Teens go through a lot of pressure from all angles. Some teens handle it more responsibly while others resort to drug abuse, alcoholism and smoking. Not so long ago, today’s parents had to undergo similar pressures too, but the temptations and distractions may not be as strong as they are now. Today’s teens are bolder, with heavy influences from TV, movies and Internet.
One of the most common and powerful issues that teens have to face is sibling rivalry. While a little competition is always healthy as it allows our kids to learn certain relationship skills, some can’t handle the stress of being compared to a sibling who seems to often emerge as the ‘winner’.
Parents need to understand the factors that cause sibling rivalry and to ensure that these do not go overboard, which may result to intense competition over attention and jealousy.
Some kids feel that other siblings get more attention from their parents. Most parents would not admit to having favorites, but they should also not immediately dismiss their kids’ feelings as completely invalid and unfounded. Parents need to recognize these feelings and work hard to make everyone feel that there are no favorites.
Age and birth order are also factors to consider. Firstborns may feel that the younger siblings get more care and attention. On the other hand, the younger siblings may feel that the older ones are more trusted and have more freedom. The important thing to do here is to allow everyone to realize that their age and birth order do not affect how much you love each one of them.
Tags: sibling rivalry, teen drug abuse, teen influences, teen issues, teen pressures
