Meeting The Needs Of Adolescents 1955

[Music] parents today are faced with the task of preparing young people for a future of which no one can be quite sure thoughtful Parents try to help children develop sound personalities so they will adjust themselves easily to life take the Wilson family Janet is 17 Tom is 14 Tom and Janet are typical teenagers no better and no worse than the average adolescents can't be treated as children their needs are different during childhood certain needs were met in the home and in school but as the child becomes a teenager he's faced with a whole new set of problems which he has to work out for himself there have been great physical changes to which he must adjust his contact with the world outside has taken on a new aspect as well as meeting many more people he's expected to get long better with them honey you won't forget to put the rubbish out this morning for me will you please yeah okay and there's a listing on the table will you just pick it up and stop at the grocers on the way down he no longer has the Carefree and irresponsible attitude of a child towards his parents and Friends Mrs Wilson can help Tom in the process of growing up if she realizes he has the same needs as the child for affection care and guidance but the way in which these needs are met should change as the situation changes first there are certain basic physical needs boys and girls at this age should have plenty of fresh air during these years of rapid growth exercise is necessary for full development of Bones muscles and nerves organized games meet this need but they also provide much more than exercise team play encourages cooperation loyalty and the spirit of fair play competition with others of his own age teaches good sportsmanship and helps the teenager to appraise himself in relation to others the teenager's food intake is tremendous Mrs Wilson knows that Tom and Janet eat all kinds of odd things between meals but she takes care to see that at regular meal times each day's menu provides a balanced diet and adolescents need a great deal of rest although they may seem physically mature they are still growing quickly and burning up energy they should have good facilities for Sleep privacy quiet and fresh air often they need guidance to make sure that they use these facilities to Advantage by going to bed at an hour that will ensure sufficient sleep and there are definite mental needs during adolescence Tom's mind is developing rapidly and he needs to exercise his new ability to think he reads more and his choice of reading matter is more serious he watches movies and television more critically he has his own theories about how the character should behave talks with his friends have become less aimless than they were in childhood they discuss many everyday topics even argue while they may seem dogmatic and overconfident they really use these discussions to work out their own ideas more clearly a good educational program keeps Pace with this rapid development because Educators know that if the teenager ever loses interest in study it's difficult to revive that interest therefore the curriculum should be difficult enough to provide a challenge to the students interest it should also encourage the development of initiative and the ability to make decisions new ideas should be introduced to stimulate further mental development visual materials and modern methods go a long way toward providing this stimulus Janet is reaching the end of high school a decision on her future career is becoming a real issue she has a pretty clear idea that she wants to be a nurse but practical and sympathetic advice from The Vocational counselor helps her to decide on courses and look at the future realistically but education has two sides one is the direct instruction that is given in school and at home the other is Less Direct I understand all that but if a Jew isn't going to be accepted now Lord and I don't want any part of it I'm sorry dick I just can't see it that way will you Mar path that was the Secretary of the lodge you know Tom some people have quear ideas of democracy the teenager's attitude to life and to other people is strongly influenced by what they observe and over here why can't he be on the team plays balls good you do doesn't he he's got good grades you have too what do color Got to Do with It the spiritual needs of the Adolescent are not always easy to recognize Tom feels the need of a faith that means something to him new acquaintance with science and knowledge of other religions and a desire to think for himself have led him to question beliefs readily accepted during childhood yeah but how do we know for sure about adaman there wasn't anybody else alive then who was n writing for thousands of years was all written down much later by some guy maybe he just made it all up whether or not he feels free to question his parents' beliefs depends on the kind of religious training he had during childhood Tom's early training was not dogmatic now his doubt is a result of conflict between childhood concepts of religion and his adolescent concepts of the world to Tom doubt does not mean rejection of all his beliefs but adjustment of his beliefs to fit in with his new understanding of Life discussion with other boys helps Tom in this adjustment but in addition he also needs sympathetic guidance from a religious adviser Janet has passed through this stage of Rel religious doubt and Awakening after friendly discussion with her parents she has adjusted her childhood beliefs so that they will satisfy her need for a Faith with real meaning in adult life then there are the social needs of the teenager Mrs Wilson recognizes the importance to Tom and Janet of the companionship of other teenagers and so she is glad when Janet wants to have informal parties at home she'd rather have it that way than have Janet out at a public dance hall or in a parked car somewhere