Adolescent Problems

In order to effectively discuss Adolescent Problems, it may be better to break the youngsters from ages 8-18 into 3 different categories. We have labeled them Childhood which will discuss the children from ages eight years old up to eleven years of age. The next category we call early and preteens. The final category we have identified as teenage years. Because of the range between the youngest and the oldest, it would be very difficult to speak of them all together.

Adolescence and Childhood

For purposes of discussing adolescent problems, we will discuss the youngest category Childhood first. Childhood in this forum will be children from the ages of 8-11. The Adolescent Problems for this age group include failure to go to school, the inability to get along with family members, and issues with class mates. An Adolescent at the age of 8 is still a child, but in the next few years they will enter a difficult phase in their life. When a child begins to change from childhood to teenager there are many factors that come into play. They are still children, but many people begin to expect adult behavior from them. This unreal expectation can be daunting for some young children. In many cases if both parents are working outside of the home, the oldest child is expected to pick up the parental slack. This burden added to the already difficult task of growing up in today’s society can be additionally challenging.

Early and Preteens

The early and preteen years can also be challenging. When a child becomes a teenager they are not really adults, but believe they should be treated as such. Some studies say that the human brain is not fully developed until around the age of 21. This fact is not commonly believed among the majority of youth today. I am sure that any parent trying to logic with their child will attest to this fact. The early teen and preteen’s feel that they already know everything and the last thing they need is advice from their parent’s. In the early and preteen’s eye their parent’s and any adult are the enemy and should not be trusted. It can be very challenging for a parent to gain the trust of their children, especially when they reach their teenage years.

The lack of trust between parent’s and early and preteen’s is a difficult barrier to break. In times past it was referred to as the generation gap. If a parent is to gain the respect and trust of their preteen, they must sincerely work to earn this trust. Some parent’s have tried to earn this trust by becoming one of their teen’s friend’s. In reality the early or preteen doesn’t need another friend, they need a parent. The most successful parent’s have found that by being consistent and genuine they can effectively parent their teen. The early and preteen of today is very intelligent and will quickly see through an insincere attempt to become involved in their life.

Teenage Years

The final bracket we will discuss in association with adolescent problems is the teenage years. This category reaches to the age of 19 even though an 18 and 19 year old are considered adults, they are still teenagers. We mentioned previously that preteens already believe that they know more than their parent’s. This fact is multiplied by those in their teenage years. Very few parent’s who haven’t already developed a true relationship with their preteen or early teen, will not be able to develop a relationship with their teenager. The teenager has spent the last 15-17 years in the same environment “doing what they do”, and “acting like they act”. It will be nearly impossible for a parent to disrupt the cycle or hope to positively affect the unruly child when they reach their teenage years.

We do not mean to sound negative or like there is no hope. The reality is there are parents that have been able to break the barrier, and change the relationship between themselves and their teen. This is not an easy task and will require some professional help. As previously mentioned it is not as easy task and the parent will sincerely have to want to get close to their child. If the unruly adolescent problems now being manifested in the child’s teenage years are to be changed, there may have to be some separation. Many parents have found help by sending their child to a boarding school for troubled teens. These programs can help the parent gain control of the situation and set specific ground rules for the child’s return home. If the parent sincerely wants to help, they will have to make changes in their life also.