The Teenage Years (What parents can expect) Parent Power School January 22, 2014

About Teens  Teenager: a person between the ages of 13 and 19 inclusive.  Characteristics  Independent, emotional and rebellious  Energetic, adventurous and risk taking  Maturing physically, hormonal, sexually aware and social  Intellectual growth  Teens experience rapid changes:  Physiologically  Psychologically  Socially  Emotionally  Cognitively The brain begins a pruning and strengthening process at the age of 13. Your teen needs you now more than ever!

Psychological Changes  Moods & Behaviors  hot & cold, mean & nice (rollercoaster effect)  seeking self-independence  Test/Question parent authority  Contradictions  meaning/value of the real world  internal stress (anxiety)  drive to problem solve  isolation of oneself (depression)

Physiological Changes  Rapid growth  Growth in height, weight, body and facial hair  For girls, you might start to see early physical changes from about 10 or 11 years, but they might start as young as 8 years or as old as 13 years.  For boys, physical changes usually start around 11 or 12 years, but they might start as young as 9 years or as old as 14 years Body odor & Acne  sweat glands in certain places, such as under the arms and in the groin make oils as well as ordinary sweat. These glands start making the oils after the beginning of puberty.  Skin becomes coarser and the sebaceous glands produce more oil that can cause acne and blackheads

Cognitive Changes  Mental Development  Thinking more abstractly  Seeking independence  Establishing identities & sexual orientation  Reasoning and decision making

Emotional Changes  Show strong feelings  More sensitive to other’s emotions  More self-conscious  Goes through a ‘bulletproof’ stage  Learn self-control  Discovering their emotional state

Social Changes  Searching for identity and acceptance  Seeking more responsibility  Looking for new experiences  Thinking over ‘right’ & ‘wrong’  Influenced by peers  Communicating in different ways (hi-tech devices are preferable)

Teen Issues Depression Symtoms: ► academic performance – declined ► emotional chaos - – psychologically desperate – feeling insecure – self-isolated – substance abused – eating disorder – thoughts of suicide Traumatic stress Symptoms: ► re-experiencing (PTSD) ► avoidance/isolation ► insomnia

Keep in mind  Every child is different  Avoid comparing and learn to accept their personality  They will make mistakes and learn from them  Remind them of the family values (You are who you hang out with. True or false?)  You play a huge role in their development

Parent role throughout puberty stage o Be available and open minded  Be a parent, but also a friend when they seek help (earn their trust)  Let them know they can trust you when in doubt  Listen to their concerns and thoughts with an open mind o Be ready and aware (knowledge is key)  Know the challenges they can be faced with and be ready with different ways to deal with them  Learn about the current trends teens face day by day o Be involved  Know who their friends are  Plan activities together  Be a role model & their reason for decision making  Practice what you preach  Give them boundaries and be their excuse to make the right choice

Know your teen  What is their favorite subject?  What are their extra-curricular activities(s)?  Who are your teens friends? Their families?  What is their favorite movie?  Know their whereabouts and communicate  Befriend them on their social media accounts  Set time aside for your teen ONLY (walk in the park, eat out, etc.) Something that will allow you to talk about their day

Family Tips  Have dinner together as a family  Teach your teen to cook, do yard work, etc. (share your interests)  Share your “love” experiences as a teen  Educate your child about sexual activity, STD’s and contraception.  Read Self-Help books about psychological/child development  Plan family activities (road trip, camping, movie night)  Catch up with the current social trends  Set rules, boundaries and expectations and have consequences (be firm & follow through)  BE INVOLVED!

 Questions/Concerns Thank You