Meu filho adolescente é solitário e sai pouco. Isso é normal?

Rosely Sayão answers a question from a mother who is concerned about her 17-year-old son, who rarely goes out, only plays video games, and seems very lonely. She wants to know if this is normal or healthy. The psychologist responds that there is no standard guide to what is normal. "It's a very common behavior in boys this age. But the opposite is also common: parents complaining that 17-year-olds go out too much," she explains. Rosely reassures the mother by saying that online games are interesting and promote group work, but advises parents not to keep teenagers stuck in one thing for too long. "At this age, they need to discover the world," she adds. It's also important to remember that, although they promote contact, virtual interaction is no substitute for in-person contact. "In the virtual world, it's possible to avoid conflicts, but you have to face them, you have to learn to negotiate, and that can only be done in the real world," says Rosely.