Let’s face it; the teen today is not the one of yester years and anyone who doesn’t see this runs the risk
of mishandling relationships with their kids or worse still pushing them to engage in risky behaviors.
Psychologists will tell you that in the last 500 years the onset of adolescent has come one year earlier
than it used to and ended a year later, every 100 years. In other words, in the last half a century the
beginning of adolescent has gradually shifted from 13 years to almost 9 years and ended at
approximately 25 years.
This explains why this age group shares similar taste in clothing, music and interests. But it also explains the many cases of early sexual engagement, the emotional reaction not seen before and in worst case scenario the depression and suicide attempts being witnessed amongst the 10 year olds to 25-year-olds-For adolescents are by nature “rebellious’ and impulsive.
Parents, teachers and adolescents themselves therefore not only need knowledge about the changes but also need counseling and guidance to appreciate the “rebellion” they see in pre-teens, the secretiveness of the 15-year-old, the delay in leaving the “nest” of the 24 year old
working boy and of course the seeming “immaturity” witnessed amongst undergraduates in university.
For assistance in handling these challenges please contact us.