A Parent's Guide to Understanding Teenagers
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A Parent’s Guide to Understanding Teenagers CONTENTS INTRODUCTION I Introduction to this guide. 3 Being a parent or carer is one of the most fantastic and rewarding things that we ever do, but without a doubt it I What makes teenagers special . 4 can also be one of the most difficult. Almost all parents I Communication, communication, communication . 7 will have times when they worry about their children and their own ability to support and guide their child. I Relationships and sexuality . 10 This is certainly the case for the parents of teenagers. I Different and equal . 13 As parents and carers, we have a of help available if you want further huge influence on young people’s information, advice or support with I School . 15 lives and the ability to shape their parenting, or with wider family issues. values and aspirations. Our impact I Further education, training and careers advice . 18 on young people and our ability to using this guide support and help them to develop, We have split the guide into chapters I Bullying . 21 will be shaped by our own strengths, and included a contacts section in experiences and limitations. each, to highlight some relevant I Involvement in anti-social and criminal behaviour . 24 organisations and services. The Knowing how to respond to the needs contact details for these and many I Physical, mental and sexual health . 27 of teenagers isn’t always easy and others are listed under the chapter there are no ‘right’ answers. Every headings in the National and Local I Alcohol and drugs . 31 teenager and every family is different Contacts section at the end – see from the next. Having said that, it can page 44. There is also a general I The internet, social networking, mobiles . 35 help all of us in our role as parents section on ‘Help for parents of and other technology to find out more about teenagers, to teenagers’ on page 42. reflect on how we interact with them, I How old do they have to be? . 39 and where necessary to seek more what is a parent ? A guide to legal age limits information, advice and support. This guide is written for anybody We hope that this guide will help. I Help for parents of teenagers . 42 who looks after and is a role model This guide addresses the issues that for teenagers. Throughout this guide I Parenting programmes . 42 parents have said they would like we use the term ‘parent’ and we refer more information about and the to ‘your son/daughter’ etc. In this I National and local contacts . 44 issues that teenagers want their guide, the term ‘parent’ means all parents to understand. The guide carers of young people including won’t answer all your questions foster carers and adoptive parents, but it will get you at least one step parents and grandparents. step closer to understanding your We use the terms ‘son’, ‘daughter’, teenager and the world he or she ‘child’ and ‘young person’ to refer to lives in. Fortunately there is a lot the teenagers that you are caring for. 2 3 Important changes are also noticed and recognised. This what makes happening inside a teenager’s can be perfectly acceptable or brain. Throughout adolescence not depending on how they brains change in a way that involves choose to get recognition. the breaking and reforming of teenagers special? Parents are extremely important connections and pathways too. Teenagers may seem to reject within the brain. During this period or dismiss your views and values, young people may find it hard Between the ages of 13 and 19 young but your influence, interest and Give them to recognise emotions in other people are developing physical, support continue to be crucial. responsibility…“ it’s people. Other changes in the emotional and sexual maturity. brain make it hard for teenagers Although they are always likely that they will They are also establishing an to make mature judgements about pushing the limits, teenagers rebel in one way or the consequences of their actions. need boundaries. When setting individual identity separate rules and boundaries try to involve another – think about Some typical behaviours and your teenager in recognising the from their family. Teenagers characteristics identified by how important the issue consequences of overstepping and their families are of course teenagers about themselves is. Is it worth alienating them. Remember, they are becoming include: ‘know it all’, increased all different from each other young adults and as such should your child over the interest in sex, rebellious, depending on their background, expect to take responsibility for stressed, insecure, lazy, clothes they wear? their actions. One of the most ethnic origin, family culture etc, argumentative, challenging Oxfordshire parent difficult things about parenting ” authority, mood swings. but there are some things that teenagers is knowing when to they have in common. Peer pressure, allow them to make their own responsibility mistakes and when it is necessary all change and development to step in to avoid disaster. Young people may be juggling many pressures and at the same time and influence they will be experimenting with relationships, behaviour, tastes and Teenagers can sometimes lifestyles. Often this is a time of increasing pressures at school and be very self-conscious and college, when decisions need to be made about work, careers or worry a lot about fitting training. All of this can make teenagers anxious and stressed. in. They compare Teenagers have entered a potentially exciting time of their life themselves to their – with many new horizons opening up and personal choices to peers and are often make – but it can also be frightening and confusing and may make influenced by how them feel insecure. others see them. During puberty many changes happen to a teenager’s body. It grows Along with this they rapidly in height and weight, sexual organs develop and the body’s have a desire to be production of sexual hormones soars. These changes affect teenagers’ behaviour and attitude, and can lead to wild mood swings. While this is normal, it can be very confusing and sometimes even frightening for both you and your teenager. 4 5 Adolescence is a time when many young people are idealistic. Because of Don’t try to be this they often find themselves impatient and at odds with the adult world. communication, They also tend to believe that they have all the answers while most adults ‘cool’“ and your teen’s have none. While this can be very irritating, it will work better if you join best friend – you’ll in the discussion and explore each other’s beliefs rather than ignore the communication, embarrass yourself and teenager or put their ideas down. It’s all part of finding out who they are and what they believe. them. It’s OK to be a ‘fogey’; that's what they How are teenagers portrayed? communication see you as anyway – but The media and commercial world strongly influence all of us; many of us will be influenced by common views of young people and youth culture Living with teenagers is all about do it with humour. which portray teenagers in a negative light. Young people on the other communication and much of the Laugh at yourself. hand may feel that society judges all teenagers to be ‘trouble’ – a judgement information in this guide is about Oxfordshire parent ” that they feel is unfair. As a parent you will have to take account of the wider making the most of communication social pressures that impact on your teenager and realise that these will influence all of your views. with teenagers. This is not always an easy task. However, if you talk with and listen to teenagers, they will at least know that you SUMMARY & practical tips are interested in them and in what they have to say. contacts > Understanding what teenagers are going through This can be very important if they want to talk about I NSPCC can help us to understand their behaviour. something that is difficult for them, perhaps to ask I Parentline Plus > Remember the things that teenagers say they need: for help with a health or relationship issue, or to tell ‘acceptance’, ‘responsibility’, ‘respect’, ‘privacy’, you that they are being bullied. I Parentscentre ‘not to be stereotyped’, ‘to be listened to’. I P arent-Talk > Don’t assume that your son or daughter knows how What makes a good parent? I Raising Kids you are feeling – you need to explain your feelings Some of the things teenagers say to them. about what makes a ‘good parent’ I spired.com > Give young people a say in deciding rules and include: I thesite.org boundaries – the more investment they have in > “someone who listens” I Talking Teens campaign drawing up an agreement with you, the more likely >“someone you can talk to” they are to stick to it. I Young People’s >“someone who can talk to young Survival Guide > Be patient and listen to your teenager’s views – people and other parents about most of all be encouraging and show that you setting limits” care unconditionally. >“patience” >“someone who can compromise with the child and give reasons for setting limits” 6 7 Expressing themselves Listening with. Remember, in spite of how it thing is not how you feel about may seem, young people want their this, but that they have been able At this time of physical and Listening can be a surprisingly parents to be happy too. to talk things through with someone. emotional change, teenagers often difficult skill for parents to develop; Professionals working with young find it hard to express their feelings.