Enabling Troubled Teens Correctly

By Author: Justin Foss
Total Articles: 3764
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Behavioral modification programs should ideally be long term. It should enable the child positively and not result in giving the child a false sense of achievement as short term fad diet would do and then bring their esteem crashing down. Most children at such conditions need rigorous schedules to take care of their physical, mental and emotion growth. They need a change in their behavior pattern and that can be achieved through a series of tasks, life skills, independent living, chores, etc.

Such kids are often extremely demanding without giving. They need to be taught the importance of giving and sharing. They need to learn that by giving that they can enjoy true happiness. They also need to know that tolerance is a virtue and physical force is not the way to go, something that great leaders from Mahatma Gandhi to Martin Luther King has taught.

While approaching a behavior modification program for such troubled teens, care should be taken that the troubled teens understand the importance of responsibility. Responsibility does not lie in choosing the dress for prom but rather in taking decisions that hold ...
... positive values in later life. You cannot help a child in reformation unless the child understands the need of it. There are many intelligent teens who can ‘fake' their ways through different stages and go till graduation without actually modifying their behaviors.

Trust and openness are good but one must understand first whether the child is ready to respect the trust or not. He or she may just end up misusing the faith placed on him. So they must in turn be convinced of the need to be honest and truthful. That they must be able to practice what they are taking from others. This sort of behavior modification is also necessary. At the same time care has to be taken that the kid is not forced in to doing anything. Pressure and if unwanted always has adverse effect on people.

Troubled teenagers go through terrible depression as well. They may end up resorting to eating and neglecting their health. They may end up becoming a drug addict or an alcoholic. Such kids need different type of attention. Let me end this article with a scenario where a troubled teen is going through eating disorders.

What causes eating disorder in kids?

* Increased exposure to commercials sporting unhealthy lifestyle and food habits.

* Peer-pressure to socialise, eating/drinking in a certain way.

* Parents with unhealthy lifestyle, overtly diet conscious or obese.

Tips to tackle challenges: Introduce healthy eating for teens and help your kid tackle the challenges.

* Set an example: Be a role model. Eat healthy but do not overeat. Feel good about your body and express that in front of your kids. Encourage family meals and conversations.

* Introduce balanced diet: Healthy eating for teens includes proportional servings of protein, fibre, carbohydrate, minerals and vitamins. You can have a variety of low fat, high calorie food cooked in healthy oil. Teens enjoy variety. The food pyramid is a good place to begin.

Help your kid and learn more at troubled teen programs.