News, Advice, and Tips for Parenting Teenagers

The By Parents For Parents Blog is regularly updated with the latest news and information on topics that relate to parenting teenagers. We'll post parenting advice and tips from trusted online news sources and expert parenting columns.

We invite you to add your comments. Please let us know if you would like some specific topics covered, want to share your experience as a parent dealing with teens, or just have general feedback on the By Parents For Parents Blog.

Friday, February 17, 2006

Starting School Later in the Day Proves Positive

In 2203, the city of Wilton, CT, delayed the start times at its high schools and middle schools by 45 minutes. Since then, research shows that their teens are getting more sleep, principls say theres more respect in the classrooms, and their SAT scores are better than ever. Studies show that schools with later start times have better attendance, less tardiness, and less teenage depression. Read more about the advantages to later start times and the affects of adolescent sleep deprivation at www.courant.com.

Posted By: Lori S 6 Comments

Tuesday, February 28, 2006

Peer Mediation Works for Teenagers

The Melrose High School' peer mediation program, currently in its 5th year, boasts an almost 90% resolution rate of all conflicts. Seniors believe the mediation program has brought the student body closer. Read more online.

Posted By: Lori S 0 Comments

Friday, February 24, 2006

Teens Are More Stressed Out Than We Know

Some teenagers, especially boys, have a difficult time dealing with the emotional roller coaster ride known as adolescence. Teens feel pressure to head off to college. Parents need to build a support team so that as teens are faced with new experiences and additional stresses they have people to turn to for help. The Newton Bee has the full story.

Posted By: Lori S 0 Comments

Thursday, February 23, 2006

Parenting Advice: Dont Micromanage Your Teen

Often, parents anxieties can lead to micromanaging their teenagers social lives. By letting your teen learn some of lessons on their own, they are less apt to rebel. Read more about parental micromanagement online at www.ohio.com.

Posted By: Lori S 0 Comments

Wednesday, February 22, 2006

Are Todays Teens at Risk?

Although some of the statistics are troubling, officials said the recent results of the 2005 New Hampshire Youth Risk Behavior Survey in are promising. The survey of almost 1300 teenagers, showed a decline in use of alcohol but an increase in marijuana use. Experts believe that education is the key to changing teens' attitudes. Read more results online at www.seacoastonline.com.

Posted By: Lori S 0 Comments

Tuesday, February 21, 2006

Raising Children with Self-Esteem

Because experts say that self-esteem influences every part of our lives, when kids reach adolescence, its important parents understand the magnitude of helping their teens discover their self-worth. Teenagers base their self-esteem on things like body image, rejection, abuse, and neglect. Parents must pay attention to the warning signs when their child is struggling with self-esteem. Read the entire article from the Arizona Republic at www.azcentral.com.

Posted By: Lori S 0 Comments

Monday, February 20, 2006

Its OK for Parents to Disagree

At one time or another, most parents disagree on how to raise their kids. Disagreeing is fine, as long as parents handle the disagreements properly.

Specialists in parenting and child development agree that couples would do well to discuss and decide early in their marriage the things that are most important to them and best for any children.

Sunday, February 19, 2006

Nevada Courts Help Families in Conflict

Nevada County's Unified Family Court has a program for divorced parents and their children, one for juvenile delinquency, and another for family violence. Superior Court Judge Carl F. Bryan II, is the man most responsible developing a court system that relies on mediation as a first course of action whenever possible. Bryans vision is a court process that helps people when they are in crisis. Read more at www.theunion.com.

Posted By: Lori S 0 Comments

Saturday, February 18, 2006

Help for Families of Depressed Teens

The Boston Globe reports about new support groups for families with teenagers suffering from depression. Parents share their experiences raising depressed or bipolar children so that other moms and dads can benefit from their insights. Learn more online at www.boston.com.

Another website with helpful resources for parents of teenagers is About Teen Depression. At that site, you can find adolescent depression symptoms and treatment options.

Posted By: Lori S 0 Comments

Friday, February 17, 2006

Teaching Children Fiscal Responsibility

Giving your child a weekly allowance can be an important part of teaching financial responsibility. But, that can be difficult nowadays since kids and teens are spending more and more.

On average, teens spent $91 a week last year - including money from an allowance or that parents gave them for purchases when asked - according to Teenage Research Unlimited, which surveyed 2,000 young people ages 12 to 19.

And the old-fashioned idea of giving teenagers money for chores or grades is no longer cool. Read the entire article from buffalonews.com.

Heres another good article about helping your teenager learn about money.

Posted By: Lori S 0 Comments

Wednesday, February 15, 2006

Helping Teens Make the Right Choices

Todays teenagers face peer pressure and stresses that they simply cant handle by themselves. Thats why its so important for parents to be positive role models for their children. Its each parents job to know what their child is doing, how theyre developing and what challenges theyre going through, because the consequences of irresponsible parenting affects everyone. Read more online.

Posted By: Lori S 0 Comments

Thursday, February 09, 2006

Support Group for Parents

Parents Anonymous of Iowa provides support, education and information to parents with children of all ages. About 10-20 parents attend each session and discuss issues ranging from infant care, discipline, and children having problems at school. The goal is for parents to share their experiences and learn new parenting skills. Learn more online at desmoinesregister.com.

