The Stereotypical Idea of Teenagers and Its Impact on Parent-Child Relationships

 The Stereotypical Idea of Teenagers and Its Impact on Parent-Child Relationships

 In contemporary Western culture, teenagers are often portrayed as rebellious, moody, and difficult to manage. This stereotype is so pervasive that it shapes the way parents, educators, and society at large interact with adolescents. The image of the defiant teen is reinforced through media, literature, and even casual conversations, leading to a self-fulfilling prophecy where parents anticipate and thus inadvertently provoke challenging behaviours. This expectation of rebellion and disobedience can strain relationships between parents and their children, creating a divide that becomes harder to bridge as time goes on.

This stereotypical view can lead parents to approach their children with a sense of trepidation and control rather than understanding and support. The expectation of conflict can result in overbearing or excessively lenient parenting styles, both of which can harm the parent-child relationship. 

It is important to remember the prefrontal cortex in the brain, is one of the last parts to mature. This starts to mature and fine tune in the teenage years up to the early 20s. This area is responsible for skills like planning, prioritizing, and making good decisions. Teenage years can be challenging and confusing as they naviage making their own decision in life.

I believe a different approach to parenting teens is needed, one that emphasizes nurturing, understanding, and friendship. While the teens years can lead to new behaviours as they deal with hormones and growing up, parent-child relationship should be built on mutual respect, compassion, and open communication. By the time the child is hitting the teenage years, a parent- child relationship that has been nurtured over the years should have set a strong foundation with good values that will then allow the relationship to start to blossom into friendship. If you start to start to try and set boundaries and limits in the teenage years with no previous foundations, you will be met with resistance and trials.

While no doubt there will be challenging times parenting teens, I would argue that each age has its own challenges and each stage of development needs new strategies and approaches. Forget the stereotypical western portrayal of teens, and grow with your child and be there when they need you.