Adapted by Tim Jahn, Human Ecology Specialist, from an article by Stephen Small, Professor of Human Development and Family Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, on myparenthetical.com.
In many ways, being a teenager today is like being a teenager in any era. Teens still worry about their appearance, their future and what their friends think. But there are many changes that make being a teen today very different from the past.
Adolescence is getting longer.
The traditional teen ages of 13-19 are a thing of the past. Children start looking and behaving like teens at younger ages and most young adults do not become financially independent until well into their 20’s. What was once a relatively short stage of life has nearly doubled.
Youth have more choices than ever before.
Youth today have many more options and freedoms than previous generations. Now both young men and women have more choices when it comes to relationships, lifestyles, what to buy and even where they live.
The pace of change is increasing exponentially.
In the past 30 years alone, we have seen major transformations in science, technology, media, work, family life, the economy and culture.
The world is getting smaller.
Global media, new technology and a world economy have made the world feel a smaller place and young people more connected to it than ever.
Parents can help young people succeed in this brave new world by:
- Fostering life-long learning and openness to opportunities for change and growth
- Developing the ability to cope with uncertainty and the capacity to remain calm in the midst of change
- Cultivating the capability to understand and respect others with differing values and beliefs
- Teaching the skills to set priorities, solve problems and make wise choices in the marketplace, at work, school and in their personal lives
Tim Jahn is a Human Ecology Specialist with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County’s Family Health and Wellness Program. He can be reached at 631-727-7850 ext. 331 or at tcj2@cornell.edu.