| Parents are usually the role models for their children. | | | | teenager is a cry for help and professional help should |
| This general perception may change on the child | | | | be sought immediately. |
| attaining adolescence. Hormonal and behavioral | | | | A troubled teen gets into habits that endanger the |
| changes in children will require changed parental | | | | life and mental balance of the teen. Parents should |
| attitudes. When the teen's troubles increase parental | | | | endeavor to bring this balance back by helping the |
| intervention is needed and when all efforts fail | | | | teen themselves or by consulting social workers or |
| professional help is required. | | | | teen psychology experts. Parents need to keep track |
| Some teenagers sail into adulthood with no behavioral | | | | of their teen's activities within reason. Parents should |
| problems. Others, however have changed attitudes | | | | set down discipline rules that are not too harsh or |
| and behavior problems. Parents should monitor the | | | | too lenient. Disciplining is a part of loving and imparting |
| changed behavior of their children and take | | | | values and sensible rules to a teen will save the teen |
| appropriate steps. The signs of changed behavior | | | | from life threatening consequences. |
| include rebelliousness, defiance, unusual withdrawn | | | | Parental intervention is the beneficial first step to |
| behavior, violent behavior, substance abuse, addiction | | | | solve the troubles of an adolescent. Parents should |
| and compulsive obsessions like obsessions with body | | | | spare no effort in correcting the behavioral problems |
| image. Teens go with a group of friends to whom | | | | of teens. If parents are unable to reform the child |
| their parents are not introduced. They become | | | | themselves, they should seek professional help. If |
| sneaky and hide aspects of their life from their | | | | professionals are not able to solve the problem, |
| parents. They withdraw from family and family | | | | teenagers should be sent to special schools or |
| activities. Some teens show signs of psychological | | | | programs where living and working with other |
| problems like depression and anxiety. | | | | troubled teens will help them to learn the values of |
| Once teenage troubles are detected by parents, | | | | discipline and leading a balanced lifestyle. |
| parents must take steps to solve the problem early | | | | Parents should never shy away from seeking the |
| and wean the teen from their troubles. Gentle non | | | | help of professionals. These professionals are trained |
| confrontational instruction will help to teach teens to | | | | in dealing with teenage troubles. Physicians, therapists |
| lead responsible lives. Parents should listen to teens | | | | and counsellors are well versed in dealing with teens. |
| and be willing to act as consultants when the teen | | | | Parents should be open minded and learn from these |
| needs help. This is no time to play dictator. A | | | | professionals ways by which the family can work |
| dictatorial attitude will evoke a rebellious response | | | | towards helping the troubled teen. |
| and push the teen deeper in trouble. Parents should | | | | The primary institution where teenage issues can be |
| not trust the teen completely and if the teen does a | | | | resolved is the family and when a teen shows signs |
| rash act, parents should not hide behind a screen of | | | | of trouble, family should make every effort to turn |
| disbelief. They should realize that the act of the | | | | the life of the teen around. |