We all remember those years, and most would agree that we wouldn’t want to have to go back and relive our adolescence. The teen years are a difficult transitional period. Between dealing with the physical and developmental challenges of the teen years, it’s no wonder these can be the most tumultuous years of life. Sure, kids have a lot of ‘stuff’ – more than at any other time in history, but sometimes it is more than they are equipped to manage.
Middle school and high school students live under intense pressure to succeed. The pressure to excel in school is fueled by the competition for college scholarship money, and with the addition of AP classes to most school curriculums, it can often take a grade point average above 4.0 to even be admitted into some state universities. The pressure is intense and the emotional stress and strain often takes a toll on them.
As a parent or teen leader, it is important to educate yourself so that you will be able to identify the difference between normal developmental challenges and situations that require intervention, either by yourself or a professional. Adolescence can be the most enjoyable time in a teen’s life. By becoming knowledgeable about the challenges teens face, you can help them have a happy, healthy adolescence and launch successfully into adulthood.
Book Recommendations
Hurt: The Inside World of Today’s Teenagers by Chap Clark
Preparing for Adolescence: How to Survive the Coming Years of Change by James Dobson
Mom, I Hate My Life: Becoming Your Daughter’s Ally Through the Emotional Ups and Downs of Adolescence by Sharon Hersh
Parenting Today’s Adolescent by Dennis and Barbara Rainey
A Chicken’s Guide to Talking Turkey with Your Kids About Sex by Kevin Leman and Kathy Flores Bell
Logged On and Tuned Out: A Non-Techie’s Guide to Parenting a Tech-Savvy Generation by Vicki Courtney
I Want to Talk with My Teen About Guy Stuff by David Olshine
Running the Rapids by Kevin Leman
Why Do They Act That Way? A Survival Guide to the Adolescent Brain for You and Your Teen by David Walsh
The Power of a Praying Parent by Stormie Omartian
Preparing Your Son for Every Man’s Battle by Stephen Arterburn
Preparing Your Daughter for Every Womans’ Battle by Shannon Ethridge
Every Young Man's Battle : Strategies for Victory in the Real World of Sexual Temptation by Stephen Arterburn
Every Young Woman's Battle: Guarding Your Mind, Heart, and Body in a Sex-Saturated World by Shannon Ethridge