Читать книгу You Don't Know Anything...! - Nadir Psy.D. Baksh PhD - Страница 19

If you were going to measure the worth of your offspring by how little they did around the house, you would be sadly disappointed. Teenagers are busy with their own lives, and although superficially that life may seem nothing more than hanging out with friends, every social interaction is a building block toward the understanding of human relationships. Socialization is as vital to relationships as academics is to learning, because one without the other makes a very one-dimensional young adult. Through interaction with peers, teenagers sharpen their powers of observation, test the limits of their grandiose behavior, find the courage to speak in a group, look for someone with whom to share confidences and trust, and, eventually, seek a partner with whom they can share the rest of their life.

While socialization comes easily for some young people, it is difficult and emotionally painful for others. If your child is shy or introverted, if their self-esteem and self-confidence is less than adequate, you may observe them watching from the sidelines, as if they are disinterested in making friends or participating in school functions. Trust us; they are interested. They just don’t have the necessary coping skills to take risks, or the emotional confidence to bounce back if they are rejected. Your son or daughter very much wants to be sought out by their peers, picked to be on the team, romantically involved with someone who bolsters their confidence level. They just don’t always know how to get there.