- NEWSDAY.CO.TT - A la Une - 16/08/2024 05:15

Teaching consistency to teens

Dr Asha Pemberton teenhealth.tt@gmail.com AS THE world winds down from the pomp, glory and excitement of the Olympic Games, media outlets are littered with reviews and opinions from commentators and supporters. Regardless of medal counts or outcomes, when we consider such high-level athletic performances, important teachable moments arise. An important one is the value of consistency. No one achieves the heights of their potential, to even gain access to a global field of play, without sustained and consistent efforts. Consistency is a vital skill that helps tweens, teens navigate the challenges of maturation and life. It fosters responsibility, builds trust and promotes good habits. Teaching consistency gives young people a framework for approaching tasks with determination and reliability, which can lead to greater success in sport, academics, creative pursuits and personal life. The first parenting approach involves starting with communicating clear, realistic expectations for behaviour and responsibilities. Parent-teen conflict largely arises from a mismatch between reality and expectations. When young people are simply unaware of what is expected of them, or even how to be consistent, they continually disappoint their parents. Explain to teens what is required of them in various areas of their life, including schoolwork, chores and social interactions. By knowing what is expected, they are more likely to meet them consistently. These expectations should be aligned to their ages, developmental stages and capabilities so that targets set are reasonable and attainable. Time management and structure are part of the foundation of consistent effort and success. Young people will require strategies and support from their parents, particularly if their personalities do not naturally lend themselves to being organised. By developing daily routines, young people develop a sense of consistency. This can be done even now, during vacation time. Although young people are enjoying downtime, they should still have a semblance of order to their days. Encourage teens to set aside specific times for light revision, household contributions, social and leisure activities. Routines provide a structured environment where they can thrive and understand the importance of following through on commitments. Parents must also play the part and walk the talk. Teens will model the behaviour they observe in adults around them. Demonstrate consistency in your own life by following through on your commitments and adhering to established routines. In times when parents are less successful, young people also learn from honest recollections of moments when things did not go well, so that in turn they gain from untoward outcomes. Engage teens in conversations about the value of follow-through. Young people generally connect with stories and real-life experiences and parents will certainly be able to recall moments when missed deadlines or lost opportunities occurred due to lack of following-up or tenacity. Finally, parents are to be reminded that skills such as consistency build and grow over time. Adolescents are navigating multiple developmental tasks concurrently. While parents continue to add additional skills to their scaffolding, patience and persistence will be required. The inputs and distractions of modern adolescent life are many. With novel approaches, tailored to the personality and context of young people, the skill of being consistent can be taught and applied to their daily lives. The post Teaching consistency to teens appeared first on Trinidad and Tobago Newsday.