Question

You are a working single parent of a 16-year-old son and a 13-year-old daughter. Your son has an 11 PM curfew on weekends, but recently, he has been ignoring curfew and coming home after midnight. When you try to address this with him, he either ignores you or gets angry and starts screaming at you. When he's at home, he tends to shut himself away in his room. His latest report card shows that his grades are slipping. You are getting very concerned, but you work full-time and parent by yourself, so you are getting frustrated as well. At the same time, your daughter has been telling you that she doesn't feel well and doesn't want to go to school. After some prodding, she shared that she has been getting teased at school and bullied online. Come up with a strategy for dealing with your children that is supported by the literature on adolescent discipline. What are some of the things that you need to take into consideration? What actions would you implement to try and address the problematic behaviors you are witnessing? What actions would you avoid?

Answer 1

Final answer:

For the 16-year-old son, establish clear expectations and consequences, foster open communication, and get involved with his education. For the 13-year-old daughter, address bullying head-on by talking to school officials and prevent cyberbullying. Avoid overreacting or ignoring their feelings and ensure a supportive environment based on dialogue and understanding.

Step-by-step explanation:

Addressing Adolescent Discipline

Discipline strategies for adolescents must be grounded in understanding their developmental stage. Adolescents are forming their identities, making the peer group exceptionally important. Successful strategies involve warm and healthy parent-child relationships, which are linked to better grades and fewer school behavioral issues. Moreover, the literature stresses the importance of not taking teen arguments personally, as adolescents may use them as a means of self-expression.

Strategies for the 16-year-old son

For the son who is coming home after curfew and showing slipping grades, strategies should include setting clear, consistent boundaries and consequences for behavior, while also ensuring he feels heard and understood. Open communication and attempting to reconnect with the son by spending quality time together can be beneficial. Additionally, getting involved with the school and seeking professional support may help address the root cause of the behavioral change.

Strategies for the 13-year-old daughter

Addressing the daughter's experience of bullying requires immediate action, such as talking to school officials and monitoring online activities to prevent cyberbullying. Building her self-esteem and providing a supportive home environment are critical, as self-esteem can rapidly change in school-aged children based on peer perception. Ensuring her safety and well-being should be a priority, potentially involving counseling or support groups if necessary.

Actions to Avoid

It is crucial to avoid dismissing the son's or daughter's feelings, ignoring the problems, overreacting, or using punishment without dialogue. Avoiding confrontations that may escalate to arguments and fostering an environment for open dialogue are essential.

Conclusion

Implementing these strategies requires patience and consistent effort from the parent. Balancing discipline with understanding and support can help navigate these challenging situations and lead to positive outcomes for both the son and daughter.