Know all about teenagers and live a balanced life with them.

ALL ABOUT TEENAGERS

Adolescent is a stage in which child turns into an adult. It begins from 12 to 19 years of age. It has been said to be a stage of stress, storm and strain. To be a parent of a teenager is not an easy task.

 I have a teenager daughter and a son, who will be entering his teens in few years. The more troublesome teenager is one who has not been taken care of at his/her earlier developmental stages. But, still it is the most stressful period of the life. Now a days children are in more stress because of the excessive competition. The western influences are also affecting the cultural values of Indian teenager. So parents have to be cautious about everything what’s going in the life of a teenager.

There should be open communication between the parent and the child. Sometimes child don’t realize that they are disrespecting their parents. So we can always tell them, how hurtful it is when they misbehave. Believe me, it sometimes feels like walking on a tight rope. Let us try to know more about what goes in the life of a teenager.

1.  The internal and external organs of adolescent develop fully. The reproductive organs also mature, which results in the attraction towards opposite sex. These feelings should not be suppressed but redirected by involving them in some creative work like art and music. Sex education should also be provided. Proper environment should be given at home and school.

2.  Aspirations, ambitions and imagination of a teenager increases. They want to have best food, clothes, house, education etc. As the desires are endless. Some of them should be fulfilled. They should be gently told about the limitations of the family. As all the desires can not be met.

3. Feeling for self- esteem and status also increases to a great extent. They want respect in family, school and community. Even minor blow to their self-esteem can make them angry. They should be treated with love and cooperation.

4.  Interest varies in various activities  till the age of 15. Some of them are hereditary and others depend on environment. After 15 years of age the interests become stable.

5.  The cognitive and abstract intelligence develop fully. As a result their imagination, memory, analysis, synthesis and problem solving also increases.

6.  In earlier times, the children used to be more religious and value oriented. But now a days as the social environment is disrupted. Even the religious preachers have become immoral. So it affects the children also. If the children get the right environment    at home and in communities. They will certainly learn the right values.

7.  Adolescent cannot live in the bindings of family or school. They can rebel under strict control. Total freedom can lead them to follow evil path. So they should be kept in control through love and cooperation.

8.  The emotions of teenagers are not stable. Sometimes they have feelings of love and sometimes they feel enmity. One time they are active and energetic and other time they are inactive and lazy.

9.  Adolescent is the age of forming and deforming habits. They should be guided about what is good and what is bad. Their self esteem should be developed fully so that they do not fall prey to peer pressure.

10.  Adolescent daydreams and thinks about the welfare of the society. Some of them may daydream about how to get rid of the evils of the society.

11.  As their emotions and interests fluctuate, they find it difficult to adjust with people of different age groups.

12.  They are anxious about their future. The three main reasons for their anxiety are profession, partner and status.