Roadblocks to Development

1. Roadblocks to Development

2. Development of a Teen • Under normal conditions, most teens: • Get through the developmental tasks on schedule. • Develop into responsible, mature adults. • Just as physical growth can be interrupted by disease or lack of nutrients, developmental tasks can be interrupted by roadblocks.

3. Roadblocks for Teens • Crisis Level Traumas • Death of a parent • Divorce of parents • Death of a sibling or close friend • Severe illness

4. Roadblocks for Teens • Living with Abuse • Physical • Emotional and/or Verbal • Sexual

5. Roadblocks for Teens • Teen Pregnancy • Drug and/or Alcohol Abuse • Compulsive or Obsessive Behaviors • Grades • Excelling in Sports • Physical Appearance

6. All Focus Is Elsewhere • When these challenges occur in a teen’s life, all energies are focused on the crisis and not on the developmental task. • For example: • If a teen must cope with a traumatic event such as a death in the family, all of their energies are used in trying to understand and deal with that loss.

7. Recovery • Recovery from these roadblocks may take quite a long time. • When the initial grief begins to lessen and life begins to move forward, then the teen can return to normal activities that allow for normal development. • Examples: • Going back to school, seeing friends socially, playing on sports teams, etc.

8. Summary • Life is just like a highway. • There are many roadblocks and course corrections made throughout everyone’s life. • Do the best you can, learn from it, and move forward.

9. Homework Assignment • Road Map of Life • Due next class period