Have you ever looked at your teenager and wondered if, for some reason, an unknown hostile being had suddenly taken over their body? I mean, how can such an affectionate, sweet-smelling, cuddly baby suddenly turn into such an angry, hostile child so quickly? Don’t despair. You are not alone.

Many parents and guardians agree that adolescence is possibly the most confusing and conflicted stage of a child’s life. The sheer magnitude of what teenagers have to deal with these days is truly overwhelming. Unfortunately, these problems are not going to go away anytime soon. They can even get worse. So what should we do to help them through this testing stage? In this article, we’ll delve into the world of a typical 21st century teenager, look at some of the issues they face, and see what can be done to make life easier for all of us.

Social problems of the modern adolescent

• Group pressure
It is a known fact that man is a social animal. So are teenagers. They want to be like their friends or celebrities, we all went through that stage in one or the other. Peer pressure could actually bring out positive traits in a child. Depending on who they’re “hanging out” with, they might actually be interested in good activities like sports or crafts.

However, when the influence causes the teen to do, say, or act in a way that they would not normally do, then there could be a problem. It could manifest itself in a drastic change in hairstyle or style of dress, musical tastes, etc. A great danger of peer pressure is the deep desire to be accepted or to impress. When the goal is not achieved and the adolescent is rejected even after trying so hard, a great internal conflict is generated that could last a lifetime. This brings us to the next problem.

• Self-esteem / confidence
Your child may feel that the only way to be accepted into the “group” is to act and look like the “group.” If they are accepted into the group, teens will naturally go to great lengths to stay in it. Sometimes even doing things that they have been specifically raised not to enjoy. On the other hand, not being accepted would make them feel inadequate and unwanted. Feelings of doubt and anger would follow. Suddenly lashing out, wanting to be left alone are some signs of rejection and low self-confidence.

• Cyber ​​bullying
Most adults, including myself, have experienced incidents of bullying at one time or another growing up. It’s almost like a rite of passage for school-age children. Unfortunately, technological advances have made it so sinister that not even the authorities can fully protect teens from it. The ease with which even tweens can access the Internet is frightening. Social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace have made it possible for people who have significant problems in their personal lives to take advantage of young people. Many of these online predators are sometimes decades older than the children they prey on. The internet gives them the perfect opportunity to mask their true identities and many times they get away with these disgusting attacks on teenagers.

• Violence in the media and games
I cringe when I see the kind of games and cartoons available these days. Blood flows freely everywhere and body parts read on the floors. There seems to be no escape, as even the news shows violence on TV. Cartoons that used to be innocent and clean have become an important avenue for depicting acts of violence and beheading. Popular games hardly have a scene without an act of violence from the other. Children are encouraged to take an active part and win by using whatever means are available to “kill” their opponents. You will soon discover that even while playing with each other, teenage siblings or friends often use violent phrases they learned from these media to communicate. They even perform these acts on house pets much to the surprise of their parents. The message being conveyed seems to be “kill, injure and maim” and fast too!

• sexual stress
Sex is everywhere you look and trust me, teens are looking whether they want to or not. The pressure to get rid of her virginity is incredible. Many parents are still uncomfortable having “the talk” with their teens. Children have no choice but to turn to their friends for answers. Too many then end up getting involved in something they really aren’t ready for. It’s no wonder that teen pregnancies and STDs are steadily on the rise each year.

• Substance and alcohol abuse
Let’s be honest. Teenagers want to look good. A cigarette stick, a shot of alcohol and a dose of pills are no longer so difficult to obtain and the age of users is getting younger. Addiction follows quickly. Now it is rare to find a teenager who has not yet tried at least one of these substances. This is a particularly unpleasant and life-threatening hazard if not dealt with quickly.

So what do we do and how can we protect these precious lives in our care?

• Don’t blame yourself if your teen has gotten caught up in negative habits.

• Yelling, screaming, crying, and other outbursts of emotion will not help and will most likely drive the child away from you. Learn to speak to them in a calm and gentle tone. It’s hard when you’re screaming inside, but it works.

• Take the time to understand what your child is feeling, make him realize that you are there for him and always will be, NO MATTER WHAT.

• From a very young age, encourage your children to express their opinions and make small decisions around the house. This helps boost your self-esteem.

• Talk to them about sex as soon as they start asking questions about male and female body parts. Let them know in detail the implications of sex as they grow older.

• Install parental control measures in your access to the Internet and Television.

• Encourage them to bring their friends home. Interact with your friends without judging.

• Treat them with respect.

This article is not exhaustive. There are still many things that teenagers deal with, but with a little care and understanding on our part, we can greatly reduce the effects on them.