Column

The last couple of months have seen plenty of headline news about juvenile crimes. From unsafe driving that led to death of passers-by or shootouts at schools to fatal ragging and now gangrapes. The Surat gangrape issue is snowballing into a business model of serial rapes and selling of video clips where the intention of making money and sadistic pleasure are getting mixed up. More children are being tried in juvenile courts today than before.

What are the possible reasons for such heinous crimes and can positive disciplines prevent such acts is a million dollar question! In its limited capacity, it is still worthwhile to speculate on the various influences in the lives of today’s youth.

There is growing research on the effects of videogames on children. Numerous studies show that videogames, especially ones with violent content, make teens and youth aggressive. Also, children with emotional, behavioural and learning problems may be more influenced by violent images. Situations that lead to emotional disturbances at home such as alcoholism, divorce, physical abuse etc often compound violence in children who tend to use brutality to deal with their problems.

Parents are the most influential role models and examples that children can possibly have. While parenting is a very responsible and a full-time job, people receive the least formal training for it. Each parent’s knowledge of how to raise a child usually comes from his or her own culture, background and family. This may result in patterns from people’s own social experiences being repeated and passed on to their children.

Very often at about 15 years of age, many teens go through a tough period of being introspective and moody. They go through a trying time emotionally, psychologically and biologically. It is a time when they seem to start thinking about how they feel about themselves, and figuring out how this perception may match or mismatch with what others think of them. It is an inherent part of growing up and maturing. Most of the teens are building their self-image and will often work through this by the age of 16 or 17.

Appropriate handling of teens may be the key to preventing behavioural disorders. Very often teenagers are treated as if they were just grownup children. Most parents are convinced that children are their property and should obey their commands without saying a single word.

Teenagers are often thought of as insecure, stubborn, and disrespectful. Even the most caring parents frequently misunderstand their kids. As a result, teenagers often turn to their peers and distance themselves from their parents. It is here that they sometimes being misguided by false beliefs fall prey to bad company or to drugs.

Many social disturbances are a result of youth going astray. According to the American Automotive Association (AAA), youth drivers pose a great risk not only to themselves but to other people on the road. Most people being killed in teen road rage are innocent passers-by. A new study published by Archives of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine showed worrying statistics about use of marijuana among teenagers. Research found that smoking pot among teens has dramatically increased in many.

The National Health Service (NHS) has revealed in its recent survey that there has been a significant raise in the number of young girls admitted to hospital suffering from an eating disorder called anorexia. The number of teenage girls getting pregnant and undergoing abortions is steadily increasing. Each day, 4,400 young people smoke a cigarette for the first time and by age 14, many are addicted.

Discipline is often confused with punishment. Positive discipline can be about proper guidance and creating good habits, for study and work. Creating values and self checks for youth to avoid getting into wrong situations is an aspect of discipline as well. It is very important for parents to pay attention to their child’s mood and to watch out for signs of serious depression, such as noticeable changes in grades, their friends, eating and sleeping habits, grooming and so on. A combination of these symptoms could be an indication of too much stress, and perhaps, even alcohol or drug use.

The writer isan entrepreneur and educationist