Preparing for Adolescence
Although the change from childhood to adolescence is a big transition, it does not have to be painful and straining for you and your child. You can help your child in this time through proactivity and positivity.
Preparing Your Child for Adolescence
“Enjoy ‘em now, because they will drive you crazy when they are teenagers!” That is the warning parents of preteens often hear. The implication: Teen years will be excruciatingly and unavoidably rough for everyone concerned. Obviously, you and your preteen are in for a lot of change, but turmoil is not inevitable. You have the opportunity — before the cataclysmic transition from childhood to adulthood begins — to intentionally navigate your son or daughter through that change in a proactive and positive way.
The best way to prepare your child for adolescence is for you to set the stage — for a mom and her daughter or a father and his son or a single parent and either sex to spend time together dedicated to giving their pre-adolescent the framework for what is coming. The best hope for a good outcome is when you, the parent, are the one to explain what it means and how to make the most of this vital time in life. Here’s a quick guide to the when, what, and how of that time together.
WHEN
Often, parents are concerned that they will overwhelm their preteen or encourage premature curiosity if they jump the gun in preparing them for adolescence. A greater concern, however, is the likelihood that someone else will beat you to it. Children are typically ready before their parents. Doctors report puberty starting as early as age nine among some girls, and the average age for first exposure to pornography among boys is around the same age. Of course, not all children are the same. That’s why it’s important to spend time with your preteen to get a sense of where they are developmentally and to make the timing of your conversations a matter of prayer. Generally, your prime opportunity will fall somewhere between the ages of nine and twelve.
WHAT
In your conversation about the years ahead, you should plan to address the many areas of change your son or daughter will encounter during their transition to adulthood — in their body, their decision-making, and their relationship with you.
- Body: It is important to frame the physical changes ahead as much more than a plea for sexual abstinence Your son or daughter needs a vision for how the internal and external changes ahead are preparing them for the joys of marriage and the miracle of creating new life.
- Decision-Making: Increasingly, your child will have to make and assume the responsibilities for his or her decisions. As you maintain your overall family values in media choices, individual responsibilities (chores, homework, etc.), and alcohol/drug use, you also need to direct your son or daughter in how to make good decisions for themselves. The first nine chapters of the book of Proverbs can be a helpful guide for teens learning to discern between wisdom and folly.
- Relationship with You: Helping your son or daughter understand and embrace the changes in his or her body while challenging them to bear the responsibility of decision making, will be different from the role you have played before. Instead of communicating like a teacher who teaches the right answer, you should explain to your preteen that over the next decade your role will be progressively changing to that of a coach who is there to guide them in their transition into independent development.
HOW
What is the best way to talk about this with your child? Fortunately, there are several great tools available for parents looking for recommendations on how to be intentional and effective in their efforts.
recommended books
Five Conversations You Must Have with Your Son
By Vicky Courtney
From the cradle to college, tell your sons the truth about life before they believe the culture's lies.
For mothers with boys newborn to eighteen, 5 Conversations You Must Have with Your Son is simply a must-have book. Award-winning youth culture commentator Vicki Courtney helps moms and dads pinpoint and prepare the discussions that should be ongoing in a boy's formative years.
Fully addressing the dynamic social and spiritual issues and other influencers at hand, several chapters are written for each of the conversations, which are:
1. Don't let the culture define you
2. Guard your heart
3. Have a little sex respect
4. Childhood is only for a season
5. You are who you've been becoming
The book also includes questions at the end of each conversation to help facilitate individual or group study.
Five Conversations You Must Have with Your Daughter
By Vicky Courtney
From the cradle to college, tell your daughters the truth about life before they believe the culture’s lies.
For mothers with girls newborn to eighteen, Five Conversations You Must Have with Your Daughter is simply a must-have book. Youth culture commentator Vicki Courtney helps moms pinpoint and prepare the discussions that should be ongoing in their daughters' formative years.