the food will be simple but there'll be lots of it there'll be some of the very latest [Music] records and enough room for dancing there's room too for the inevitable horse play the silly games and the enthusiastic Community singing and best of all Mother and Dad are going to a [Music] movie Tom is not interested in parties and dancing but he does like to get together with boys of his own age it's easier for younger teenagers if Recreation is organized for them they haven't yet had enough experience to do it for themselves Tom is fortunate that he lives in a Community Wide Awake to the needs of its youth it could be a boy club a church group or a 4 Club Tom enjoys getting together with A Wider Circle of Friends the feeling of belonging and young adolescents have a real need to belong once they do belong the group leader can provide guidance in cultivating useful interests and activities adolescents need Rich creative experience especially during the years of physical change besides belonging to the scouts Tom is a member of the School drama club he feels too shy to act but he likes working on the sets he gets real satisfaction out of this constructive activity along with other young people and it's a chance to get to know the girls outside school hours without having to ask for a date besides meeting social and emotional needs of of its members the drama club has a great educational and cultural value Janet who enjoys organized Recreation 2 is Chairman of the school dance committee older teenagers like to do their own organizing and by setting up a committee and handling all the arrangements themselves they not only make sure the party will be the way they want it but they also gain valuable experience in cooperation and Leadership and and they learned something about the responsibility of the leaders to the group and the group to the community such parties provide a healthy relaxation of the tension that is common during the teen years dancing provides an easy way of getting to know members of the opposite sex and builds up self-confidence Janet and her friends need to get together often the boys need girls and the girls need boys and they need special Pals within the [Music] crowd they like to have frequent intimate conversations with these friends to give them reassurance of [Music] friendship [Music] the approval of their own group and especially of members of the opposite sex is important to their [Music] self-esteem and finally the emotional need needs of the Adolescent besides Janet's need for approval by her friends there are two important needs that must be met at Home Independence and acceptance I'm going to bed Harry leave the door unlocked for Janet I hate to go to bed while she's still out but she has to grow up sometime I guess where was she going tonight to the school dance with Jim she said she'd be home at 1:00 and she usually comes in when she says she will Mrs Wilson realizes that Janet wants to be free to to make her own decision about the time she'll be home but Janet subconsciously feels more secure if her mother is concerned about her staying out late she wants to be grown up and independent and yet she's not sure enough of her own judgment to accept full responsibility for all her [Music] actions [Music] [Music] mom you awake Yes [Music] dear [Music] oh Mom I hit a wonderful time did you dear oh Jim is just gorgeous I guess he must be he wanted me to go to Nicks after the dance I told him it was too late I'm glad you did dear it is pretty late night Mom oh he's wonderful good night dear good night man Janet seems to need approval for everything she does and because her mother has always been friendly and understanding she confides in her as her daughter grows up Mrs Wilson is constantly revising her attitude she recognizes Janet's need for association with boys and she sees her need for Independence the guidance and discipline of childhood have been replaced by Guidance and and trust and because of this sympathetic attitude and gradual giving over of responsibility Janet has been able to behave in a normal 17-year-old way she's been able to enjoy friendship with boys and yet has not betrayed her mother's [Music] Trust now let's see again how the basic needs of adolescents are met the teenager life should be planned to meet all the requirements for good physical health both at home and at school the Adolescent should have enough mental stimulation to bring about the fullest development of his mind teenagers should be encouraged to solve their religious doubts in a way that gives them a faith for life they need healthy and informal get togethers with others of their own age but perhaps the greatest emotional need of both Tom and Janet is the need for acceptance within the family group research has proved that the strongest influence for good in teenage behavior is still the home most parents and most teenagers are busy but they do have some time together and it's not the quantity of time together but the quality that counts good morning good morning Dad morning morning you have a good time last night jenet oh I sure did oh I sure did now Tom your sister is under the influence of love this morning please be a little more sympathetic oh just me don't mind him Jan he'll learn home should be a place where you can say what you think but it's taken good naturedly I'm not where everyday problems of growth are recognized as normal and not fussed over hi folks oh hello Butch come on in I am in you like some breakfast Butch thanks M wlson I just had mine well pull up a chair home should be a place where friends are welcome parents who honestly enjoy family life and show it set an example of healthy happy living by offering understanding guidance gradual Independence and acceptance within the family group Mr and Mrs Wilson are helping their teenage son and daughter to build sound personalities for whatever ever the future may [Music] bring