25 signs that a child has become a teenager

Typically, changes in behavior begin between 9 and 13 years old. But if you are still in doubt, here is a list of indicators that the child has grown to a transitional age.
If a son or daughter does at least half of what is listed, congratulations - a teenager has appeared in your house. But do not rush to panic! Just accept that childhood has ended and a new interesting stage has begun in family life.


Here's what a teenager usually does:
1. Shy of parents and becomes less tolerant of the physical manifestations of love.
2. Becomes more secretive.
3. He often argues and says that you are unfair to him.
4. Does not respond to requests from relatives.
5. Tests parents for strength, checking that he will get away with it.
6. Begins to study worse and does not want to do homework.
7. Becomes distracted and has difficulty concentrating.
8. It is unorganized and forgetful.
9. Arranges a terrible mess in the room.
10. Ignores household chores.
11. Requires respect for his personal space.
12. Faster loses interest and begins to get bored.
13. Tries to live as if he is not a member of the family, but on his own.
14. Time with friends values ​​more than communication with family.
15. More concerned with how he looks, he gathers for a long time before leaving the house.
16. Requires more freedom in life and ways of expression.
17. Becomes more self-critical.
18. Acutely reacts to parental jokes and fun.
19. Equals the idols of youth.
20. Often happens in a bad mood, is easily upset and violently shows feelings.
21. More often faced with rejection and aggression in communication with peers.
22. Goes to bed late and leads a nocturnal lifestyle.
23. Prefers social networking and online entertainment.
24. Tries to look more feminine or courageous, depending on gender.
25. Takes parental care for granted.


Adolescence is the most difficult period for parents. It is necessary to set boundaries for the child, but not lose emotional closeness with him. This does not always succeed.
But you don’t need to try to keep the child near you, remembering the old days, and criticize every change that happened to him. Accept that the quiet period when you were the best friend and helper for the child is over. And let the son or daughter distance and develop.
Adolescence is always stressful for parents. Even if they realize the inevitability of change, it is not easy to come to terms with the fact that an independent teenager appears instead of a small child, who often goes against parental authority and violates established rules in order to win more freedom for himself.
This is the most ungrateful time. Parents are forced to defend family values ​​and protect the interests of the child, conflicting with their personal interests, which often run counter to what adults think is right. They have to set boundaries for a person who does not want to know the boundaries and perceives any actions of his parents with hostility, provoking conflicts.
You can reconcile yourself with the new reality if you perceive this age in the same way as childhood - as a special, wonderful period. Parents of a teenager become witnesses of an amazing transformation: a boy becomes a boy and a girl becomes a girl.


 
About the author
Karl Pickhardt is a psychologist, author of The Future of Your Only Child and Stop Shouting, a regular contributor to The Times Magazine.