Teenage - The Pavlov's Dog and The Thorndike's Cat

It was believed to a great extent that, every child intends to attain the teen-age. But can we say every adult could ever dream of wanting to become a teenager?

What then is this tiny rope? What is the difference in opinion between a teenage and an adult.

An adult gaze at a situation and tears begins to drop like a salivated Pavlov’s dog denied of a poisonous meal meanwhile, a teenager gazing at this same situation begins to gallivant like Thorndike’s cat who just want everything by all means.

Many kids announce the onset of adolescence with a dramatic change in behavior around their parents. They're starting to separate from mom and dad and become more independent. At the same time, kids this age are increasingly aware of how others, especially their peers, see them and are desperately trying to fit in. Their peers often become much more important than parents as far as making decisions.

Kids often start "trying on" different looks and identities, and they become very aware of how they differ from their peers, which can result in episodes of distress and conflict with parents.

As teens mature, they start to think more abstractly and rationally. They're forming their moral code. And parents of teens may find that kids who previously had been willing to conform to please them will suddenly begin asserting themselves — and their opinions — strongly and rebelling
against parental control.

You may need to look closely at how much room you give your teen to be an individual and ask yourself questions such as: "Am I a controlling parent?," "Do I listen to my child?," and "Do I allow my teen's opinions and tastes to differ from my own?"

Here are some of the things parents described as the Pavlov’s dog in this article should do to convince their desperate Thorndike’s cat.

Educate Yourself
Read books about teenagers. Think back on your own teen years. Remember your struggles with acne or your embarrassment at developing early — or late. Expect some
mood changes in your typically sunny child, and be prepared for more conflict as he or she matures as an individual. Parents who know what's coming can cope with
it better. And the more you know, the better you can prepare.

Talk to Kids earlier and often on what they need to know before someone else does.
Starting to talk about menstruation or wet dreams after they've already begun is starting too late. Answer the early questions kids have about bodies, such as the differences between boys and girls and where babies come from. But don't overload them with information — just answer their questions. If you don't know the answers, get them from someone who does, like a trusted friend or your pediatrician.

You know your kids. You can hear when your child's starting to tell jokes about sex or when attention to personal appearance is increasing. This is a good time to jump in with your own questions such as:
-Are you noticing any changes in your body?
-Are you having any strange feelings?
-Are you sad sometimes and don't know why?
-Is there something to discuss?

A yearly physical exam is a great time to talk about this.
The later you wait to have these talks, the more likely your child will be to form misconceptions or become embarrassed about or afraid of physical and emotional changes.
And the earlier you open the lines of communication, the better your chances of keeping them open through the teen years. Give your child books on puberty written for kids going through it. Share memories of your own adolescence.
There's nothing like knowing that mom or dad went through it, too, to put kids more at ease.

Edited by: Adigun Oluwatosin S.