The Importance of Adult Role Models in Teen's Lives

Lifestyle Choices

• Adults tend to make better choices when it comes to their lifestyles. For example, an adult role model is more likely to have a stable career, an education and the maturity to make better choices.

  The adults your teen looks up to as role models have a significant impact on the lifestyle choices he makes. When your teen looks up to someone, he is more likely to want to be like him or to follow in the footsteps of his role model. You can help your teen find positive role models by talking to him about who he looks up to and why, advises Family Education, part of the Pearson Education, Inc. Family. For example, ask your teen how the actions and behaviors of the people he looks up to influence his decisions and provide him with your opinion on the matter. You can also discuss adult role models in the day̵7;s news and how their lifestyle choices are a good influence on your teen. This can help provide your teen with a good idea of what he should look for in a role model.

Personal Attributes

• The specific personality attributes of the adult role models in your teen's life influence her decisions about the kind of personality she wants to have herself. For example, her adult role models might be compassionate, loving, kind, successful and driven -- natural leaders with positive attitudes. You can help your teen identify the attributes she wants to emulate in any role model by discussing the fact that even the best role models are not perfect. For example, talk to your teen about a famous role model such as Rosa Parks, who was arrested for standing up for what she believed on December 1, 1955. She can follow in the footsteps of people she admires, even if they make mistakes.

Guidance

• Adult role models can provide your teen with a positive influence. This influence is one of the reasons role models are so important. When your teen needs advice, he is likely to look to his role model for guidance. A mature, responsible, successful adult role model can help your teen make mature and responsible decisions. When he̵7;s at a crossroads in his life, the words and actions of his role model can help guide his decisions. You can encourage your teen to find a great role model by participating in a mentoring program, such as the Boys and Girls Club of America, joining the youth group at church, looking up to a favored teacher or even joining the local YMCA. These programs ̵1; and most teachers in general ̵1; are designed to provide children and teens with positive role models and influences.

Negative Role Models

• Positive adult role models are great for teens, but negative role models are everywhere. If you want your teen to look up to people who are inspirational and successful, advises Boys Town Hospital, you need to monitor her access to media on the Internet and television. Stick-thin models, characters with addiction and celebrities that suffer from any number of issues are not good role models for your teens. By monitoring the amount of time and the type of programs your teen is watching on television and the type of sites she is browsing on the internet can provide you with the chance to sit down and talk to her about what she sees so you can counter the negative influences she picks up from the media. According to Family Education, communicating with your teen about what she sees on television, in magazines and online can help her understand the negative influence of certain celebrities and shows. You cannot keep your teen from ever seeing anything negative in the media, but you can discuss what she does see and keep the lines of communication open so she is aware of why certain behaviors are negative and should be avoided.