TEENAGERS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The major task of a teenager is to become an independent and responsible adult and most teenagers eventually achieve this and go on to have teenage children of their own.

Teenagers are in a stage between childhood and adulthood, one of the most rapidly changing times of their lives. Their behaviour seems to go between two extremes; they often want to be treated like an adult, but behave like a child and to have the responsibility of a child. This happens because they are struggling with their own feelings about wanting to be grown-up but often are a bit scared of what it all means and how they will cope (although they may not ever admit it). It is very human to want the fun without the responsibility.

SMALL ISSUES Teenagers need to learn the effect their behaviour has on other people, what happens as a result and how this affects them. These consequences are often thought of as bad things, however the consequences of our actions can be good or bad depending on what we learn from them.

Teenagers need to understand that all behaviour is a choice and every choice carries its own set of consequences. If the behaviour becomes a problem or causes discomfort to themselves they are more likely to change it.

CONSEQUENCES Teenagers need to learn that there are consequences to what they do. It needs to be a gradual process, not something that suddenly happens when they leave home, eg if they spend all their pocket money unwisely they may have nothing left for something they really want.

OUT COMES Forgive yourself your mistakes, but learn from them You don't have to be right all the time, learn about compromise