Brace yourself. A friend of mine who is a pastor in a nearby town just told me about an 11-year-old boy in his neighborhood who just got a 12-year-old girl pregnant.
As I said, brace yourself. It’s not a misprint. I didn’t mean to say a 16-year-old boy and a 17-year-old girl, which incidentally would have shocked us 20 years ago. Sadly, it doesn’t anymore.
Although every era of young people has faced challenges, the unique world of today’s teens and tweens has created some distinct issues. Every day, they face physical, emotional, mental, spiritual, family and peer hurdles that first must be understood before they can be addressed.
• Physical issues: A Bristol University study identified that puberty is happening at younger ages than in previous generations. Girls develop their breasts one to two years earlier than girls 40 years ago, and one boy in 14 reaches puberty by the age of 8 (whereas in his father’s generation, it was one boy in 150). This shortening of childhood is attributed to fast food and meats containing chemicals used to get animals to grow faster. Accordingly, childhood obesity has tripled in the past 30 years and increased diabetes and heart issues among teens.
• Emotional issues: Many teenagers grew up in sports leagues where every child received a trophy at the end of a season and parents regularly applauded effort over talent. Consequently, young people don’t know how to handle failure when their perceived talents and sense of entitlement encounter real opposition. This also shows up when other classmates appear more successful or attractive—teenagers can form perceptions they regard as truths, such as, “I’m ugly and a failure and always will be this way.” This internal drama may lead to an inappropriate desire to be loved that settles for unhealthy friendships, manipulative dating relationships and premature sexual activity.
• Mental issues: These days choosing a college major or deciding what level math class to take may be motivated more by a desire to do well in the global economy than what a young person’s personal ability is. Soon a pattern of pursuing above-average studies and extracurricular involvement can create time-management issues that only amplify the situation. According to The Health Center, mental stress such as this can cause up to 90 percent of all illnesses.
• Spiritual issues: Many young people claim to be spiritual, yet according to Barna Research one out of six of teenagers make their most important choices on the basis of “whatever would produce the most beneficial results for them.” This circumstantial approach to life means the emerging generation is putting momentary feelings above solid faith, which is why many young people lean toward viewing controversial issues as “morally acceptable” even though their main source of truth does not.
• Family issues: The household relationships a young person grows up in can have the greatest impact on them. Most families keep a busy schedule that minimizes mealtime investments, though, creating conversations that are more about problems the teenager is experiencing than proactive recognition of what they’re doing well. Such an emphasis can lead to negative tensions in parents and siblings that counteract the sense of security and accomplishment teens need to feel from their family.
• Peer issues: Every young person has a social circle or individual in his or her life who imposes standards and expectations on others. This influence among teenagers is often centered around what is considered acceptable music, fashion, associations and daily activities. At times, peer pressure can lead to moral dilemmas, but according to a University of Minnesota study, most teens follow and accept their family’s standards in such situations. In worst-case scenarios, teenagers may simply not consider the consequences of going along with the crowd and end up contributing to the group bullying of others.
So, what do you say we do something about all of that?
Consider where our efforts could actually lead—headlines and stories that affirm the upside of the next generation’s potential. As
Please take all of this in, for the world teens and tweens are living in is the same one we live in, too; though from their vantage point, it is completely different.
Until then, see you next week…if not around town.
Fully-Alive Living offers weekly insights to serve you in taking another step forward in matters of the heart, soul, mind, body and relationships. With more than 20 years of experience and advanced education in working with people of all ages, Tony Myles and his family live in Medina where he serves as the Lead Pastor of Connection Church.
Personal blog: DontCallMeVeronica.Blogspot.com
Leadership blog: TonyMyles.Blogspot.com
