What Make Good Parents?

To find out what makes a good parent a research was taken among the students of British high schools. The results turned out to be very instructive for not only British parents but for the parents all over the world.

When the teenagers were asked about what really makes a good parent they usually mentioned the ability to understand the kids’ needs and willingness to listen and understand. Children say that a good parent really cares about them and does things in the best interests of their kids. A good parent knows what it’s like to be a teenager and sees a viewpoint of kids. They should support you in what you do and praise you for all the good things that you do. A good parent is someone who cares but who is strict and wants their children to be successful.

Most teenagers think that there is a big difference between the roles of mother and father. A mother teaches her child right from wrong and manners. A father teaches a child to be strong and confident.

Girls are more closed to their mothers but there can be some exceptions. Teenage girls ask their dads for advice about homework, but always prefer to discuss school, friends and life problems with their mothers. That’s because they think their mothers are understanding and eager to help. Mostly teenagers ask their parents for advice but sometimes when things are too personal they avoid doing that.

The question “If you have your own children, what you will do differently from your own parents?” showed that teenagers think that their parents are too protective and strict to them.

Many teenagers think that parenting skills should be taught in high schools. Too many young parents don’t know the basics of parenting. Their kids at school are “messed up” and sometimes act very strange. Another point of view is that parenting isn’t something you just learn at school or college. Some teenagers consider that parenting is something you learn when you have children, with the help of your parents.

Task 10. Fill in the gaps with the suitable words:

A) aggressiveness; impulsive; arguments; recognition; restriction; conflict; settle; control

Despite the many changes that have taken place over the past decade in Ukraine, teenage family problems are pretty much the same. Parents often complain about their children’s (1) … behaviour and verbal (2) …, which are often caused by lack of (3) … or support on their part. Besides, children seem to have the same kinds of (4) … with their parents that their parents had when they themselves were young. It seems to come down to the (5) … between teenagers’ desire to be independent of (6) … on the one hand and parents’ wish to (7) … their children on the other. However, if both sides are willing to compromise it is normally quite easy to (8) … any conflict.

B) share; trustworthy; sacrifice; positive; establish; loneliness; pressure

Adolescents aged from 12 to 16 are mostly interested in friends of the same sex. They choose friends who are (1) … . It is important for them because they want to be able to (2) … good times as well as bad times with them. It isn’t easy for many teenagers to (3) … contacts with peers. However, once they find an intimate friend, they are ready to (4) … anything for them. That’s why if they have to break off with such a friend, it can turn out to be a very painful experience. Unfortunately, peers are not always (5) … . They can let their friends down, and even put (6) … on them. At the same time teenagers don’t often oppose to peer pressure because they are afraid of (7) … .

Task 11. Write a composition about life of youth and teenagers’ problems.