Page 177 - Meeting with Children Book

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year olds. This is the time of finding something special or
important to which to apply their capabilities. This is a time
of finding what one is really good at and self-esteem follows
when this is accomplished.

Fifteen-year-olds begin to really assert independence. They
tend to push parents to allow them to do more and more
on their own, and usually, they don't want to have to ask
permission to do it. This can be a trying time as limits are
pushed beyond acceptance or ability to manage those
limits. This is a common age to think about living on your
own or leaving home. Although living independently is not
yet possible, it is the beginning of imagining being separate.
This can be a time of increased privacy as this aged teen
may not tell you about his day or share some things about
what is happening with his peer group. This is a time of
increased experimentation.

Socially, 16 year olds are now more aware of who they are
and what they are capable of doing or being. It is a time
when adolescents appear to "know everything" and
providing feedback is nearly impossible, or at least met with
resistance. Independent life skills are important to gain
during this year. Responsibilities increase as it is the time a
person can now get a driver's license and a part-time job. It
is a leap from the testing 15 year old, because romantic
relationships are also more prevalent and sexual and
emotional relationships become more complex. Strong
peer-related attachments are formed and the future
becomes important.

By 17 years, adolescents have stronger, more consistent
individual relationships and relationship groups. This aged
teen is future focused and less conflict oriented with
parents. This age group tends to act independently with
more responsibility.