StopLearnStopLearnThe adolescent stage of development can be a turbulent one because the young people concerned are sensitive and are faced with many challenges which they do not want to admit. They tend to live in their own world and want to be left alone. Adults, parents, teachers and guidance counselors must be patient with them and try to understand them.
Below are some of the challenges facing the adolescents:
(i) Financial problems: some of them come from homes where the parents are poor and cannot afford to meet their needs. At the same time, some rich parents give their children too much money which makes them wasteful.
(ii) Conflicts: Adults, parents, politicians and the society at large do not set good examples for the youths by engaging in recurrent conflicts.
(iii) Crime: They can easily fall into bad gangs and turn to robbery, rape and drugs.
(iv) Unemployment: Many of them are unemployed; therefore, skill acquisition should be emphasized.
(v) Peer pressure: They can be easily influenced by their peers, thus the need to constantly counsel them.
(vi) Poor academic performance: Some of them do not attend school regularly and they cheat during examinations.
(vii) Some are homeless.
(viii) Interest in the opposite sex without caution: Some behave irresponsibly because they lack information on sexual education and such relationship may lead to early pregnancies, HIV/AIDS, venereal diseases, etc.
(ix) Alcoholism: Many adolescents go into drinking because they derive joy in doing so.
Special needs of adolescents include the following:
(i) Food: The adolescents like to eat good food and varieties of food. They will want food to be given to them at the right time and in the appropriate quantity.
(ii) Material needs: They need certain materials (money, clothing items, vehicles, musical and communication equipment) to function well in the society.
(iii) Education: They want to go to school and become educated. They need education in order to be able to acquire a better social status, work to earn a living and contribute to societal development.
(iv) Health: They value their health greatly. Parents and guardians should help them have access to medical facilities.
(v) Technology: They value electronic gadgets, mobile phones and computers.
(vi) Persuasion: They do not like to be forced but want to be pampered and convinced on an issue by their parents or any trusted adults.
EVALUATION
ACTIVITY
Examine your sibling who is an adolescent. What changes can you observe in his/her body, mood and behaviour. Write these changes down
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