Course On Healthy Adjustment To Adolescence

Press, Volume C, Issue 29557, 5 July 1961, Page 2

Course On Healthy Adjustment To Adolescence

Another course of four lectures and films or for a healthy adjustment of teen-age children begin in Christchurch next Monday evening. Arranged by the adult education departme Canterbury, in co-operation with the Federation sodations. the course aims at encouraging paren see the mutual nature of adjustments required at

- Tutors for the course will be Dr. E. M. Glennie, of the Health Department. Dr. Roger Nicoll. and Mr Eric Lenz, lecturer in education at the University of Canterbury. F;lm» chosen for the course are sm-nf the best available on aspects of adolescence They deal with read situations in a sympathetic and helpful way, and are considered to be first-class material to illustrate the series of talks. The course .will be held at the geography department of the university in Worcester Street.

Last year the adult education department held a similar course, and about 40 families attended. For Discussion

The course was designed mainly as a stimulus to discussion both at the lectures and. more important, at home later, said a tutor of the

department, Mr 1 G. Clark, yesterday. “Though the physical side of reproduction will be mentioned. half the course is concerned with the emotional aspects of growing up in a family," he said. Many young people were reluctant to discuss facts of growth and reproduction and problems of growing up in a family where there was a considerable age gap between parents and children, he said.

Age Gap This difference in age alone could cause, stresses and upsets, which made it difficult for parents as well as children to discuss situations as they arose, he said. By the time children had reached their mid-teens, with fluctuating and developing ideas, their parents had become fixed in their ideas. This in 'tself did not help.

it aspects of adolescence, and their parents, will •nt of the University of ' i of Parent-teacher Asits and young people to this stage. parent-chi’.d understanding, he said. “We are trying to break down the pattern that exists in many cases between parent and child, as stresses and difficulties arise," he said "When this is broken down,; free discussion can take place, and problems are likely to be less serious and less difficult to deal with." It is hoped that when parents and their children engage in a common learning experience, fruitful discussions will make difficult situations easier to handle. Age Limit The minimum age limit fori children this year will be 14.1 Parents who felt that their slightly younger children I would benefit from the course would be welcome, said Mr Clark. The first lecture will be for' parents only. During this! lecture films which will be, later shown to boys and girls; will be screened. This willgive parents an idea of the type of information that will, be presented to their children.

This lecture will be followed a week later by one to mothers and daughters. The third lecture is planned for fathers and sons. The last talk Will be for children only. Brochures for the course are available at the adult education department.