The Catholic Times

Youth Needs Family
Life; Group Programs
Are Also Necessary

by Mary B. Lynch
Psychiatric Social Worker
Juvenile Diagnostic Center

Editor's Note: This is the second in a series of articles concerning the problems of today's youth written by individuals engaged in youth work in the Diocese.

The teenager has many needs today. They are no different than the needs of the youth of yesterday. It is only the complexities of modern society that make it difficult for their needs to be met today.

We all agree that the growth of character is essential to youth. We know that this is done through the formation of ideals developed essentially in the family and through our educational system.

Through these ideals, attitudes are formed which motivate conduct and eventually they play a large part in the developing of morality. The religious ideal is a basic ideal of youth.

Youth needs the opportunity to see in the home the love and protection of parents which will help them develop their idea of God as a kind and loving Father. Youth wants the chance to discuss religion on an intellectual basis.

His doubts and difficulties must be met frankly. But can modern society's sense of value be dealt with? Has it not set up strange ideals for youth with T.V., swept wing autos and Elvis?

Is he ever stimulated to think about the forces of nature having God as their author or do they think only of the inventions of man as being more important than anything God has done.

Another complexity of today, the employment of mothers in the expansion of the factory system has left youth without much needed control at a time when it should be given the most attention.

Youth, especially need the continued, consistent help of parents and educators in learning control of their emotions.

How to deal with anger, fear and love needs training.

The emotional ties that make for a feeling of security start in the home, where there is family harmony.

Feeling secure in the home even though striving for independence is most important to youth.

Working mothers may rationalize - Susy can take care of herself but is this mother making herself available to be really close to Susy's everyday interests and all important problems.

Maybe Susy's interests receive no attention so she seeks acceptance elsewhere, where her efforts at self control are overpowered by doing what others do in order to gain acceptance from them.

Thus her efforts at self control are lost and her methods of gaining acceptance are distorted.

Learning self control involves knowing yourself.

Youth needs a sounding board to get to know themselves. They need to know that even though they may be "crazy mixed up kids" they have a family that loves them just the same. They need to test their ideas, share their happiness at new found knowledge right now and not on mother's day off.

There will be very few problems of conformity where there is respect for adults who have provided guidance through understanding.

The social life of the modern teenager also has its complexities which make it difficult to meet his needs. He needs friends, not only of his own sex but the opposite sex. Early dating and having a "steady" cuts off this area of social development.

Cannot adults take more interest in developing constructive projects which would permit groups to meet in each other's

homes or parish hall to develop their social relationships.

At the same time they would provide to develop practice in leadership and cooperation.

Games and sports should be encouraged for they provide training in fairness. Emphasis should be on just having fun rather than primarily competitive. Hobbies can be encouraged to develop a sense of achievement and self expression. The family itself is the first social experience.

Sharing responsibilities in the early years builds up trust and self confidence for the teenager.

Family conferences through the years could be a valuable asset to helping a teenager make decisions for himself.

Can these opportunities to meet the needs of youth be provided today? Adults who are concerned about the adult world of tomorrow are already doing their part.

Can the others be awakened? The tower of strength lies within the family. It must be the storehouse from which youth can courageously take up his struggle for self reliance and independence.