OC HIGH: STUDENT NEWS AND VIEWS : The View From Below : Younger Kids Tell How They Spot Teen-Agers--and What They Think of Them (‘Cool’ and ‘Yucky’)

You probably have a pretty good idea of how teens are perceived by adults. But have you ever wondered how teens appear to those younger than you?

To find out, OC High asked children: What is a teen-ager? What do they do?

Some sing your praises. Others scoff at your bad habits. Some look up to you with envy.

Here’s what kids in South Orange County told OC High correspondent Joslin Gemsch, a senior at Capistrano Valley High School, when she asked their opinion of teens:

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“A teen-ager is 13 or 14, or something with a teen after it. Some are nice and some are mean. They drive cars. Some smoke cigarettes, but they shouldn’t because it is a drug. I don’t want to be a teen-ager because when you are young, your mom pays for things, and when you are a teen-ager you have to pay for them.”

J.D. Silva, 9

Fourth grade, St. John’s Elementary

“A teen-ager is a smoker. I can’t think of one that doesn’t. Some are dumb and some are good. They listen to rude things on CDs, like “Beavis and Butt-head.” Those are real bad! I want to be a teen-ager if I don’t smoke.”

Kit Mann, 11

Fifth grade, De Portola Elementary

“A teen-ager is a young adult finding out who they are. Teen-agers look cool. They almost always have a cute outfit on. Some of them look yucky, because they probably drank alcohol or beer.”

Alexis Chadburn, 11

Sixth grade, Newhart Elementary

“Teen-agers can drink wine and we can’t. They drive. They can light matches and use candles.”

Devon, 9

Fourth grade, St. Catherine Elementary

“Teen-agers are nice. They can’t do much more than we can. I want to be a teen-ager so I can drive a turquoise convertible.”

Danielle, 6

Kindergarten, Moulton Elementary

“I know a teen-ager. She is nice. She does fun stuff with us. She swings us around and plays games with us. She gets to go out places without her mom and dad. I want to do that. She climbs trees with me. I can’t climb them without her. Sometimes she baby-sits us. I want to baby-sit. I want to go out without my mom and dad. I want to drive a white Jeep.”

Tyler Grigg, 6

First grade, Castille Elementary

“Teen-agers like to go to dances. They stay up late. For the worst part, they like boys! They wear all kinds of funky clothes, which I like. I’ll be a teen-ager when I’m 16. I don’t want to be a teen-ager because I don’t want to start dating boys and I don’t want to go to high school or college.”

Giana Moloian, 9

Fifth grade, O’Neil Elementary

“Teen-agers are nice and really big. I want to be a teen-ager so I can wash dishes, drive a car and baby-sit.”

Allison Littman, 5

Kindergarten, O’Neil Elementary

“A teen-ager is someone who’s older than me. They can drive a car and they can stay up ‘til midnight. I don’t want to be a teen-ager.”

Dalla Malek, 10

Fifth grade, Mission Hills Elementary

“I know two teen-agers in Atlanta. They are nice. One gets to drive a car. They get to stay up late. When I get older I’ll go to bed at something sensible--around 10. I want to play tennis in high school. Teen-agers are advantaged and bigger. I don’t really know what a teen-ager is.”

Austin Grigg, 9

Fourth grade, Castille Elementary

“A teen-ager is a person who sells drugs. Some are bad and some are good. They listen to bad music. They do parties with their older friends. I want to be a teen-ager so I can get a college degree and learn more.”

Mike Bieksha, 10

Fifth grade, De Portola Elementary

“A teen-ager is someone who is a young adult. Someone is a teen-ager when they are 13 to 19 years old. A teen-ager looks like a kid, but taller. Teen-agers are allowed to drive, go places alone, leave home and go to college and get a job. When I’m a teen-ager I want to travel to really far places and do really fun things.”

Whitney Wintemute, 11

Sixth grade, Bathgate Elementary

“A teen-ager is a person who is dumb and does bad stuff. They are weird and hang out with friends and have parties. They smoke. Some teen-agers wear a chain around their pants. I don’t want to be a teen-ager. I don’t want to grow up. I want to stay a kid.”

Brittany Mann, 8

Third grade, DePortola Elementary

“Teen-agers have jobs. They can drive. They go to a school. When I’m a teen-ager, I want to go on rides at Disneyland by myself. I like teen-agers a lot!”

Caitlin Bedsworth, 6

First grade, Reilly Elementary

“A teen-ager is a big girl. They are nice. Big girls get to play with their friends without their mommy. They can spend the night. I want to do those things when I get older.”

Tatiana Rose Moloian, 3

Mission Viejo Christian preschool

“A teen-ager is someone who’s older and 13. Sometimes they are mean and bossy. They go to the mall and hang out and they stay up later. I don’t know if I want to be a teen-ager. When I am a teen-ager, I want to stay up later and everything.”

Tracy Eckard, 10

Fifth grade, Rancho Elementary

“They are nice. They dance and hold hands with me. I want to be a big person so I can Roller-blade and play soccer.”

Courtney Hall, 5

Kindergarten, Reilly Elementary

“A teen-ager is someone in high school. They are big, tall, nice and they eat a lot. A teen-ager plays Nerf Force with us. They drive. I sort of want to be a teen-ager so I can get closer to driving.”

Jordan Soloman, 9

Fourth grade, Castille Elementary

“A teen-ager is someone who’s older and can do more things. They are sometimes bossy and sometimes nice. Teen-agers can drive cars. I’m not really looking forward to it.”

Austin Eckard, 7

Second grade, Rancho Elementary

“Teen-agers are stronger. They come to my house and go to the lake and play water balloons. I want to be a big girl because I like it.”

Maddie, 4

South Shores preschool