The need of emotional support to teenagers is immense as they are in a period of transition from childhood to adulthood. Find out the reasons why the teenagers need your emotional support. The transition from childhood to adulthood happens during the teenage years. This is a stage when teenagers have this strong urge to forge their own identity and state their individuality, while at the same time they want to remain under the safe cocoon of parental care. This is surely a tricky time as they want to assert independence and simultaneously cannot bear the situation where they are totally left alone by their parents. It is a very vulnerable stage as parents need to provide a strong emotional support to the teenager. You need to realise that this is indeed a difficult time as the teen is trying his best to cope with the wide array of emotional and physical changes that he is experiencing. All the confusion has their root on this very fact. In this articleProtection and Enhancement of Self-EsteemEnhanced Focus on PositivityTo Help Them Understand Their MistakesWhy do Teenagers Need Emotional Support? Here are some reasons why the teenagers need your emotional support even more. Protection and Enhancement of Self-Esteem The status of self-esteem is very subtle and volatile in the teenage years. They are in the constant need for approval from adults and especially their peer group. In every generation, teens want to “fit in” to their peer group. They feel that unless and until they are considered to be a part of their peer group and accepted there, it is a serious issue as per their social status. We find teens going to any extent and even dabble in undesirable activities, only to ensure that they are considered a part of their peer group. This is why parents need to provide a great deal of emotional support. They need to be assured that they are great in their own personalities and are cared for and respected for who they are. They need a consistent boost to their morale so that their self-esteem does not take a beating from any inconsequential factors. Enhanced Focus on Positivity With the extreme vulnerable state of the teen’s psyche, it is important that the parents act as a support pillar where the teen can fall back on whenever he feels like. Every teen, even if he or she is passing through a difficult phase and you are finding it very hard to deal with him, you will find that there are certain positive attributes in his behaviour and actions. Appreciate them adequately and show how pleased you are that they have this quality in them. This will give rise to an encouragement to follow other positive directive that you provide, but in a subtle manner. Remember strict directives in the form of instruction will only make him more rebellious. To Help Them Understand Their Mistakes Many parents end up making the mistake of focusing too much on the mistakes committed by the teenager and thinks that punishing them for it in some way or the other will help him not to repeat. But then you find that the teen has turned rebellious and is likely to repeat the action again and again. He sort throws a challenge at you on how far you can go and then tries the limits of your patience big time. Experts suggest that the best way to deal with mistakes is to take it casually and not make a big deal of it. Give an impression to the teen that you have forgotten it and it does not matter any more. Then after a passage of some time, say a couple of days later, when you find the teen in his jolly self, start a conversation with him casually. Then you can bring up the topic in a subtle manner and explain how the mistake has caused or has the potential to cause harm to the teen or his family. This way the teen will be in a better position to understand the seriousness and the possible repercussions of the mistake and will make a note that he does not repeat himself. So, without creating a tense atmosphere, you will be able to drive your point home. Finally, perhaps the most vital point to remember, you must check the words you use in your conversation with your teen. Teens are very sensitive at heart even as much as they try to portray that they are very hardy and are not bothered with anything. Parents always occupy a special place in the heart of the teen and he gets most affected by the way you talk to him and treat him. Always make sure that you show your love and affection towards him and do not be judgmental every time. These will work as the much needed assurance that he will be loved for the person that he is and that you are only concerned about his well-being and not being intrusive or imposing.
The need of emotional support to teenagers is immense as they are in a period of transition from childhood to adulthood. Find out the reasons why the teenagers need your emotional support. The transition from childhood to
adulthood happens during the teenage years. This is a stage when teenagers have this strong urge to forge their own identity and state their individuality, while at the same time they want to remain under the safe cocoon of parental care. This is surely a tricky time as they want to assert independence and simultaneously cannot bear the situation where they are totally left alone by their parents.
It is a very vulnerable stage as parents need to provide a strong emotional support to the teenager. You need to realise that this is indeed a difficult time as the teen is trying his best to cope with the wide array of emotional and physical changes that he is experiencing. All the confusion has their root on this very fact.
Why do Teenagers Need Emotional Support?
Here are some reasons why the teenagers need your emotional support even more.
Protection and Enhancement of Self-Esteem
The status of self-esteem is very subtle and volatile in the teenage years. They are in the constant need for approval from adults and especially their peer group. In every generation, teens want to “fit in” to their peer group. They feel that unless and until they are considered to be a part of their peer group and accepted there, it is a serious issue as per their social status.
We find teens going to any extent and even dabble in undesirable activities, only to ensure that they are considered a part of their peer group. This is why parents need to provide a great deal of emotional support. They need to be assured that they are great in their own personalities and are cared for and respected for who they are. They need a consistent boost to their morale so that their self-esteem does not take a beating from any inconsequential factors.
Enhanced Focus on Positivity
With the extreme vulnerable state of the teen’s psyche, it is important that the parents act as a support pillar where the teen can fall back on whenever he feels like. Every teen, even if he or she is passing through a difficult phase and you are finding it very hard to deal with him, you will find that there are certain positive attributes in his behaviour and actions. Appreciate them adequately and show how pleased you are that they have this quality in them. This will give rise to an encouragement to follow other positive directive that you provide, but in a subtle manner. Remember strict directives in the form of instruction will only make him more rebellious.
To Help Them Understand Their Mistakes
Many parents end up making the mistake of focusing too much on the mistakes committed by the teenager and thinks that punishing them for it in some way or the other will help him not to repeat. But then you find that the teen has turned rebellious and is likely to repeat the action again and again. He sort throws a challenge at you on how far you can go and then tries the limits of your patience big time.
Experts suggest that the best way to deal with mistakes is to take it casually and not make a big deal of it. Give an impression to the teen that you have forgotten it and it does not matter any more. Then after a passage of some time, say a couple of days later, when you find the teen in his jolly self, start a conversation with him casually. Then you can bring up the topic in a subtle manner and explain how the mistake has caused or has the potential to cause harm to the teen or his family. This way the teen will be in a better position to understand the seriousness and the possible repercussions of the mistake and will make a note that he does not repeat himself. So, without creating a tense atmosphere, you will be able to drive your point home.
Finally, perhaps the most vital point to remember, you must check the words you use in your conversation with your teen. Teens are very sensitive at heart even as much as they try to portray that they are very hardy and are not bothered with anything. Parents always occupy a special place in the heart of the teen and he gets most affected by the way you talk to him and treat him. Always make sure that you show your love and affection towards him and do not be judgmental every time. These will work as the much needed assurance that he will be loved for the person that he is and that you are only concerned about his well-being and not being intrusive or imposing.
