GRAPHIC BY KELLY LY, Many growing teens find themselves confused and wary of growing up. Often left without much understanding of the world and their bodies.

Youth should not be sheltered from reality

0 0
Read Time1 Minute, 57 Second

With the surge of mental illnesses being reported in today’s youth, sheltering children from the harsh reality of life often causes more harm than good. While it is reasonable to wait before discussing certain topics with young children, these discussions can not be postponed indefinitely. Leaving youth uninformed of the harsh realities of life leaves them unprepared and prone to excessive mental illness as they venture into the world without crucial knowledge, experience, or guidance. 

Keeping children oblivious about certain topics limits how much they understand about the world around them. For instance, as young teens continue growing in an unfamiliar environment, they often seek guidance from their parents or guardians. It is better to teach growing teens the aspects of life to foster a broader understanding of the world earlier so they can better adapt to changes as they mature. 

Studies have shown that the developing minds of adolescents and youth are open to learning many things, emotionally and physically. During this vital period of time, it would be ideal to teach growing teens things that young children could not understand or handle, such as the concept of death. Generally, most youth would be undergoing puberty at this stage of their life, leaving an opportunity to explain what is happening to their bodies. 

Although, it could be said that young teens should not be exposed to mature topics such as sexual intercourse and adulthood at such a vulnerable stage of their life. Telling children about the horrors of the world would negatively affect their mental health as their brains are still developing, creating a generation of socially anxious young adults. While that is a fair point, it could be argued that keeping children oblivious could render them unprepared for adult life. Teens are easily stressed by things that they don’t understand, which could negatively affect their overall mental health. They could potentially develop harmful misconceptions about topics they were never taught, which could prove dangerous to themselves and their peers. 

It is important to keep youth informed and understanding about life. Whether it be about sex or adapting to an adult lifestyle, it is vital to keep growing teens informed to avoid potential stress or confusion in the future. While some discussions can be postponed for later, youth should not be sheltered from reality.

Average Rating

5 Star
0%
4 Star
0%
3 Star
0%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *