Social and Emotional Development PDF

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Social and Emotional development in adolescents and how academics interferes...

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1 Natalie Getty SEC-201 March 28, 2020 Joshua Robinson Social and Emotional Development As adolescents develop, emotionally and socially, there are several factors that begin to interfere with that development. A major factor that affects the social and emotional development happens to be technology, negatively and positively. As educators, it is important to find ways to promote healthy social and emotional development within the learning environment, including with technology. As role models to these students, educators have the responsibility to help anyway they can and make sure early adolescents and adolescents develop properly, in a social and emotional manner. Adolescence can be a scary time for people, mostly because of the uncertainty that comes from it. During social and emotional development for early adolescents and adolescents, along of questions come up. Understanding how an adolescent develops is important not only for themselves but for the individuals surrounding them. As a teenager, many come into contact with new ideas such as self esteem, drugs and alcohol, depression, peer pressure, and sexual activity (Sabo, 2015). These ideas all influence how an adolescent develops. When a teen is trying to handle their emotions, new environments and peers it can all seem overwhelming. How these outside influences are handled helps develop their overall social and emotional development over time. During adolescence, an idea of “self-understanding” is developed as a construct. This means the teen starts to become aware of who they are, their passions and interests, and who they enjoy spending their time with (Sabo, 2015). Teens may face conflictions from outside sources,

2 such as bullies, negative parental involvement, social media, or simple school settings. During adolescence, the idea of wanting to be like everyone else is very prominent, but it is incredibly important to find their true self currently. If they don’t, they may be stuck chasing something forever without knowing their own self. The action of trying to become something you aren’t, very common in teens, can trigger depression which can affect both their social and emotional development (). In today's society, technology is a huge factor in adolescent development. Almost every American has some type of social media. So how exactly does this impact the development of teens? It can go positively, or negatively. Studies show that social media has boosted self-image and self-esteem, along with a stronger ability to discover one's self-identity during adolescence. On the other hand, some adolescents may be exposed to inappropriate content to early on, depression, and cyberbullying which can take a major toll on a teens mental state (Uhls, Ellison, and Subrahmanyan, 2017). Trying to find a balance between the positive and negative is critical, but especially for adolescents. They may already struggle with body issues and some social media may help them recover, but others may intensify it. During this period of development, it is important to find a positive mindset from the world of social media that will not cause long term damage to their emotional development. Educators are major role models for their students. How can teachers influence students in a positive light that helps their emotional and social development? Studies show teachers are the biggest influence on improved student achievement (Glennie, Rosen, Snyder, WoodsMurphy, and Bassett, 2017). Educators can use several strategies to help guide students down the right path. Firstly, educators can use technology in the classroom in a positive light to influence students to do the same. To elaborate, this means educators can show students the educational

3 and positive uses of platforms that they can use in the future. Next, educators can show students calm problem solving. Say an altercation takes place in class. It is the educator's responsibility to deescalate the situation and follow the proper protocol. This will teach students to handle things calmly and follow instructions. Lastly, educators need to provide a safe space for their students. Allowing them the opportunity to be honest and open about their emotions is incredibly beneficial for their development. Without setting a positive example to students, it could harm their development along the way. In conclusion, adolescents face a lot of new issues and difficulties when it comes to their social and emotional development. Understanding these changes and the factors that impact them are crucial. Technology is huge in influence now, and it is important its used wisely for their development. Role models, such as educators, need to provide tools for a faster and easier social and emotional development for the long term. These can help adolescents turn into successful adults and become happier over time.

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References Glennie, J.|Rosen, E., A.|Snyder, J., Rebecca, Maryann|Bassett, & Katherine. (2017, March 31). Student Social and Emotional Development and Accountability: Perspective of Teachers. Retrieved March 30, 2020, from https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED581290 Sabo, A. (2015). Retrieved March 30, 2020, from http://www.gcumedia.com/digitalresources/mcgraw-hill/2015/adolescence_ebook_16e.php Uhls, Y. T., Ellison, N. B., & Subrahmanyam, K. (2017, November 1). Benefits and Costs of Social Media in Adolescence. Retrieved March 30, 2020, from https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/140/Supplement_2/S67...