Teenagers and Parenting Articles

As parents it's sometimes difficult to know where you stand with your growing and maturing teenager. As a young child they looked up to you for everything, but now they want you to drop them off at the end of the road so you won't embarrass them in front of their friends and to not dress like ...

Too many High School parents think that their only role is to push their children to get good grades, so they will be accepted by a better college. However, in reality, parents of the most successful college students usually play a much broader role. Yes, grades are important. However, many ...

I am an holistic life coach. A great deal of my work is with students who are about to fail their school year or with young adults now living at home, playing video games all day,and who may have dropped out. So maybe it’s best to say that I am a turn-your-life-around coach. Each time I meet with their parents, the title of this article is the unspoken question in each of their minds, followed by what I imagine is even harsher versions of inner self-flagellation.r

Text messaging remains one of the most popular forms of communication for kids who own phones. A 2015 survey found that 88% of US teenagers aged 13 to 17 have access to a mobile phone of some kind and a majority of teens have smartphones (73%). This number rises to over 90% of teenagers if you include other devices. The popularity of text messaging is growing amongst children and teens, as it is a quick, convenient and often free form of communication. The rise in the number

“Don’t wish it was easier; wish you were better. Don’t wish for less problems; wish for more skills. Don’t wish for less challenges; wish for more wisdom.” Jim Rohn, an American entrepreneur, author, and motivational speaker Rude and greedy behaviour among adults is contributing to the ...

Are the changes in your life overwhelming you? Do you find that the older you get, the more changes you have to make? Maybe your best friend moved away or you have lost a job that you thought you would be doing forever. Maybe you moved to a new area or have recently retired.nn ...

Are you conce ed about what your teen is doing on Facebook? Not sure how much you should check on their online life? It can be confusing figuring out how much freedom you should give your teen, especially when it comes to the Internet. It’s important that you do not come across as the enemy, otherwise your teen will be likely to do whatever they want in spite of your instructions. Social media has firmly injected itself as an important part of your teen’s coming of age, and as such should be treated with the same respect and caution as other milestones. Keep Your Teen Safe

Most young people who go on a rampage of shooting others in malls or schools, do so because of a combination of two things...hopelessness for their current situation, and a sense of abandonment by others. It's an attempt to "pay back" mankind for their misery, forcing others to feel a similar hurt that they have been carrying for years. I always wince a little right before a newscaster shares the name of the shooter who took out his aggression, anger, or disappointment with life through the senseless killing of many at a mall, school or a church.

A few years ago I was in Publix with my young granddaughter. We went to the bakery section to get her the “free cookie” that publix advocates. After finding out that the “free cookie” did not include her cherished “Gingerbread Boy,” I murmured to her in my best grandmotherly fashion that ...

Do you feel like someone has abducted your sweet, innocent child and replaced them with a monster? Are you confused that somehow you have gone from knowing everything as a parent, to knowing absolutely nothing? Welcome to being a parent of a preteen/teenager. It is a brave new world. Being a preteen/teenager is difficult and being a parent of one is difficult as well. In this article, I will address just a few of the many “normal” aspects of adolescence and how to survive

In 1984 I graduated high school with no ideas about what career options might suit me. As any teen would do, I sought the advice of my parents, and my oldest brother, a Chartered Accountant. Both my dad and brother advised me to become an accountant – I still remember my dad telling me “Well, if you don’t like it, accounting is a good background to have and you can always go and do something else.” It took me 20 years stuck in accounting jobs until I was finally able to do th

When we become parents, it's hard sometimes to remember that our children are separate individuals, with unique abilities, talents, and personalities. Yet it's extremely important to learn how to balance our own goals for them with the interests they have for themselves. Let's talk about how we can better seek personal goals as parents, while still investing in our children's interests. Parental Desires vs Children's Desires This can be the toughest thing to balance as your c

Why do we find it so hard to say no? Well one of the reasons is shortage of time we all seem to be in such a hurry these days. It's so much easier to give in and buy whatever it is your teenager wants rather than spending time explaining why you won't buy what they want or spend time dealing ...

