Your child suddenly starts keeping a distance from you.
They begin to have private thoughts and feelings.
They become more emotionally sensitive.
Your child’s puberty is always a challenging journey in the process of parenting. The physiological and emotional changes unintentionally create a wall between parents and children. Behind this wall, parents feel lost and confused by things they don’t fully understand, while the child feels isolated by their turbulent emotions and the pressures from the world around them. To address these concerns and help parents support their children better during this sensitive period, The Dewey Schools organized the seminar “Supporting Your Child Through Puberty,” featuring experienced doctors and psychologists.
At the seminar, speaker Bui Thi Thu Huong, a psychologist at The Dewey Schools, shared insightful perspectives through real-life stories of students: a boy who suddenly felt attracted to a female classmate, and a child who no longer found joy in their pet. Changes in emotions, interests, the need for privacy, and concerns about appearance are common signs of puberty.
At the seminar, Dr. Nguyen Mai Huong, from the Adolescent Health Department at the National Institute of Pediatrics, addressed issues that teenagers may face during puberty, such as sexual abuse, teenage abortion, and mental health challenges. Understanding the importance of early sex education, The Dewey Schools have integrated this topic into the curriculum starting from elementary school. Students are equipped with knowledge on topics such as preventing abuse, puberty health care, and respecting personal boundaries.
Experts also emphasized that parental involvement plays a crucial role during this stage of a child’s development. Associate Professor Dr. Do Ngoc Khanh, Head of the Life and Arts Department at Dewey, shared that this is a vulnerable period when children are particularly susceptible to pressures from school, friends, and physical changes. To be a strong support for their children, parents should learn to listen, engage in natural conversations, build trust, and encourage their children to take responsibility for their own decisions. Speaker Nguyen Mai Huong also stressed that supporting a child through puberty requires a collaborative effort from both parents, ensuring a balanced and steady support system for the child.
The seminar also provided an opportunity for discussion, sharing, and learning through real-life experiences from parents. It was a chance for parents to receive direct advice from experts, helping them find practical and effective solutions for supporting their children.
As the father of two young daughters, Mr. Hữu Minh Tiến, a parent at Dewey, shared: “I used to impose my will and raise my voice when I didn’t understand my child, but that only pushed us further apart. After the seminar, I realized that supporting, listening, and sharing in the right way is the key to becoming friends with my child. This process not only helps my child grow but also helps me grow in my role as a father.”
