Why Quality Parental Time is Important in Adolescence
Prerna Salla
Dealing with teenage is very different today than what it was 10-20 years back. In this story, we'll see how spending quality parental time with kids in their adolescent years can help them in the future.
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The world is a much more dangerous and complicated place to grow up in than it ever was in the past. This makes it more important for parents to spend time with their children, and impart in them values that will help them for life. With strong values and ethics, children find it easier to deal with peer pressure and stress later on.
In the past, when children hit puberty, parents used to stand by them and teach them insights into healthy ways to develop a code of ethics about work, money, family, and friendships.
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Adults imparted values to children, teaching them to think critically about what values would matter in adulthood. Today, teens spend most of their time in school, with extracurricular activities filling their evenings.
By the time they get home, they have time only to eat dinner, study, watch some TV, and go to bed. And with their own busy schedule, parents find it even more difficult to spend quality time with their children.
As a parent, don't unnecessarily blame yourself for not spending 'enough' time with your child. It's not your fault. Your hard work is aimed at securing a safe future for your family. If anyone is to blame, it's society.
Lifestyles are changing with such alarming speed that we have no time to sit by ourselves and reflect on our lives for even a few hours every week. The concept of spending quality time with your child everyday is as good as nonexistent now. Add to this the negative occurrences in society―drugs, crime, and violence.
Children need a strong moral upbringing to stay away from these. Unfortunately, we don't have time today to build that strong a moral system in our kids.
What You Can Do ...
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Adolescence brings new experiences. Your child may struggle with change. Instill values for strength instead of shielding them. Your protection won't last, but these values will. Teach them the joy of overcoming obstacles independently.
Teach by example. Share great stories and introduce him to the world. Discuss leaders and their impact on society. Talk about your own decisions and journey.
If your child needlessly rebels against your rules, don't hesitate to address it. Discipline is essential. This doesn't mean instilling fear, but addressing repeated, intentional mistakes.
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At the same time, talk to him about learning from mistakes; it is one of the most important lessons in life.
Allow him to suffer the consequences of his actions. It will teach him to be responsible for what he does. In future, he will think twice before doing something wrong. Life has its own punishments; the earlier you introduce him to this, the better. He'll learn to take thoughtful decisions.