Parents can help children deal with pressures of materialistic world
In the past few years the newspapers have been full of articles on the problems encountered by today's teenagers, such as drug abuse, alcoholism, bullying. Go back 50 years and I think you would be shocked to find that most of these problems, now prevalent among Hong Kong youths, did not exist.
Why do teens nowadays seem to have far more problems than previous generations? I think it is linked with having a distorted view of money. Society has become increasingly materialistic. People think that ownership of designer label goods such as a purse or a luxury car such as a Porsche symbolises wealth and social status.
With this kind of mindset, many teenagers put money above everything else, and some even try to find shortcuts to earn easy money.
Those who excel academically choose to work in the financial sector in the hope of becoming rich.
Young people who lack that level of ability may turn to such activities as compensated dating or selling drugs. Peer pressure is another problem that teenagers face. As they make their way from childhood to adulthood, many of them struggle to figure out who they are and what they want out of life. They are impressionable and often seek recognition from their peers and do whatever is needed in order to fit in. This may push them to do things that might be physically damaging or morally wrong. They may find it hard to pass up an offer of drugs or alcohol. They may join their peers in spreading rumours, or even stealing. Temptations are everywhere, inside and outside school and also in the virtual world.
These problems can combated by helping teenagers to build up their own identity and set of values. Parents should, therefore, act as both their children's advisers and friends. They should also instil the correct attitudes and moral values in their children, communicate more with them so as to identify their problems, and get them back on the right track if they find any signs of their children going astray.