Event Logistics Guide
AUDIENCES
Tweens
Tweens are at an age during
which they are becoming
independent and are beginning
to make their own decisions.
The activities discovered and
preferred at this age often
become habits and interests
into adulthood.
VERB's audience research indicates
that tweens are not motivated
by the health messages of
physical activity. The concept of
engaging in healthy behaviors
now to prevent chronic diseases
in the future is too abstract for
tweens. They are motivated to
be physically active as a way to
have fun, spend time with friends,
and try new things. The VERB
Activity Zone should speak to
tweens in "tween language" such
as how cool the VERB Activity
Zone is, how much fun being
active will be, how they can have
fun with friends, and that they
have a chance to earn fun prizes.
Parents
While tweens don't respond well
to messages that present physical
activity as a means of preventing
diseases, their parents often do.
Parents want what is best for
their kids, so they respond to
health messages, while kids may
be turned off by those same
messages. That is why it is
important to keep your messages
to adults separate from messages
to tweens. Parents are motivated
to get their children active as a
way to reduce the risk of chronic
diseases, and to keep their kids
busy with positive activities to
reduce their engagement in risky
behaviors. They are also motivated
to get their children active
as a way to increase mental
alertness and feelings of wellbeing,
which may lead to better
mental health or academic performance.
Community–Based Organizations
Organizations can take advantage
of the VERB campaign's
popularity among tweens by
incorporating VERB approaches
into their programs. Audience
research indicates that tweens
think that VERB is cool. Now is
the time to offer them opportunities
to play and be physically
active every day in fun, safe
environments. If they develop
the play habit now, it could benefit
them for a lifetime.
Page last reviewed: August 1, 2007
Page last modified: August 1, 2007
Content source: National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention
and Health Promotion, Division of Adolescent and School Health |
