Adolescents (13-19 years old)

During adolescence there are a number of cognitive, emotional, physical and attitudinal changes, which can cause conflict but also help provide positive personality development. The home environment and having a good relationship with parents will mean that they are less likely to engage in risky behaviours such as smoking, drinking and fighting.

For the first time, adolescents will start to view their friends and peer groups as more important and more influential than their parents. These relationships can help them develop social skills such as empathy, sharing and leadership. They can also be a positive influence on them in terms of academic motivation and aspirations, but there can also be negative influences too. It is more difficult at this age, but try to keep an open dialogue and welcome conversations, even on difficult subjects, so that your child feels able to talk to you about new experiences or concerns. Due to all these changes it is easy to forget that teenagers still need time to play and have fun! They may not call it play at this age, but the time that they spend with their friends or on their own, without being told what to do, is the adolescent version of play. Analysis of teenage behaviour shows that their behaviour mimics / practices being "adult" which is positive behaviour if within safe limits.

Social interaction is considered to be the most important activity, especially for girls, who bond through talking and sharing experiences with friends. This can be further helped by encouraging the social interaction, decision making and responsibility! By providing clear boundaries on the use of adult props, as part of a discussion with the teenager (to make it more successful) they can grow and explore their identity within a safe environment, e.g. parental controls on the internet and pay-as-you-go mobile phones.

Music and clothes are the key ways in which teenagers express themselves and help them explore their identity, so it is important to give them room to do this.

Finally, making time to just to have fun together as a family is key to keeping the family working in a happy and healthy way!

Toys and Play

Adolescents will have grown out of traditional toys but that doesn't mean they want to stop playing! Sports are a great way of keeping an element of play in the life of your young adult, and if they keep engaging in sport through their adolescence they will be more likely to be active throughout their later adulthood.

Youth clubs and community groups are also great for giving adolescents the opportunity to spend time together and to choose what they want to do with their time. This can increase confidence, especially as by now most will know their own interests/ likes / and dislikes. A recent survey shows that having somewhere they can go to spend time with their friends, is the main thing that children and young people say would make their lives better.

Try to still spend a bit of time playing as a family, it will help you to stay bonded as a family and give a time when you are all together to discuss things in a safe environment. Some families have a games night once a week / fortnight for the whole family to get together over a board game!

What types of play?

• Sports
• Music groups/listening to music
• Concerts
• Theatre / acting clubs
• Gyms
• Trips to the local park / beach
• Bowling
• Skateboarding
• Visit the local pool
• 'Hanging out'