Childhood and Adolescence
Discovery and growth continue during these years, but not at quite as rapid a pace. We’ve gotten some life experience under our belts so we’re not always in absolute awe and wonder. We lose snack and nap times and, eventually, recess. But we gain more independence and freedom. The array of classes, field trips, extracurricular activities, school changes, crushes, growth spurts and hormones keep us busy and, at times, quite befuddled. This is the age of skinned knees, bruised egos, broken hearts and broken bones. We have no idea who we are, how the world works or where we fit in. Yet we still possess so much youthful enthusiasm and passion. The world is ours for the taking; we just have to figure out how to go about taking it. We begin to question the wisdom and values of our parents, and society as a whole. We strive to create an identity for ourselves as individuals and for our generation. Clearly, we’re capable of doing it better than did previous generations. There are so many options and opportunities. Which path should we take? Which university, which major? Or maybe technical school? Should we marry or wait? Have kids or not? The possibilities are endless. Sounds wonderful, doesn’t it?
When adults observe and speak of children and adolescents, their resilience often comes up as a topic of conversation. However, as children and adolescents develop and experience more of the world, apprehensions, anxieties, fears, sadness and even depression can emerge. So, are children really more resilient than adults, or do adults hold children more accountable than they do themselves? Here is the link to the video we will discuss in Part 4: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PP14X8MXAXA. As an adult, how long would you have persevered under those circumstances?