New forum for families, relationships and anyone who is interested in understanding themselves, chatting to others who are a sounding board and good listeners, swapping information and making friends. You will find it is easy to make friends here and be yourself, far easier than it is when you meet people face to face. You can hide behind your computer and if you wish you can choose not to reveal your name etc. so that it helps you to feel safer. If you are going through a di

I know my kids love me. Of course they do—I’m their dad. But until recently I did not fully understand just how much they love me, or how much they, as children, do to try and make ME, the parent, feel happy and loved. My daughter and I have our moments, we argue and sometimes it's intense. But as she gets older, the good, loving moments where we develop closer bonds and appreciation get better. As I've gotten to know her, I've noticed that she unintentionally shows me ho

Bonding with your children is a very meaningful and special experience, and like all children, the students at West Ridge Academy want to spend time forming strong bonds with their parents or guardians. When most parents think of bonding with their children, they think of playing with them in the pool or at the park. But, aside from that, did you ever realize that chores can be another means of bonding with your children? Chores: The Next Step for Your Children Many parents t

As students move through college and into the world of work, they will be judged on their accomplishments. Therefore, every student who purposely builds a list of meaningful accomplishments will greatly increase their chances of achieving their goals. Employers and Graduate Schools expect to ...

John LaDue was the Waseca teen who was charged with plotting to kill not only his family but his high school classmates last year underwent examination by a psychologist. The psychologist told a judge that having LaDue stand trial for the charges as an adult would give time and help with the process of monitoring and intervention.

There is absolutely no doubt that raising a family can be an exhausting, challenging and on many occasions a frustrating business; but when you get it right there is no single experience in life that will prove to be as fulfilling and rewarding as bringing up happy children. Every parent wants ...

Youth Foundation Inc. is an initiative to help struggling teens and their families. It understands and addresses the real problem that gets in the way of teens’ success, which by the way is not the absence of ability but the lack of motivation that these teenagers need in order to thrive in their daily lives at school and home.

It seems like every day there is a new article calling out millennials for being over-indulged and narcissistic. Then you log onto any social media outlet, they are flooded with selfies and updates on trivial, day-to-day information like restaurant check-ins. It’s enough to make you start to believe all those articles claiming that millennials are the most narcissistic generation we’ve seen yet. But are millennials truly narcissistic or just a product of their environment

Did’ja hear about the Petersons? Their son Skeeter was kicked out of school, caught smoking something illegal and now he just stays up ‘till all hours of the night in his bedroom day in and day out in his Snuggie! So, when did the Petersons’ kid become “that kid” and what could the Petersons have done differently? So many young people today have too many temptations at their fingertips. Does that put them in danger? No. Can it be a sign of becoming a Skeeter Peterson? Not necessarily.r

Defiance is a common behavior in most teenagers, worse in some. Typically, when kids reach the teenage years, they are trying to establish independence. While being independent is a good thing, defiance is not. If you find you have a teen who continually acts out, challenging your authority, the following five steps will help. While a number of steps in dealing with a defiant teen are available, we have provided you with the ones in which we feel the strongest.nn1. Choose you

As a parent, you never expect your teen to tell you that they or their partner is pregnant. However, the unfortunate reality is that this happens frequently enough that it could happen to you. Fortunately, there are a number of abortion alternatives you can explain to your teen and guide them in the right direction. Adoption Adoption is a wonderful alternative to abortion . Explore this option with your daughter or son. There are many couples who would love to adopt a child,

Second Chances. The title sounds like you screwed up on the first try and are graced with another shot. The trick is to not give that first experience any more credit than it deserves. I have made plenty of mistakes as a daughter, woman, mother, and wife. If I wore my flaws like a medallio I would be weighted down with a very large disc of toxic metal. I believe we all should be grateful for the opportunity to make it right, better, different, happier. I think as a daughter first experiences the layers of emotions that are the total sum of our being, we get totally confused!

Why do we find it so hard to say no? Well one of the reasons is shortage of time we all seem to be in such a hurry these days. It's so much easier to give in and buy whatever it is your teenager wants rather than spending time explaining why you won't buy what they want or spend time dealing ...