To fully address the dynamic social and spiritual issues and influencers at hand, several chapters are written for each of the conversations, which are:
1. You are more than the sum of your parts
2. Don’t be in such a hurry to grow up
3. Sex is great and worth the wait
4. It’s OK to dream about marriage and motherhood
5. Girls gone wild are a dime a dozen—dare to be virtuous
The book is linked to online bonus features offering invaluable tips on having these conversations across the various stages of development: five and under, six to eleven, twelve and up.
Age of Opportunity: A Biblical Guide to Parenting Teens
By Paul David Tripp
Paul Tripp uncovers the heart issues that affect parents and their teenage children during the often-chaotic adolescent years. With wit, wisdom, humility, and compassion, he shows parents how to seize the countless opportunities to deepen communication and learn and grow with their teens.
So You're About to be a Teenager
By Dennis and Barbara Rainey
Do you ever wish someone would let you in on the secrets? Do you wish someone would tell you about love, dating and sex, why your parents seem so clueless, and why sometimes you just want to hide from people at school? So You're About to Be a Teenager is like a friend who isn't afraid to spill the beans about it all! When brother and sister Samuel and Rebecca Rainey were teenagers (not too long ago), they were curious about kissing, shaving, parties and pornography. They also remember feeling self-conscious, and worried about things they didn't want to talk about with anyone. Now that they've made it through their teen years, they along with their parents, who are finally cool in their eyes will talk about all those things you've been wondering about. They'll even tell you some wild things you didn't know you wanted to know. Right now, you're probably thinking of something that's been worrying your, a question you'd like answered. Maybe you've asked a friend about it, or maybe no one knows what you're dealing with. This book is full of answers. Don't believe it? Keep reading.
Emergency Response Handbook for Parents
By Group Publishing
What do you do when your child is rebellious? Or sexually active? Or suicidal? What if your children are negatively influenced by their friends? Pick up this rapid-response handbook and gain real-life scenarios, practical tips, changes you can make at home, counseling advice, relevant Scripture, and other resources for connecting with your children--and helping them get on the right path.
Raising a Modern Day Knight
By Robert Lewis
What does it mean to be a man? Moreover, how do you as a father instill that reality in your son? By Raising a Modern-Day Knight. The medieval custom of knighthood offers a unique approach to shaping a boy into a strong, godly man. Centuries ago, select boys went through a rigorous, years-long process of clearly defined objectives, goals, and ceremonies—with the hope of achieving knighthood. Along the way, they acquired a boldly masculine vision, an uncompromising code of conduct, and a noble cause in which to invest their lives. They were the heroes of their age. In much the same way, Raising a Modern-Day Knight will show how you, too, can confidently guide your son to the kind of authentic, biblical manhood that can change out world. Complete with ceremony ideas to celebrate accomplishments and ingrain them in the mind of a knight-in-training, this resource is as insightful as it is practical in raising a boy to be a chivalrous, godly man.
Preparing for Adolescence
By Dr. James Dobson
What do you say to an adolescent who's getting ready to enter those turbulent teenage years? Dr. James Dobson, one of America's leading family psychologists, knows how to speak directly and sincerely to today's adolescents about the topics that trouble them most. Topics include avoiding feelings of inferiority, handling peer pressure, drug abuse, puberty, sexual development, menstruation, masturbation, romantic love, overcoming discouragement, sound decision-making, and handling independence.
En Español
Pregunta de los Muchachos Sobre la sexualidad
By Melissa r. Cox
Este recurso sincero está lleno de la información más reciente, ideas prácticas y respuestas apropiadas para la edad a las preguntas que los niños hacen sobre el sexo.
Vale la Pena Esperar
By Tim Stafford
¿Realmente vale la pena esperar cuando se trata del amor y la sexualidad? Descubre cómo mantener viva la ilusión.
Preparemonos para la Adolescencia
By Dr. James Dobson
"Adolescencia." Esta palabra hace que los padres mas valientes temblean - pero no pierden la esperanza! El experto mas confiado de la America puede ayudarte a sobrevivir estos anos dificiles. El les habla del amor, el abismo de la inferioridad, la conformidad en la adolescencia, y la pubertad. Un tratado acerca de la adolescencia escrito tanto para los adolescentes como para sus progenitores.