Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Adolescence/Teen Years (07/16/09)
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TITLE: Turning Turbulent Teens Into Terrific Adults | Previous Challenge Entry
By Brenda George
07/22/09 -
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Girls and boys each face some of their own unique problems, individually, but they also encounter some of the same types of difficulties. Today’s teens are facing more and more challenges than ever before. Among them are: peer pressure, teen pregnancies, teen suicides, drugs, smoking, alcohol, parent divorcing and broken homes, pressure in academics, competition in sports, difficult parents, jobs, learning to drive, college plans, household chores, cramming for tests, acne, having their hair and makeup just right, keeping up with the newest designer clothes, curfews, …. The lists are endless, and so it the stress.
They are also bombarded with the latest technology. It is exploding like never before. Some of it’s good, and some of it’s not. Some examples of this would be: violent video games, ipods, cell phones, violence on television, and dangerous web sites.
It would be less chaotic if parents and teens would both lighten up. That would help relieve some of the pressure on both sides. There are some minor adjustments that could be made to simplify what would, otherwise, be rocky times.
They could start by eating healthier meals, and trying not to consume too much fast food. They should also get adequate rest, and physical exercise. Vitamin supplements should also be taken, to provide the essential nutrients that their growing bodies need to function properly.
Keeping the lines of communication open, between parents and teens is a key factor in establishing good healthy relationships.
Keeping busy, to avoid too much idle time is a good way to avoid any unnecessary problems and keeps teens out of trouble. The pendulum can swing either way, concerning this. Being too busy is just as bad as being too bored. There are many extracurricular activities that teens can do to keep busy. There are also many community service projects that could be done. What better way to teach them to grow into responsible and caring adults?
Parents have a major role to play in shaping their teenagers lives. They hold the key to unlocking the potential that is within their children. It needs to be started when their children are young, and they need to remain consistent, throughout their childhood, so that when they reach their teen years, those traits will already be instilled. They need to learn values, and be taught honesty and integrity. It should be a parent’s real privilege to guide their young children through the teen years and ultimately into adulthood.
There are many ways parents can guide their teens through this process. They can teach them responsibility by allowing them to pay for their own car insurance, cell phones, clothing, and any other personal needs they require.
Parents can also help by instilling self esteem in their teens, and nurturing strong, healthy families. Some of the ways this can be cultivated is by setting priorities, having family meetings, and family fun times, teaching them about money, and consistency.
Sometimes we need to let our teenagers fail, and permit them to make mistakes. This can be hard for parents to do, but it is a learning process. This is how they learn by trial and error.
As long as parents are a strong support system for them to turn to, they will be able to try out their wings on their own, and eventually learn to fly. This can help them to develop the proper perspective, and become enthusiastic about life.
The whole world is right in front of them, and their hopes and dreams are within reach. They can offer so much to the world. What an awesome thought!
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
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