Friday, November 28, 2008

Monday, November 10, 2008

Life of a Teenager

November 11th,2008
Many parents, while discussing with me, have expressed that the parenting role is posing many challenges to them. Many of them have narrated the tales of how teenagers are not the same as they were in their teens.
Working with these teenagers, I have been able to get few insights about them-
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They are having much greater exposure today and so are also more inquisitive.
-They do want explanations and reasonsf or what parents/teachers/elders expect from them and are to be first convinced before making commitments to fulfill these.
-They demand greater freedom in making choices in matters concerning them.
-They seek greater attention and time from parents but only when they wish it.

-They have many interests and want to do many things.
-They have high aspirations and wish to do well in their life.
On the other hand parents exhibit generally (there are always exceptions) the following traits-
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Their expectations from children are very high.
-They wish them to learn on their own or from resources paid for, by them like school, tuitions etc. and .
-They are hard pressed for time because of their own priorities (many motrs hers are working).
-They are financially better off and so provide for many things, which may not be actually needed.
-Their own life is having lot of tension and many times they pass on same to their children.
Schooling has its own constraints-
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The system is based on academic excellence and is based on conformity and obedience.
-The examinations are not for testing learning but for seeing that the children come out with answers in accordance with books and teaching.
-The relevance of the taught subjects for growth, learning and doing well in life is in question.
-The scope for creativity, innovation and discovery is much lesser in the present education system.
Thus there is a need to go deeper into all the above and develop a synergy in all three to prepare children for facing the challenges, which will be posed by life and in the process not lose their own innocence, values and above all happiness.