Construction Is Man's Work, When It Comes To Fathering! Being a source of entertainment will never create a real and lasting bond between a father and his kids, it is a false and short-lived bond. That kind of bond can be broken by the first demand being refused! For that matter, it will be broken by ANY demand that isn't met. It's the same old story of money not being able to buy happiness. It only buys it for as long as it buys it! Being the father who buys presents instead

Recently, I spoke to a colleague about video games and he replied “yeah, my young son is addicted to video games and I don’t know what to do about it”. In my mind I thought, really? Your young son is addicted to a game that has parental controls that can be set in place to limit his game playing, and you say he’s addicted? While it is true that I do not know all of the circumstances of my colleague’s family life, my first thoughts revolved around the concept of this

There is one secret to success that every college student should take to heart. Nothing gets done when you do nothing. You must take action and move in one direction or another, if you are to accomplish your goals. Unfortunately, many talented students are afraid to step off the curb. They ...

How would you like to have a closer relationship with your teen again? nnYour ability to communicate effectively with your teen is one of the most precious skills you can develop to achieve this goal.nnWhen we think of communication, we tend to think only of the way we can express ourselves. This is certainly important, but listening is the single most crucial of all communication skills.nnAs a mother of two teenage boys I know thatnit isn't always easy to communicate well wi

Ok. I just can’t quit thinking about Britney Spears. Just the idea of choosing addiction over having her own children seems surreal. But wait, Britney is not an evil person. As a matter of fact, she is also a victim of this terrible disease. This addiction has taken over her ...

This book review is part of a series that covers the topic of Teenagers and Parenting. Teenagers and Parents share a special kind and amount of communication, compassion, and space while a child prepares for adulthood responsibilities. Sue Atkins is the Teenagers and Parenting .nn Get Out of My Life, but First Could You Drive Me and Cheryl to the Mall?: A Parent's Guide to the New Teenager , Anthony E. Wolf, is a valuable resource for people interested in Teenagers and Parent

I remember when I first met Ricky (not his real name). He was a Grade 4 student in the school yard pushing and yelling with an aura of glee emanating from his face as the two Grade 5 kids (who were actually much larger than him) cowered, looking for a way to get out of Ricky's sphere of influence.

Honestly, is there anyone harder to shop for than a teenager? Caught up in the life and death drama that always accompanies those teenage years, coupled with the stress of attempting to define themselves as both individuals and Christians, today's teens are under a lot of pressure. It's important to find a gift for them that will help them become the men and women of God they're going to be. rnDon't flinch, it's not that bad! With the wide variety of Christian gifts available

Parent-child conflict is a common problem these days. The children break the rules and misbehave with the elders. If you find it difficult to make your child obey you, behavior contracts can help you. You can easily create a discipline plan which your child would have to follow. The misscommunication between the parents and the children can be avoided by a contract which would be mutually agreed upon.

There is a dirty little secret here in the US that no one really wants to talk about: not our government, not our politicians, and especially not our neighbors. It has to do with human and sex trafficking. Recently CNN did a whole piece on this and as soon as they did a whole lot of misinformation was thrown at it and then the topic just went away. Human and sex trafficking has been on the rise for some time. The question is, why?

“Our lives can change with every breath we take.” –From the movie, Where the Heart Is. This phrase comes to my mind often. The verb change carries with it so much power, so much mystery and most of all, so much truth. How many of us have said “one minute he was fine, and the next minute, he ...

Life is really a bitter truth for each of us. A variety of problems come into everyone’s life to teach us something new every time about that how to live life. Sometimes we believe that our current problem is more important that the problem to be faced in the future. We make a mentality why only we are facing a particular problem not anybody else. But in reality everyone is facing problems of his portion. Everyone who has taken birth have some personal problems which he canno

Help! A parent was conce ed about her recurring summer problem with her teenager. “I practically never see them from June to September! They refuse to come to dinner, never speak to us and they have wasted every summer since turning 13 with their friends; playing video games (doing who knows what else) and going to sleep when I am getting ready to go to work at seven in the morning! No amount of discussion will get them to change their ways.”

