Radio Commentary
Young children tend to accept the
values of their parents without question. They have been exposed to few
alternatives and rely on their parents for what is right and wrong.
As children
grow older, however, they begin to think about a variety of options and they
are apt to question the values around them. This is a normal process almost all
teens will go through in eventually making those values their own.
The act of questioning should not
be viewed as a challenge to the beliefs of the parents. Rather, it is a normal
means of consolidating a set of values that will become incorporated into the
practices of a lifetime.
Friends are
important in this process as young people compare alternatives. Teenagers need
reactions, and their fellow teens give honest opinions and listen. Friends
provide sympathetic eyes and ears as they all try new roles and entertain new
ideas.
The key for
parents is to shore up their teen’s self-confidence and not over-react to ideas
that might be floated out just for effect.
Teens who
are unsure of themselves, and want to be accepted, are more likely to give in
to negative peer pressure. They want to be liked and they want their ideas
approved of. They will seek that approval wherever they can find it.
Teens who have plenty of confidence
will be affected by input from their friends but are less likely to be
dominated by it. They have a sense of inner strength and self–worth that they
will not want to jeopardize.
So be sure
to show your teens you love and respect them. Knowing they can count on you
helps with their decision-making, and helps keep them grounded in the values of
the family unit.
