Our Correspondent
Kohima | April 17
Adolescence is a significant transitional phase from childhood to adulthood, according to a handbook for educating girls on self empowerment ‘Part-I: Parenting and teaching skills for raising teens’ which was made available at the programme.
Brought out by RMSA Nagaland in collaboration with SRCW Nagaland, the handbook aim to aid parents and teachers in better understanding and dealing with adolescents, which is considered one of the most changing stages of the human life.
The handbook stated that adolescents are creative, energetic, and challenging; and guidance and support from parents, grandparents, extended families and mentors would serve as a support system which is important to them.
As adolescents begin to experience a developmental process in physical, cognitive, emotional, social and behavioral changes, some can experience a stressful transition while some may pass through a smooth transition to adulthood. Adolescents need their parents more than ever during this stage of development.
The handbook stated that research shows that positive parent-child relationship results in better response to stress and helps the child to better engage with the world than those children who are raised in a rough environment.
It stated that social media is not all bad for teens; however how they make use of it and how much time they spend on social media could impact their lives.
Stating that study shows that social media increase the level of stress, it stated “ Thus parents should be clear about limits on the usage of social media, or the virtual world, so that they are not too distracted in academics or are missing out on spending quality time with families, friends and communities.”
It stated that creating a positive family environment, incorporate with effective parenting style, keeping the communication line open, nurturing and supporting can help adolescents to be resilient and protect themselves from the risk of developing problems (reproductive, behavioral and mental health) as they navigate from adolescence to adulthood.
“Girls’ education is like sowing the seed to raise the green plant of a charming full grown family which bear fruits,” the handbook stated adding today’s girl will be the mother of tomorrow. Educating adolescent girls may perhaps be the only way to put an end to the seemingly never –ending cycle of issues like dropout, low attendance and low age of marriage and low status of women.
