Adolescence And Sexuality JSS2 Home Economics Lesson Note

ADOLESCENCE AND SEXUALITY

MEANING AND EXPRESSION OF SEXUALITY SOURCES

 MEANING OF ADOLESCENCE

    Adolescence is the period in every person’s life that lies between the end of childhood and the beginning of adulthood. It is a time when a person matures and moves from childhood to adulthood. This is a period of life when you prepare to be an adult.

ADOLESCENT

An adolescent boy or girl is someone who is passing through the adolescent period.

 CHARACTERISTICS THAT ARE COMMON TO BOTH ADOLESCENT BOYS AND GIRLS

Adolescent boys and girls generally;

1. Try to gain independence from their parents
2. Feel hungry easily, they are growing fast, they, therefore, need extra food
3. They become self-conscious, they may be bothered about their appearance
4. Have emotional changes. They can be anxious, moody, or irritable
5. Could show concern about the future 

SPECIAL NEEDS AND CHALLENGES OF ADOLESCENT

These challenges are the problems that adolescents often face. The adolescents are neither children nor adults. They often have problems as they relate to people. Their challenges include;

1. ADJUSTMENT: They have problems adjusting to their physical changes for instance, the girls have to cope with enlarged breasts and menstruation, and the boy copes with a changed voice and a bigger penis. They are often uncomfortable, clumsy, and anxious.
2. STATUS: They want to behave like adults, yet they are not fully adults. Boys may try to smoke and girls may try putting on make-up
3. INDEPENDENCE: Adolescents often want to do things their way. They do not like to be directed or guided by parents or other adults. This is often a source of problem
4. NEED FOR ACHIEVEMENT: Adolescents want to excel, when they fail, they become unhappy
5. PEER PRESSURE: They often want to go along with their peers. There could be negative influences from peer groups, for instance, in dressing, feeling, and expressing sexuality
6. PHYSICAL NEEDS: These arise as a result of the physical changes going on in adolescence.

These needs include:

• Balanced food is needed for proper development
• New clothes to replace outgrown old ones
• Girls will need brassiere as their breasts develop

7. NEEDS FOR PARENTAL UNDERSTANDING AND SUPPORT:

 Parents should:

•         Understand what their adolescent children are going through
•         Be more tolerant
•         Communicate freely, advise, and encourage adolescents.

SEXUALITY INFORMATION

Sexuality information is a planned process of education that fosters the acquisition and information of positive attitudes, beliefs, and values as well as skills to cope with biological, physiological, socio-cultural, and spiritual aspects of human sexuality.

SOURCES OF SEXUALITY INFORMATION

1. School and colleges
2. Churches and mosques
3. Television
4. Radio
5. Newspapers and magazines
6. Parents, elders, and the community.

Evaluation:

•         State 4 characteristics common among adolescent boys and girls

•         State the challenges of adolescence