BY LEULSEGED WORKU
Adolescences is a transition period wherein an individual undergoes change from childhood to adulthood. It is a period both physical and psychological change takes place in an individual’s life cycle. For this reason, shaping teenagers is not all about shaping the character of an individual teenager; but it is also saving the whole country. Scholars agree that understanding teenager` demands and proper handling of their character has a key role in shaping their future. Parents who fail to understand the biological change and psychological makeup of their teenage children; tend to have a hard time in controlling their teenage children. And those parents who knew the secret of the characters and biological changes of their children will create a responsible generation.
Recently, a book entitled ‘Mewetacha, keras megenagna’, meaning “a ladder to find the self” was inaugurated here in Addis Ababa. The book was written targeting ways to understand, mentor and guide teenagers. The author, Tigest Tesfaye, is the founder and director of a local organization called the ‘Spark Valley’ that works focusing on teenagers and university students.
According to her, properly managing teenagers’ character should not be done in a business as usual way. It needs coordinated efforts of parents, family members, teachers and other stakeholders. “I have more than twenty years of experience coaching, mentoring and teaching teenagers and university students. My two decade experiences in these areas have taught me ways of handling and coaching teenagers in a systematic way. The book I wrote and inaugurated recently focuses on this area. It is not particularly targeted at teenagers. It also considers adults to take responsibility when they deal with teenagers.”
Biological and cultural factors as well as peer group interactions have a direct impact on the behaviors of teenagers. Handling internal and external factors needs a scientific and cultural approach. “Several teenagers are victims of their surroundings. This could be resulted from their exposure to the internet, peer pressure or other biological factors. Cultural intermix is one factor which is affecting the behavior of teenagers. “Our culture is getting diffused with the culture of others. This is the result of post-modernism where children are growing attached to the internet and experiencing
intermixed cultures. The way this new generation grows up is totally different from ours. The previous generation which was not exposed to excessive use of the internet had a relative advantage to retain the cultural values and social norms. However, this generation is exposed to alien cultures and value systems.” As to Tigist, modern lifestyle and parenting have its own impact on the behavior of teenagers. Most parents are busy these days. For that reason, either they leave their children with a babysitter or put them in daycare centers.
This will loosen the strong parent-child bond. Hence, by the time pre-teen children join teenage years, it will be difficult for parents to control their children. During this time, children’s bodies, emotions and ideas about themselves develop and change at different speeds and times. According to her, like that of parenting the education system and the curriculum of a given country have also a significant impact to shape the behavior of teenagers.
Teachers’ performance, competence and ability to understand the psychological and physical change of their teenage students has also significant role in shaping the future of teenagers. What is more, absence of a playground or other means to vent out teenagers` energy and unable to associate freely with friends has a negative impact in the future of teenagers. “They are at ‘fire-stage’ and this fire must be vent out in one way or another. The identity issue and the new psychological and physical transformation propel them to try something new. This is a period they (teenagers) need more attention and ask critical questions. That is why parents, teachers and other family members need to understand, mentor and guide them.”
The external forces: the social media, movies they watch and others will also contribute their share in exacerbating the fire within them. It is at this time parents, families and teachers should take all the necessary cautions. Whenever their teenage children pass through such a transitional period, they should be careful how to handle their children, she remarked.
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SUNDAY EDITION 14 MAY 2023
