Self-Esteem: "The Teen Challenge"

The adolescence stage is a critical period of Life-Span Development. Teens are going through the transitional phase between childhood and adulthood. During this stage in development, more time is spent outside of the family in pursuit of identity and independence. The thought process is more logical and idealistic. Self-esteem is very important in determining the success level of a teen throughout the adolescence stage of development. Many influences affect a teen’s view on society and mold their self-perception.
The level of self-esteem and success of a child starts at home. Many parents don’t realize the effect they have on their child’s self-esteem and success as an individual. It’s not solely up to the teachers, friends, coaches, and neighbors to give your child the mental and emotional foundation he/she needs. Those very influences should be screened by parents in relation to their children. Each of these associates serves an intricate purpose of how a child views society. The number one influence in a child’s life is their parent. A parent is responsible for protecting, nurturing, encouraging and discipline. All of these factors contribute to the level of self-esteem a child will develop.
Children need parental guidance throughout their tot to teen years. A parent who is absent due to work schedule or other form of separation is not able to guide or support their child mentally or emotionally. For example, a Mother who tells her child not to take part in wrong doings, but is not present to involve them in positive activities - cannot expect good results. Teenagers are sometimes too hard on themselves by setting very high and unrealistic standards or goals. They can become very self-critical when they fail to attain these inflated goals.
Having conversation concerning how the child spent his day and displaying interest in his concerns creates a great means to develop trust and security. Every child should know that they can rely on their parent for support. Instead of making negative comments, a child responds better to encouraging words. If he constantly receives negative remarks, he will continue to act in a negative manner as a form of rebellion. Positive remarks and encouragement build a high self-esteem and create a path for success as an adult. If a child does not receive the support at home, he is prone to seek it from outside associations with adults or peers. I’ve witnessed school counselors who are not attentive; teachers who are degrading; and coaches who do not offer encouragement.
Researching self-esteem has enhanced the study of life-span development as it explores the process of gaining independence and identity. Parental support plays a major part in a teen’s mental and emotional development, self-esteem, and goal achievement. Teens will gain independence from building confidence on the inside and presenting confidence on the outside. Independent identity is based on family background, environmental influences, and peer involvement.