Growing behavioural changes in teenagers
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Growing behavioural changes in teenagers

Teachers, peers, and friends play an important part in creating a safe space

Growing behavioural changes in teenagers

With sedentary lifestyles, social media engagement, and stress, it appears that teenagers are becoming more cut off and isolated from their parents in particular and society in general. There is a huge generation gap that has developed over time. It becomes difficult to know what their wards are going through for parents and loved ones as they seldom communicate. These changing patterns can invite danger.

Cases of children running away from family, committing suicide or cases of juvenile delinquency have become disturbingly common. Recently, a teenage student left her home in Gaur City 2, Greater Noida West. Fortunately, she returned a couple of days later, but the episode did ring a bell, as it is something that is becoming unnervingly common among the middle and upper-middle-class residential colonies.

CitySpidey reached out to Shipra Lamba, a psychologist, to know more about developing behavioural changes in children. She says, "Each phase in life comes with distinct struggles, triumphs, expectations from self as well as others. While it may also be a very difficult and unpleasant period for some, adolescence can be a tremendously inspiring, enlightening, and liberating stage for many. Our cognitive skills connected to thinking, judging, and planning are still maturing during this period. This age range is neither fully an adult nor a youngster."

Shipra Lamba says that the influence of media, gaming culture, nuclear families, and competitive environments in educational institutes have brought their own risks with advantages. It is important that parents try to create a balance between setting rules and keeping an open mind keeping in mind the present environment and how their child is trying to make a place for themselves in this world.

Shipra highlights that it is mandatory to understand the role of environmental factors, family dynamics, and the personality of the child to understand their behaviour. Considering the environmental influences: this age group wants to belong, looks for role models, and may choose to indulge in behaviours that may seem to be appealing and helpful in achieving others’ approval. She emphasizes that there must be a balance between how we treat them and what we expect from these young minds.

She also informs that the most common complaint that she hears from her clients of this age group is that nobody understands them. This requires work from parents and the young person. Here, the young person too must try to understand the parents’ perception with an open mind and communicate without assuming that they would not be understood.

Talking about creating a healthy safe environment for teenagers, she mentions that teachers, peers, and friends play an important part. Here, the sensitive adolescent can experiment, learn and feel accepted. Support, understanding, forgiveness, acceptance, and heart-to-heart talk from parents or guardians can really turn the tables for struggling young people.

CitySpidey also talked to some residents from Noida and Greater Noida West to know their views on the topic.

Shailender Chauhan, General secretary of Challengers Group Trust in Noida, says,

"A parent is the greatest teacher for a child, but the growing gap between them has affected children's minds. This can lead to children taking wrong decisions and suffering from anxiety. I think parents must dedicate time to their teenage children."

Doctor Ekta Bhardwaj, a resident of Mahagun Mascot Crossing Republik, and principal of H.L.M Girls college says,

"Social media addiction have left a very negative impact on teenage minds. They lead sedentary lives and feel they know everything. They feel that they do not need to listen to anyone. They argue that they can achieve everything through the internet."

She adds, "Parents are responsible too as they start treating children with more gadgets instead of giving them their time."

Shipra Gupta, a teacher from Greater Noida West, says,

"Social Media is leading to anger in children. They perform various activities learning through social media. Everyone, we, as a society, are responsible for this. The generation gap can be overcome by sharing an understanding each other, and truly listening. Basic virtues such as ethics and integrity should be taught to children. We must lead by example and teach them right and wrong."