Life Skills & Value Education – CLASS-VIII – UNIT-6 Adolescence

UNDERSTANDING ADOLESCENCE:

• Adolescence is the phase of life between childhood and adulthood, from ages 10 to 19. It is a unique stage of human development and an important time for laying the foundations of good health. Adolescents experience rapid physical, cognitive and psychosocial growth.

CHARACTERISTICS OF ADOLESCENCE:

• Biological growth and development
• Specific hormones are released
• voice changes
• Behavioural changes.

Psychological problems

• Health problems
• Increased pressure
• Complexion problems
• Undefined Status
• Unclear social expectations
• Some treated as children, some as adults
• Parents, friends, and teachers all pressure adolescents to behave in particular ways.
• Peer pressure is the strongest.
• Many teens feel pressure to be in a relationship or find a job.
• The Search for Self
• The ability to establish personal norms and priorities is important.
• Preparing for future roles is one aspect of finding oneself.
• Bullying: Bullying is an intentional behaviour that is meant to hurt and dominate another person. It includes verbal and physical abuse, as well as cyber bullying—using electronic means to torment, threaten, harass or humiliate. It leads to a decline in social standards of behaviour.
• Emotional changes and problems
• Mood swings are common among teenage boys and girls

How to Deal with Common Problems of Adolescence:

Adolescence is not an easy time for children or parents. The only way to deal with needs and problems at this age is to know about them and be ready to face them. Parent-adolescent conflicts that cause insecure and unstable feelings have a linear association with pubertal maturity.

Understanding and dealing with these

conflicts positively could help your child be

more responsible and   social.

Solution:

• There are media campaigns to stop bullying.
• The best way you can do to help your teenager get through the stage is to make them aware of these changes.
• Explain that it is normal for the body to change as every teenager goes through it! Help them adapt to these changes acknowledge the change and help them accept it.
• Enable them to stay healthy and fit through a nutritious diet and exercise.
• Assist them to take care of themselves.
• Tell your teenagers that it is okay to feel the way they are feeling.
• Encourage them to exercise as physical activity helps keep the serotonin (creates good feelings and happiness) levels up.
• Let them talk. Listen to them without judging and avoid giving them advice when they are not ready for it.
• Share your experiences of puberty or let them talk to an older sibling who has gone through the same. It will emphasize that it is okay to feel the way they do.
• Indulging in a creative activity can help them channelize their emotions.
• Remember that your adolescent child is not completely independent in dealing with their emotions and needs your support. Help them by telling them what you do when you feel sad, angry, jealous, etc. They can try those solutions to come out of their own emotional issues.
• Keep an eye on your child’s behaviour. Look for erratic behaviour and change in their appetite, sleep patterns, and moods.
• Do not spy on them or accuse them of any wrongdoing. Encourage them to talk and be honest. Tell them what your concerns are and discuss the problem with them.
• You may have been a teenager yourself. But once you become a parent to a teen, you seem clueless. Think about it – your adolescent is at an age that you have already been through. Be empathetic and try to understand what your child is going through. That makes dealing with their problems easier.

CONCLUSION:

Adolescence is a phase when children go through several changes as they journey from childhood to maturity. It is also a vulnerable  time for children since they may experience several problems of adolescence, such as unhealthy behaviours, which may lead to significant problems later in life. Concerns about adolescent behaviour are also common during this time, making it difficult for parents to connect with their children.

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