Megan Mitchell talks to St Paul’s year 7 students Lucy Kell and Chelsea Connell, both 12, before her presentation at the weekend. Picture: TARA GOONAN
PARENTS should not be surprised when their nine to 14-year-old child withdraws from the family, NSW Commissioner for Children Megan Mitchell said.
In Walla at the weekend to meet the NSW Parents Council to talk all things children, Ms Mitchell said nine to 14-year-olds were more concerned about their peers than their families and parents.
“They favour the attention from their peers more than anything else, even if that can get them in to trouble,” Ms Mitchell said.
Young teenagers’ obsession with social media was a testament to this.
“There are these things that are part of their world that weren’t part of our world at that age,” she said.
But she said although nine to 14-year-olds tend to push their families away at this age, they still needed an adult they could trust and talk to.