Transition in Adolescent Development - Essay Example

Adolescent Development Media has always been sensitive in presenting articles about adolescent development, especially on the transitional period ofthe teenagers. This is common knowledge that children need care and attention from parents in their transitional period as it is an age of metal and physical development. Many researchers have undoubtedly identified the decisive role of parents in moulding the character of their children during this transitional period. When a child is moving from primary to secondary, this is quite sure that he/she is subjected to various kinds of transitions that may affect him/her all through the life time.

Therefore, regarding the parents and the teachers, they should be very vigilant and attentive in observing the transitions occurring to the children, and as such, the study of transition in adolescent development and schooling deserves greater significance. In order to examine adolescence in media, the paper seeks to gather material from Karen Thomas’ online article entitled: 12-14 Year-Olds: Transition in Adolescent Development & Schooling, published on Dec 1, 2010. The article selected for the study clearly evaluates certain aspects concerning the parental role in assuring healthy lifestyles to children.

When analysing the article selected for the study, one can see that the writer was actually focusing on the transitions of the children aged in between 12-14; kids moving from primary to secondary school. Though the article was actually aimed at parents of this age group, anyone would get valuable details regarding this topic. The author has arranged this topic under various headings to help support his study. The article begins by inviting one’s attention to the common problem with regard to the parents, that is, “Parents of 12-14 year-olds are likely to decrease their involvement in their child's school life on a day-to-day basis than previously once secondary school begins” (Thomas 2010).

The author identifies the cause of this problem when describing it as the changing priorities of the teenagers. During this period, the adolescents give due importance to their friends rather than their parents, which, for some parents, may not be easily adjustable. Here one can see that the author has thoroughly studied this topic. The article identifies that adolescent children attempts self-discovery which may lead them to self-confidence. They dislike criticisms to their failings and seek the support of their parents in their achievements.

The article identifies that “Discovering new abilities and interests helps raise the self-esteem of 12-14 year-olds” (Thomas 2010). Considering this observation, one can see that the article has also given due importance to the psychological development of the adolescents. This is very clear when the article further identifies that “Secondary school places new kinds of work pressures on young people which may bring stress and competitiveness to the forefront. It may stir up fears of failure, or instill curiosity in new interests which could fuel, broaden, and in part, shape their developing personalities” (Thomas 2010).

In such a critical juncture, parents have to protect children and should create a feeling of security in them. This article also conforms parents the reality that separation is inevitable, and as such, parents have to realise the adolescent’s emotions, thoughts, plans and hopes. Parents should be aware of their important role in the separation and should never give up their child in such critical situation. Parents should embolden their children to seek answers to the life’s big questions.

This may help the child in the search of identity and successfully overcome the challenging period. The analysis of the article leads one to the inference that the author has attempted to think and act through the perspectives of children as well as parents. The article has clearly brought out the psychological changes and problems adolescents and their parents have to face. It is the awareness of the author in child psychology makes him instructing parents to adjust with the transitions of the adolescents.

Here the article narrates psychological factors like the changing priorities of the adolescents, self discovery and self-confidence of the 12-14 year-old adolescent, the self-absorbed mentality adolescent, and the key roles of the parents in separation and helping adolescents to seek answers to the big life questions. The article has been supported with a fine research which enables the author to comment authentically about transition of adolescent development and schooling. Though one cannot find the author presenting the findings of a research, one is quite sure that the author has a deep knowledge and understanding in the topic.

The systematic arrangement of the article, supported with subheadings, well exemplifies this fact. To conclude, one can infer that media coverage of the adolescent can bring tremendous changes in the parent child relationship. The selected article has covered certain factors concerning adolescent development and schooling. Thus, one can infer that this article is really effective in comprehending various factors that may help parents and children in affirming their relationships. References Thomas, K. (2010). 12-14 Year-Olds:Transition in Adolescent Development & Schooling.

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