What are Teens Thinking About?

This title was borrowed from an article in one of our church youth publications.  In 1984, the topics Youth were thinking about included:

• School  70%
• Teachers  33%
• Hobbies  65%
• After Graduation  – more than 50%
• Careers  – less than 50%
• World Problems like nuclear War  37%
• Marriage & Family  21%

As 2023 fast approaches… we see teens today have different dreams and fears to focus on … Quite different from 40 years ago, including:

• Mental Health
• Homelessness & runaway
• Climate change
• Gender & sexuality
• Drugs & suicide & Violence prevention

As parents & grandparents, & friends & neighbors we all have opportunities to reach out to young people … To talk to them, hear what challenges they are dealing with, and perhaps provide some mentoring & guidance as they navigate the changing society of today.  A Proverb states:   Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it. (Proverbs 22:6)  King Solomon wrote LOTS of wise sayings, to teach his children some very important life lessons — but many teens today do not have a background of reading wisdom in the Bible!

If you are seeking some resources … to help teens in your life have some tools for learning about life & family & God & wise choices … Here is a great place to start.