The problem with praise We praise people, especially children not only to get them to do good work but to encourage them to develop good values and healthy self esteem. However praise is usually focused on the end result not on the quality of the child to achieve that result. E.g. "What a great result you got on that exam" rather tha "wow you worked really hard and put in a great effort to get an excellent result - well done!" This can lead to kids becoming approval junkies. It is a way of using and perpetuating our children's dependence on us.

There is so much going on out there, and teens are pretty clueless of how they appear to us “adults”. They think they know how they want to be perceived, yet the girls are wearing the shortest tightest skirts, (I can’t imagine how they can even sit down) or the boys have their jeans hanging way down below their belts. For the most part, their communication skills get worse every day as they submerge themselves in their world of text messages and abbreviate everything.

Though the joy and benefits of social media can most certainly not be ignored but there are certain privacy risks that need to taken into consideration as well. Whether you’re a private individual or a socialite; an over-sharing adult or a secretive teen; you should be aware of your privacy options and their utilizations to meet our needs accordingly . Following are user-friendly instructions to help keep your privacy in order on the most excessively used social media platf

Youths complain that their parents don't respect them. Instead of being trusted, they are judge without a trial when something goes wrong. A young girl said, "My Dad always wants to know everything, where I am, when I am going to be back. But do they have to know everything?" Reasons for their actions. Most of the times when you are not in the house without their notice, they start wondering and thinking if you have gotten into a car accident, hanging out in parks, doing dru

As the saying goes, “Patience is a Virtue”. It’s definitely at the top of the list for child rearing. Without patience, we as parents may lose our temper and worst of all - our sanity. We’ve all done it . . . lose our temper that is. But what message does that send to our children? We know that children repeat and imitate all that we do and say. So when we lash out at them, they react naturally by lashing back. Then what? Do you come back even stronger? No! You practice patience. You will find that on many occasions, your child simply wants attention.

This past weekend it was a treat for me to sit in the movie theater with my entire family (wife, son, daughter and their significant others) as we were entertained by the ramblings and rumblings of THE HULK! Yet, as I followed the antics of Bruce Banner (a.k.a. The Hulk) I couldn't help but be ...

This is the second installment of our Teen Influencer Series on Parent eSource.com When young people today think of revolution, history lessons and men from far-away lands usually come to mind. Januray 25th, 2011, changed all of that. Most teens were unaware of the peaceful revolution brewing within the Egyptian people until the protests moved from the streets of Cairo to the Social Networks, particularly Twitter and Facebook. World Events have certainly made it to the social

You seek a residential treatment community that will give you or someone you care about a brighter future. The task you face is very different from using the Internet to find an atto ey, new bank, or electrician. It is a complex endeavor – with high emotional and financial stakes. How do you find the best fit between person and program, a fit that can turn a life around? How long should someone keep trying on their own? Should you be conce ed with a program’s location? To what extent should the person being placed be involved in the search and the decision?

Peer pressure has a significant influence on teenage smoking. Many anti-smoking organizations claim that teenagers begin their smoking habits due to peer pressure, and cultural influence portrayed by friends. However, one study found that direct pressure to smoke cigarettes did not play a significant part in adolescent smoking. In that study, adolescents also reported low levels of both normative and direct pressure to smoke cigarettes. nnA similar study showed that individua

Your teen just received or gave out a card on Valentine’s Day. The other person involved, is a school mate she fancies and would really love to go out with - a potential date. With all the dangers out there in the world today, you have dreaded the time when your teen will ask to go out with another teen on a date. Yet, it cannot be avoided. So how do you handle the situation so that teenager dating advice is effective and helpful?nn1. Communicate clearly to your teen the ag

Do you know texting while driving is as fatal as driving when drunk? Yes, texting while driving is no less dangerous than driving under the influence of alcohol or some other intoxication creating drug, in fact some researchers have found it far more dangerous and has 6 times more likelihood of causing an accident than drunk driving. Texting is gripping on all but it is more common with the teenagers who just don’t mind taking a little risk in reading and replying back the