Posted By: Lori S 1 Comment

Tuesday, February 14, 2006

Critics Say Boot Camps Are Still No Good

After a 14-year-old boy died at the Bay County Sherriffs Office Boot Camp, critics says theyre not surprised that the state run scream camp for juvenile delinquents killed the boy with their system of brutal discipline and tough love. They say that the fad to consign juvenile offenders to military-style boot camps started a dozen years ago and quickly spread to 27 states. The camps nurtured sadistic guards and horrible abuse while 65 to 75 percent of its inmates were back in trouble within a year. Read more about how many states have abandoned boot camps because of their ineffectiveness and waste of money at www.miami.com.

Boot Camps Info is a great resource for information about boot camps and alternative programs for troubled teens.

Posted By: Lori S 0 Comments

Monday, February 13, 2006

Answers to Questions About Kids with ADD / ADHD

The Boston Globes Ask the Teacher column offers advice to parents of children with ADD/ADHD or other learning disabilities. Ellen Peterson, a 4th grade teacher in Weymouth says that IQ tests may offer clues as to why children loose focus and dont finish their work on time. Peterson also says that talking with your child about all aspects of school will help you stay involved and learn about any other problems they may be experiencing.

Posted By: Lori S 0 Comments

Sunday, February 12, 2006

Young Children Learn Important Life Lessons

Third graders in New England, New York, and New Jersey are learning how to deal with stress. The Open Circle program, which also teaches children about community, responsibility, cooperation, respect and assertiveness helps foster social and emotional growth. Teachers attend training workshops to facilitate the program, which is funded by the schools and grants. Learn more at tauntongazette.com.

Posted By: Lori S 0 Comments

Friday, February 10, 2006

A Teens Perspective

Hannah Janoowalla, a senior at Passaic High School in New Jersey, shares her views on what it takes to maintain a strong, healthy parent-teen relationship. Janoowalla believes that by giving teenagers the freedom to discover themselves a bond is created through trust. Read the rest of the teens opinions on parenting at the Herald News.

Posted By: Lori S 0 Comments

Wednesday, February 08, 2006

Mental Health a Real Concern Among Parents

While the spotlight has been on families in crisis in Kentucky, all around the world our children are experiencing more mental and emotional health issues than ever before. A crisis care counselor shares ways to recognize the problems and the risk factors so that parents can act before their teen takes drastic measures. Read all the clues and ways to help online.

Posted By: Lori S 0 Comments

Tuesday, February 07, 2006

Parents Must Stop Teen Violence

In Natchez, MS, programs designed to help parents prevent juvenile crimes are working. By giving teenagers alternatives to getting into trouble and opportunities to do the right thing, parents can help their child change their behavior before they wind up in a jail cell. Read more in The Natchez Democrat.

Posted By: Lori S 0 Comments

Sunday, February 05, 2006

CO Schools Keep Boys More Interested in Academics

In an effort t to cater to the learning styles of boys, the Boulder Valley School District has allowed boys more freedom to move around their classrooms and in their choice of topics to study. Results prove that teaching to boys in a way that they can to relate to has narrowed the gap between boys and girls on tests administered under the Colorado Student Achievement Program. Read more from the Rocky Mountain News.

Posted By: Lori S 0 Comments

Friday, February 03, 2006

Tips to Steer Kids Away from Smoking

How do parents that just quit smoking themselves teach their children not to smoke? Experts say that even if parents smoked in the past, they can explain to their kids that its a scary addiction and that they quit to become better role models. Parents should set a strong example to work against peer pressure. Read the rest of the tips at lsj.com.

Posted By: Lori S 0 Comments

Thursday, February 02, 2006

Art Therapy Helps Troubled Girls

In Rockville, MD, girls at a residential treatment center for troubled teens used expressive therapy art therapy to communicate their thoughts and feelings. In addition to reducing tension, building self-respect and self-esteem, by giving the teenagers their own space it kept the girls interested and helped further their treatment. Read more at gazette.net.

Posted By: Lori S 0 Comments

Wednesday, February 01, 2006

Programs to Prevent Runaways

The Union Leader in NH reports on programs geared at helping families deal with issues before things get so bad that teens runaway. These programs are also geared to reunite families of children who have already runaway. There are classes that teach parents how to become more involved with their children and workshops that encourage teenagers to explore their strengths. Learn who to contact online.

Posted By: Lori S 0 Comments

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News, Advice, and Tips for Parenting Teenagers

Friday, February 17, 2006

Tuesday, February 28, 2006

Friday, February 24, 2006

Thursday, February 23, 2006

Wednesday, February 22, 2006

Tuesday, February 21, 2006

Monday, February 20, 2006

Sunday, February 19, 2006

Saturday, February 18, 2006

Friday, February 17, 2006

Wednesday, February 15, 2006

Thursday, February 09, 2006

Tuesday, February 14, 2006

Monday, February 13, 2006

Sunday, February 12, 2006

Friday, February 10, 2006

Wednesday, February 08, 2006

Tuesday, February 07, 2006

Sunday, February 05, 2006

Friday, February 03, 2006

Thursday, February 02, 2006

Wednesday, February 01, 2006