We can mis-perceive a youth's attitude

We also can also misperceive things. This usually based on a misreading of an expression. Many youth have a negative “face at rest.” In other words, when they aren't thinking anything in particular nor having any particular emotion look like they are ready to bite someone, break into tears, or fall asleep. I've had youth that I was sure hated what we were doing tell me afterward what a great activity it was and how much fun they had!:

• Assuming that someone doesn't like us or our program
  
• that they are bored out of their heads
  
• that they don't like a particular activity
  
• some youth workers assume without asking or trying that their students wouldn't like some activity such as role playing and drama – in almost all cases this is a mistaken assumption
  
• That two kids are enemies when actually they hardly know the other exists
  

Always be dubious of assumptions and try to verify or test the assumption, either through a direct question or calling for “input” from participants, including the youth in question.