adolescents and their challenges

Adolescence can be a testing time for both parents and children. Parents notice numerous changes in their children and sometimes they feel that they know nothing about their life or their friends. More than ego hurt it becomes a matter of concern for the parents as they don’t want their child to be wrongly influenced by anyone.

Adolescence phase in an individual’s life can be characterized by major shifts in her fashion sense, personal likes and dislikes, rights and wrongs. Spending endless hours on phone, hanging out with new friends, meeting new people experiencing changes in style, views and social behavior, are some of the major changes which he/she is going through. They may see little need for advice and guidance.


There is a need for both parents (more so as they have walked through the path and they understand the nitty-gritty’s well) and their children to find a way to let go of each other gradually and as gracefully as possible. The process become much smoother when parents realize that their children are just trying to establish their own adult identity. Young people consistently emphasize that their parents are the most important influence in their lives, so we should not misinterpret their newfound independent attitude as being arrogant or detachment from the family.

Another very crucial aspect a parent should consider for their adolescent children is that a child wants to be known as an independent, confident person and not as momma’s boy or girl, in his/her peers group. A child may find it necessary to go along with the crowd.

Young people are generally so engrossed in their own world that parental influence may appear to have non existent. But a lot can be done in order to help your teenager to take the right social stand.

Getting to know a child’s friend is the most crucial and important thing to gain your child’s confidence. Meeting their friends will give you an idea about their family background, their personalities. Though don’t be too quick to judge them, any snap judgment offered by you will be dismissed by your child immediately and he will think twice before introducing any other friend to you. Welcome your child’s friend in to your home, talk with them, and offer to drop them at a party or a movie.
Getting to know friend’s parents, talking to them quite often knowing their views about teen’s related issues will add to know his friends better.

Teenagers may react negatively to any direct restrictions about whom they should hang out with, but giving your own examples, talking to them as adults will help in winning their confidence , which is more than half the battle won. Encourage your child to take up some hobby of their own choice which will help him in meeting people with same likings. Keeping good company will ensure that he doesn’t deviate from righteous path.