WHO IS AN ADOLESCENT?
Adolescents are (14 yrs) young persons who are developing.
– An adolescent is a bit higher than a teenager (13 yrs)
– From 14 years of age to 18 years that’s the age limit for adolescence.
CHARACTERISTICS OF ADOLESCENT INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENT INCLUDE:
Moving from concrete to abstract thinking
An intense curiosity and wide range of intellectual pursuits, few of which are sustained over the long term.
High achievement when challenged and engaged
Preference for active over passive learning experiences.
Interest with interacting with peers during learning activities
An ability to be self reflective
CHARACTERISTICS OF ADOLESCENT SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT INCLUDE:
Modeling behaviour after that of older students, not necessarily that of parents and other adults.
Immature behaviour when social skills lag behind mental and physical maturity.
Experimenting with ways of talking and acting as part of a social position with peers.
Exploring questions of racial and ethnic identity and seeking peers who share the same background.
Exploring questions of sexual identity in visible or invisible ways.
Feeling intimidated or frightened by the initial middle school experience
Liking fads (Short-lived fashions) and being interested in popular culture
Over reacting of peers and other with attention getting behaviors
CHARACTERISTICS OF ADOLESCENT PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT INCLUDE:
Restlessness and fatigue due to hormonal changes
A need for physical activity because of increased energy
Developing sexual awareness and often touching and bumping into others
A concern with changes in body size and shape
Physical vulnerability resulting from poor health habits of engaging in risky behaviour.
CHARACTERISTICS OF ADOLESCENT EMOTIONAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT INCLUDE:
Mood swing marked by peaks of intensity and by unpredictability
Needing to release energy, with sudden out
burst of activity
A desire to become in dependent and to
Research for adult identity and acceptance.
Concern about physical growth and maturity
A belief that their personal problems feelings and experiences are unique to themselves.
CHARACTERISTICS OF ADOLESCENT MORAL DEVELOPMENT INCLUDE:
o Understanding the complexity of moral issues and not seeing every thing in “black and white”.
o Impatience with the pace of change and understanding how difficult it is to make social changes.
o Needing and being influenced by adult role models who will listen and be trustworthy.
o Relying on parents and important adults for advice but wanting to make their own decisions.
o Judging others quickly but acknowledging one’s own faults slowly.
UNDERSTANDING THE ADOLESCENCE WAR
– The adolescence war could be defined as those factors that give rise to disagreements, quarrels, juvenile delinquency, catastrophy, disharmony, restiveness etc between the adolescents, the adults and the society in which the adults live.
FACTORS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE WAR
– Insecurity on the part of adolescents
– Explorational power
– Exposure
– Autonomous Attitude
– Lack of understanding and guidance by parents and guidance
– Peer pressure
– Negligence by parents and guardians
– A lack of quality time for the adolescents by parents and guardians
– A lack of trust on parents and guardians
– A lack in carrying the adolescents along in the scheme of things
WHAT STRATEGIES CAN BE APPLIED TO WIN THIS WAR?
PARENTS /GUARDIANS NEED:
a. Create quality time for the adolescents
b. Give them listening ear
c. Provide the necessities of life
d. Find out adults friends of the adolescents (Are they worthy of emulation?).
e. Establish good cordial relationship
f. Have good adult friends /confidants
g. Good guidance and counseling from adults, teachers, mentors, leaders
h. Parents need to take responsibility of the adolescents in all facets of life.
EXAMPLES OF REAL LIFE EXPERIENCES OF THE ADOLESCENT WAR
Gang Stealing
Teenage Pregnancy
Rivalry among siblings
Cultism
Death
REFERENCES
http://www.k12.de.us/central/adolescents
Asker’s rating
Column On My Kitchen Window in the Newswriter Newspaper BY ANGELA INYENA ANIETIE
