1. Think about your teen’s cognitive strengths and weaknesses and how they are reflected in his or her school grades and activities from 14-16 years of age. What careers or courses of study might be best suited to your teen’s abilities and interests?
Sam has good reasoning skills as demonstrated by his excellent aptitude for mathematics and science. He also appears to be developing a good moral understanding, particularly with his peers. He recently had an encounter with a friend on the way home from school, where they discussed personal views. Sam listened intently to the peers view point but not until he got home did he verbalize his indifference. Sam is a listener, he takes time to consider what has been said and then draws his conclusions.
Sam's personality tends to be more of the investigative type, he likes working with "ideas" (pg 359). I think he would be excellent in the field of science as this is something he both enjoys and excels in. I believe Sam would also do well in some form of engineering or architecture do to his spatial abilities, drawing skills and creativeness
2. How important have your teen’s relationships with peers been to his/her social development, emotional well-being and school achievement from 14-16 years of age?
Sam has had great success in school. He is on a winning baseball team which has helped his self esteem and has been a constant reminder that his body needs to stay in peak physical condition and therefore is choosing not to do drugs. Yeah for sports and moral self-relevance! Additionally, Sam is on the Math team and because of Sam his school won their first math contest. He must have got that from his father! Sam also takes on leadership roles in the clubs he is involved in at school. Which is such a long way from his days of preschool when he was fearful of playing with friends.
3. How has your teen adjusted at 14-16 years of age to typical adolescent issues such as risk-taking, drugs, alcohol, and sexual interests, and how have you responded to your teen?
I was amazed how much risk taking Sam was involved in this past year. He came home from a party smelling of marijuana. He looked me straight in the eye and told me he would never try it because he was an athlete and knew how bad it was for his body. I believe him, and reminded him of our family policy of a drug free household. Still I was concerned that he was around the drug.
He called me at mid-night one night to pick him up from different party. When he got in the car I could smell alcohol on his breath. The next day I told him that I was proud of him for calling me and not taking the risk of driving with someone who had been drinking. I again reminded him of the risks in under aged alcohol.
And he has tried cigarette smoking. I know he knows the dangers of smoking so it does shock me that he has tried it. I do think it is temporary but he needed again to be reminded of the addictive qualities and long term effects of smoking.
Sam has had 2 girlfriends and the most recent he declares he is in love with. My husband and I are quite worried about premature sexual activity. I have talked with him once about abstinence and the advised on safe sex practices and birth control. Most recently I had my husband talk with him reiterating our beliefs and again advising him on safe practices and birth control.
Sam got in a fist fight with a friend over his girlfriend. Not entirely sure what it was about, but it definitely shows his intense emotion for his girlfriend. The two boys have since made up. Ah, the teen years!
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