Consumer Sciences Education Essay

Puberty is the period when children experience various physical and emotional changes in their bodies. Puberty comes with psychological effects that affect the teen’s interaction at school, with their peers and parents. Puberty Puberty is the stage in children’s lives when they experience physical changes through which their bodies eventually develop into adult bodies that are capable of reproducing. It is triggered by hormonal signals that stimulate the growth, function and change in different parts of the body, including the reproductive organs, breasts, skin, muscles, bones, hair and the brain depending on the sex (Allison, 2000). Puberty has various psychological effects within the school context, peers and parents. Within the school context puberty has wide psychological effects like searching identity and role confusion. It impacts their choice of career, sports activities, work schedule and tend to rebellious to the administration. It has been noted that adolescents prefer more liberal schools. At the same time the transition for example to high school has various effects on their academic achievement (Steinberg, 2001). During puberty, adolescents have very high regard for their peers. They measure who they are, their morals and lifestyles against them. Young people struggle to belong and to be accepted and affirmed by their peers, and yet also to become individuals. This desperate need for acceptance may explain why many teens engage in substance abuse and sexual activities. According to Allison, (2000, 54), adolescents tend to heed to advice from peers than from teachers and parents. It is notably however, the relationship between a teen and his or her peers has great impact on their self esteem. According to Steinberg, (2001, 67), parent-adolescent conflict increases during puberty. Conflict has been found to be most evident in interactions between adolescent girls and their mothers and relatively between boys and fathers. Many adolescents feel that the parents do not understand them and that they have different lives and interests. They also feel that the parents cannot guide them properly through this â€Å"stormy† period because they do not face the same challenges (Allison, 2000). In conclusion, there need to be a mutual understanding between parents and adolescents as puberty is a sensitive stage and needs to be handled with care by both parties. Only this way that both will minimize the unnecessary conflicts and promote understanding. Reference Allison, Barbara. (2000). Parent-adolescent conflict in early adolescence. Journal of Family and Consumer Sciences Education: Vol 18, No. 2 Steinberg, Laurence. (2001). Adolescent development. Annual Review of Psychology: Vol 52: 83-110.