Photo: 9nong/shutterstock.com
Debate, not divide
By June Yong | 2 February 2021
In late January 2021, three people were arrested for taking part in a public assembly without a permit outside the Ministry of Education (MOE) headquarters in Buona Vista. They were aged between 19 and 32.
Teens were also on the forefront in the Black Lives Matter movement of 2020, organising and leading marches involving hundreds of people in cities all around the world.
Jessica Taft, a leading scholar on youth activism, says that youth activism is on the rise around the globe and adults will do well to pay attention.1
What is fuelling the growing activism among the youth today?
And what can we do to bridge the gap with our teens at home – especially when they hold differing views from us?
“Real listening means imagining yourself into the other’s experience: concentrating, asking questions. Understanding is furthered not by knowing…but by investigating…”
Know that your teens are entitled to their own opinions and just because their opinions are different doesn’t mean they are against you.
At the end of the day, if you prioritise connection over conversion, you will likely be able to retain a certain amount of influence over your fast-growing teen, and avoid the struggles of rebellion that seem to mark the adolescent years.
References:
© 2021 Focus on the Family Singapore. All rights reserved.
Do you have young teens? Join us at our Developing School Readiness & Social Intelligence in Your Child webinar on Sat, 6 Feb 2021 to learn practical tools to grow their independence and resilience, and set them up for success in the secondary school years and beyond!
Share this article with someone you care for today, and you might encourage them in their journey. Share instantly on WhatsApp Mobile or on Telegram.
(15 Sep, 2020)
(09 Jul, 2020)
(07 Jan, 2020)