Week 12 - Chapter 17

Adolescents are more strongly influenced by their peers than any other age group. The influence can be seen in dress, speech, etc., as well as in dangerous behaviors such as drug use. In 3-6 sentences, discuss appropriate ways that parents can monitor, foster, restrict, or influence their teenager's peer relationships.

In Children, Santrock says that, "the worlds of parents and peers are coordinated and connected, not uncoordinated and disconnected."  In order for parents to understand that the changes their adolescent is going through, they must understand that secure attachment plays a role on how their child interacts with their peers.  Studies show that the degree of parent involvement in a youth's life has consequences that affect attachment to the parent.  This level of attachment is important when limits need to be set and enforced.  It is also important when a parent needs to set restrictions.  To foster growth between a parent and adolescent parents need to understand that their teen will challenge their wishes, but that this process is natural.  The degree to which an adolescent "rebels" can be increased or decreased based on the amount of parental involvement (Santrock, pp547-550)

     Appropriate ways parents can monitor their teen are to set reasonable limits in how long they can stay out, how long they can work, and how long they have for their friends.  I think that a teen needs to learn that if they want something, something must be given up.  For instance, my hypothetical teen wants to go to the dance on Friday night, however on Saturday morning I have scheduled to do the spring yard work.  I don't want my teen staying out all night, but at the same time I don't want to restrict their freedom too much.  In the end I compromise and allow them to go as long as they help out in the yard by 1000 (I'm a late sleeper.)  My teen and I could even discuss a reasonable time to start.  That's not to say that they get to determine when to come home at night either.  I think there are hard-fast "you better be home by..." times.  In today's age of technology I would help to monitor my teens whereabouts with cell phones.  I would come to a consensus with my teen that I would pay for it as long as he/she kept in touch if anything were to happen, no matter what.  There are so many things parents can do to help foster their teens independence, monitor, and/or restrict their teens time spent with friends.  In the end I think that the groundwork has do be done before adolescence.  A parent needs to grow their child to be thoughtful or others and be able to do the right thing.  Parents must instill a certain level of civic responsibility and integrity.  I wish all parents good luck, I know I'll need it when my daughter gets to her teenage years.

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