In recent years, much has been said about the "generations gap," and "the riotous students. " Some educators and psychiatrist have emphasized how smart young people are today and how advanced they are. The general attitude is that "puritan morality" and traditional family structure, including obedience of children, are outmoded. Strict parents have been maligned by those who advocate individual freedom and permissiveness.
Society is beginning to reap the fruit of these new emphases. Suicides among youth have increased, gangs of teenagers attacking teachers and refusing to study, alcohol and drug addiction have increased to an alarming level, divorce among young married couples is rising, crime among young people by parents during their childhood, lack of discipline, and failure to be given work responsibilities.
Although many young people are shiftless and delinquent because of the lack of parental guidance, they would welcome a way of life that is stable and purposeful. They have been unable to find such a life in the new structures and attitudes of society. Also, they have not seen in their parents examples of purposeful and successful living.
The responsibility of parents is to help children develop attitudes and characteristics that will enable them to live successfully in society. The foundation must be laid during childhood and built upon during adolescene.
Physical Changes in Puberty
The term puberty "age of mankind" designates the stage when sexual maturity is reached and when the individual becomes capable of producing offsprings. This period is critical for the developing child, who experiences changes in the body appearances and chemistry, disposition, attitudes towards sex and the opposite sex, and child-parent relationships. The stage is noted by the appearance of hair on the body and marked changes in the tonal quality of the voice.
As far back as Aristotle, emotional changes during puberty were noticed. He mentioned that girls become irritable, passionate, ardent, and in need of constant surveillance because of their developing sexual impulses. Primitive tribal people often celebrated the emergence from childhood into maturity with tribal dances and tests of strength, power, and skill. Some tribes conducted for adolescents a familial ritual which emphasized the need for new attitudes towards themselves and their tribe.
A sharp line cannot be drawn between childhood and adolescence, but a period of transition does take place. One is no longer characteristically a child, but neither is he yet an adult. The period of sexual maturing, or puberty, lasts from two to four years. Rapid physical and psychological changes take place. These changes contribute to feelings of inadequacy and insecurity and often to disruptive behavior. The child who learned to cope with his environment in childhood suddenly must make new adjustments because of new feelings, interests, and psychological attitudes.
Indications of Puberty
The beginning of menstruation indicates that a girl's sex organs and secondary sex characteristics have developed to a degree, but are not fully matured at this stage. Development in boys is noticed by nocturnal emissions in which semen is emitted during sleep. This phenomenon is the normal way for the male reproductive organ to rid itself of excessive semen. If boys are not informed about this uncontrollable experience, they may conclude that they are abnormal. These indications of puberty may appear soon after the girl is eleven years old and the boy is twelve to sixteen years old. When boys and girls are between twelve and fourteen years, differences between them are especially marked, with girls normally more mature than boys. Their bodies are larger and more developed, and their behavior is more aggressive and sex conscious.
Areas of Growth and Change
With the changes during puberty comes a period of rapid growth which continues for three or four years. This growth begins for girls between nine and ten years and for boys between eleven and twelve and reaches a peak at about fifteen years. Growth is usually complete by twenty years of age.
As the sexual organs mature, girls may experience headaches, backaches, cramps, abdominal pains, and even vomiting and skin irritation during the early menstrual periods. They feel tired, depressed, and irritable sometimes. The shape of their bodies changes as the pelvic bone enlarges and the hips become wider and more rounded. The breasts begin to develop and pubic hair appears. The skin becomes coarser and thicker and the voice changes from the high-pitched, childish voice to a fuller, more melodious tone, however, the voice change in girls is much less pronounced than in boys. Muscle tissues develop between the ages of twelve and fifteen, giving the arms and legs more definite shape.
In boys, light pubic hair appears between thirteen thirteen and fourteen years, followed by auxiliary facial hair and hair on the arms, legs, and chests.
The skin is coarser and thicker, and the pores become larger. The oil-producing glands (sebaceous) become larger and more active, and a temporary maladjustment in their functioning causes acne. The muscle of the trunk and limbs increase and give shape to them. The voice begins to deepen at about fourteen years and may result in a conspicuous losing of control or breaking of the voice. The male mammary glands may enlarge between the ages of twelve and fourteen years, but after a few weeks the enlargement usually disappears.
The rapid growth and body changes of boys may be accompanied by fatigue and listlessness. At the same time, this growth suggest that they are ready for heavier responsibilities at school and at work. Their fatigue may result in nervousness, irritability, and moodiness. Anemia may appear and the eating habits may be erratic.
Effects of Physical Changes
Parents need to understand the effects of physical changes on their teenagers. Because of physical and emotional changes, they should be treated differently, otherwise, their continued treatment as children will lead to behavioral problems and poor attitudes. A general feeling of wretchedness may cause the early teenager to withdraw from his playmates and quarrel with former friends. The young person who previously never seemed tired as a child seems constantly tired as a teenager. Studies may be neglected and home responsibilities avoided. Rapid physical growth saps his energy and causes him to be careless and inconsistent.
As different parts of the body grow, lack of coordination occurs giving the appearance of awkwardness. The teenager needs time to coordinate the developing muscles and the lengthening bones.
Although he is listless, he is also restless since his interests are changing and he may not have discovered interests that absord his attention. At times, he is disagreeable, uncooperative, and critical of others. His mother often receives his severest criticisms. He may be argumentative and inclined to cause trouble among his friends or brothers and sisters. As he nears the end of puberty, his behavior becomes more mature and settled.
With the maturing of the sex organs, the person is more conscious of sex matters. He compares his own development with others and acquires a new interest in reading books in hopes of gaining information. He may focus attention on his own sex organs and the new sensations which are emerging. As maturity is reached and social adjustments are made, interest will shift from self to the opposite sex. Both boys and girls are very modest during this time of development.
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