you’re probably in one of those three groups.

That’s the unique situation about this age group. Some of them are really beginning to explore more mature subject matter, while others still embrace toys and innocent video games (there are a few).

I frequently encounter adults who question whether or not we should talk about subjects like sex with middle schoolers. I’ve actually heard parents say, “They’re not even thinking about it yet.” I think that is a misconception; because even the innocent kids in this age group encounter sexually charged content and images regularly.

I’m not alone in this belief. Mark Oestreicher, author of Understanding Your Young Teen, argues middle school is the perfect time to talk with teens about sex. He went as far to say, “It’s pure irresponsibility as a youth worker to avoid this subject.”

Mark knows sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students are all over the road developmentally. Some think about sex often and some barely fathom it. But honest communication is necessary as they hear about it all around them and questions arise. “In general, most middle schoolers need conversations about what sex will be more than they need conversations about what it already is.” (Something I talk about in my recent book, More Than Just The Talk)

So how do you address this diverse age group? More specifically, how can we provide them with truth, without forcing them to wrestle with temptations they haven’t even fathomed yet?