From childhood to adolescence, what aspects should be made clear for your safety?
Growing means changing, adapting to new scenarios and, of course, taking on new responsibilities. Not only when reaching adults, but also from childhood to adolescence this alteration is appreciated. And not only because at these ages children mature physically and mentally, they also gain autonomy and face new challenges that can put their safety at stake.
From the Department of Health and Human Services of the Government of the United States, a series of tips is offered to overcome these challenges assumed by the teenagers. Social pressure, less vigilance from their parents and other aspects can make young people can not face these situations, so you have to have important talks about the new stage they are going to start.
Stage of changes
Adolescence is change and every new context without living provokes uncertainty. These are some of the elements that most can be seen in these ages:
- They worry more about their physical image, the way the rest see them and the clothes.
- They focus more on themselves, elude parental help.
- They present more mood changes related to hormonal production.
- They receive more influence by their peers than by their parents or teachers.
- Worse attitude with their parents, less love and more detachment.
- Greater stress due to the work load they receive in the new student stage.
All these changes, if not carried out in a good way, can lead to important problems for your security, both physical and emotional. These are some of the problems derived from not knowing how to deal with the situation:
- Present food problems. Feeling that they must comply with the established fees lead, in some cases, to assume risk diets and not at all advisable by nutritionists.
- Feeling sad or depressed when not meeting expectations or not feeling within the group with which they are related.
- Worse school performance derived from these episodes of stress and sadness that cause their absence.
- Risk behaviors related to the desire for social acceptance: consumption of alcohol, tobacco and other practices that should not be present in their age.
How to talk about risks
Given these possible risks, it is always best to inform to prevent. Offer data about the reality that is to come and not gild the pill. Knowing the challenges that are about to come will help the adolescents know how to perform better in these situations:
- Be honest and direct with the children when talking about sensitive topics such as alcohol and expose the effects they face. It is also advisable to show the consequences of a healthy life.
- Talk about what true friendship supposes and how a friend accepts us as we are and does not force us to assume risk behaviors to accompany us.
- Be interested in the day to day school of the children, allow them to vent on those days when not everything went well.
- Encourage them to be autonomous and not get caught by social pressure. If they do not want to participate in activities that they understand can be harmful, it is better not to do so.
- Encourage adolescents to do physical activity and bet on healthier leisure alternatives.
- Limit leisure options in front of screens, prevent them from developing their social facet through the internet.
Damián Montero
