A parent’s guide to teenagers Essay

Mahsa Being a parent or carer is one of the most fantastic and rewarding things in life, however it can also be challenging. As a parent or carer, you have a huge influence on your son or daughters life. Your impact can help them become who they are, to shape their values and aspirations. Knowing how to respond to their teenage needs isn’t always easy. There really is no straight forward answer, however this guide will surely help you get one step closer to helping your teen with their problems. What makes teenage years so special? Between the age of thirteen and nineteen, people develop physically, intellectually, emotionally and socially. People of these ages ay most likely be dealing with many problems and pressures. They’ll be experimenting with friendships and relationships. At this time, school or work nay be adding pressure to their lives. Puberty will also occur in these years, it can be very confusing and even frightening for your child. Through adolescence, both girls and boys will be feeling self conscious and worried about fitting in. One of the most difficult things about being a parent or carer to a teenager is knowing when to let your child make their own decisions and knowing when to step in and help. Helping your child with self esteem One of the main struggles in the adolescence stage is self esteem. It’s often hard for a teenager to feel good about themselves, this could be because they’re surrounded by images of â€Å"perfect† men and women. As a parent, you have a vital role in shaping how your child sees themselves. You have to watch what you say, whether or not they show it, your child listens to your opinion. Comments about their weight, intelligence or other abilities may mean nothing to you, but they stick with your child. For example, instead of pointing out to your child that they’re overweight, you could ask them to exercise with you. One of the best ways you can help your child feel better about themselves is to compliment their good attributes. Emphasise their positive things or a regular basis. If you tell your child something enough times, they’ll soon start to believe that in themselves  too. Helping your child with peer pressure Another struggle that occurs mos tly in the adolescence stage is peer pressure. In your child’s adolescence stage they are most likely going to be influenced by other teenagers, however there are steps you can take to help them. You can’t choose your children’s friends, however you can encourage them to hang out with friends who exhibit positive peer pressure. If they have friends who are behaving and following the rules, they’ll more likely to follow them too. In their early teens, speak to them about what kind of behaviour you expect from them and what behaviour you do not and will not tolerate. Teach them to say â€Å"no† when they’re uncomfortable with doing something. Set clear rules and boundaries for them, however do not do this without telling them why. Make sure they understand that what you’re doing is for their own good. Helping your child with making decisions Teaching your child about decision making and to recognise when he/she have made a good decision is vital. There are many ways you can help your child improve their ability to make wise decisions. Firstly, help your child clarify the problem that’s causing them to make a decision, ask them about the situation and what they may need to change. Secondly, you can brainstorm the possible solutions to the decision that they’re making, usually there will be more than one solution. As a parent you can make an important contribution by pointing this out to your child and suggesting alternatives. After your child has chosen one solution, discuss the consequences with them. Helping your child with being bullied Each year Over 3.2 million students are victims of bullying and Approximately 160,000 teens skip school every day because of bullying. Even though many teenagers will not be directly affected by serious bullying, they may be victims of it. The first step you should take is to speak to your child about the bullying and how they’re coping. Next, you should inform their school/place of work about the bullying. Let your child know that you’re there for them, reassure them that it isn’t their fault and that there is a solution to the problem. By law schools are supposed to help with bullying and in most, if not all schools there are anti bullying rules. To conclude, the main way to help a teenager in their adolescence stage is to be there for them and let them know that you’re there if they need any  help with the struggles they face. As a parent you play a vital role in their life and if you follow this guide you will be sure to see a positive effect on your teenagers life.