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The Seven Cries of
Today's Teens
By: Timothy Smith
(In collaboration with George Gallup Jr.)
Nashville:Integrity:2003
[Reviewed by Lon Woodbury]
The author is a family pastor who has worked with adolescents
for many years. The Gallup International Institute founded
the Gallup Youth Survey 25 years ago to give society a reality
check on what is going on in the hearts and minds of teens.
This book is a result of a recent customized poll, interpreted
against the backdrop of the trends over the past 25 years
among teenagers as indicated by the 25-year series of polls.
The author calls the present generation of teens part of
the millennial generation, or generation Y. The evidence
collected indicates there is a strong trend among current
teens to be more responsible, more generous, more traditional
and more volunteer oriented than their parents had been as
teenagers. They even want more time with their parents. Of
course there is a right way and a wrong way for parents to "hang
out" with teens, which the book discusses. He finds
that teens are eager for clear rules to live by, are spiritually
hungry, are open to relationships with people of different
ages and cultures and backgrounds, are willing to work for
a peaceful, healthy life, and are enthusiastic about helping
others.
The heart of the book is devoted to seven needs, which the
evidence show are almost universal needs modern teens have.
The authors insist that behind the shocking appearances that
many teens adopt, there is an almost universal desire for
the following needs to be met.
1.) The need to be trusted - expressed by 92.7 %
2.) The need to be understood and loved - 92.2%
3.) The need to feel safe and secure where I live and go
to school. - 92.1%
4.) The need to believe that life is meaningful and has purpose.
- 91.6%
5.) The need to be listened to, to be heard. - 91.5%
6.) The need to be appreciated or valued. - 88.2%
7.) The need to be supported in my efforts. - 87.4%
In the book, each need is given its own chapter, with a
fuller explanation of why teens consider it so important,
common problems in helping teens meet these needs, and tips
as to how parents can help meet that particular need.
The author asserts that teens are painfully aware the public
has a negative image of them. And, the author concludes that
this image, as well as the existence of these seven needs,
show that as a society, we are not doing very well at raising
our children. They hope that this book will help alleviate
that problem by recommending concrete steps parents and child
professionals can take to better help our children.
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