Adolescence is a period of human development and growth. It marks the transition from childhood to the world of adults. Usually lasts from 13 to 20 years of age. (Wikipedia)
Adolescence is a phase of growing up and maturing of a child during which changes in the child and relationships with family, peers and authorities occur. Children test their skills, discover the emotional world, identify value systems, build beliefs about themselves and the world around them by interacting with people from their own environment. This is a period of stubbornness, confrontation and disobedience of a child when parents / guardians are confused and uncertain about building an adolescent relationship. The child suddenly feels the need to belong to a group of peers and shows resistance to the parents / guardians.
The period of adolescence is important for the development of every child because then it comes to independence and psychological separation of the child from the parent / guardian. Children then exhibit a dominant need to distance themselves from the infant world and get closer to the adult world. This journey of leaving childhood and entering the world of adults follows a tumultuous inner and psychological life. Adolescents are constantly seeking answers to the questions of who they are, what their purpose in life is, what they should be hoping for and aspiring to. So they choose behaviors that will lead them to answer these questions. By researching themselves, they try to find the best model for the adult world. This is also a period of thought development. Although adolescents often do actions contrary to the way they talk, they are not a reflection of developed thinking. In some situations, they act as adults while they are sometimes still children with immature agethinking and reckless actions. The reason for these changes is their emotional development. Thinking and emotional development do not develop at the same pace. Therefore, adolescents externally act confident in themselves while fragile and insecure internally. They need a lot of validation from parents / guardians or older siblings. So they learn to love themselves and their newfound personality.
Their most common problem is communication due to their lack of skill in controlling emotions and delaying needs. This is why adolescents often have conflicts and react impulsively. An adolescent’s life is filled with constant questioning, research, and proofing with the desire to fulfill the needs immediately. That is why they often do not follow the rules for learning, socializing, advising parents not to risk themselves. In discussions, they react violently or even aggressively. Carers / parents want to protect them because some behaviors can have unexpectedly negative consequences in the long run.
That is why it is important for carers / parents to be the example to adolescents who will best feel all about life through the “example” they have before them. The commitment and support that the caregivers provide to the adolescent can significantly influence the adolescent’s behavior. They are insecure because they are researching themselves, so the message they receive from caregivers is important. Communication is demanding and parents need special emotional and communication skills to resolve problems without disrupting their relationship with the adolescent. respect their opinions, encourage creativity to solve problems, without imposing their views and setting boundaries carefully. The basis of good communication with the adolescent is appreciation of their insecure personality, who will become self-confident and self-reliant over the years with the help of both the verbal and non-verbal support of the caregiver / parent.