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Madeleine Dalton
Professor Jarvis
Life Span Development 1500
March 10, 2015
Unit 5 Essay
QUESTION (Option B: Advice to Parents)
Just one question. How can parents help their teenagers deal with the conflicts of
adolescence?
ANSWER
During adolescence, people undergo many overwhelming changes, both emotionally and
physically. Healthy cognitive development is crucial during the teenage years because
adolescents are able to take on more responsibilities and establish their independence. They learn
by expressing themselves and making mistakes. Its all about experimentation, and learning
about what works and what doesnt. Teens are given countless opportunities to better understand
the function of boundaries, rules, and consequences. Our adolescent years are invaluable because
help shape the individuals we become.
Since adolescence plays a significant role in development, parents must provide the
support needed to help teenagers progress and mature. It becomes imperative that parents lead a
good example for their children, so they can become successful in their adult lives. During the
adolescent stage, kids need to be given the right tools in order to use them for future endeavors.

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Aside from having a strong support system, parents need to establish rules. With set regulations,
teens also need to understand how discipline works.
As for parenting styles, I strongly suggest that parents attempt the authoritative approach.
Characterized by Baumrind as one of the three caregiving styles, authoritative parenting is where
parents set limits and enforce rules but are flexible and listen to their children (Berger 2014 p.
217). Instead of being authority figures, the authoritative approach allows parents to help guide
their children and encourage maturity (217). If parents are able to accomplish this, there will be
much less chance of harming a teens development.
Even though adolescence seems exciting at times, there are many instances where teens
need to deal with certain conflicts. This is when parents need to provide extra support. During
puberty, a teens body image develops, and they begin searching for identity. Defined by Berger,
body image is how a person sees their body (2014 p. 328). Depending on the situation, an
individuals body image has the potential to be positive or negative. A negative self-concept or
body image could be very harmful, and end up causing more problems. Depression, stress, poor
nutrition and eating disorders are just a few examples that may result from negative body image.
No matter the circumstance, parents should never disregard their childs feelings or
behavior. If teens feel alone in the world and believe their feelings dont matter, they could resort
to desperate actions. Some of these actions may include; drug use, becoming sexually active,
committing crimes, or even suicide. In my personal opinion, depression is becoming a more
substantial issue for teens than parents seem to understand. I believe depression is the underlying
factor of almost every teens problems.

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There are numerous ways in which parents can help teenagers deal with the conflicts of
adolescence. In my opinion, though, listening and showing empathy is the best help. If teens
know that theyre not alone and their opinions matter, I think they can get through any conflict. I
truly believe that, if possible, teens need to sort through problems on their own. By doing that, it
helps them become more independent and less reliant on others. This becomes a very admirable
trait to possess in adulthood.

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Works Cited
Berger, Kathleen Stassen. Invitation to the Life Span. 2nd Edition. New York: Worth Publishers,
2014. Print.