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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.

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Negative Stereotypes Inaccurate and Harmful

Though there are lots of "doom and gloom" stories about today's teenagers, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has statistics that may put trends in adolescent behavior in a better light. According to the CDC, most teens have not had a drink in the past 30 days, few have tried marijuana, and only 50 percent of them have had sex.

"This reality can be leveraged to promote healthy choices through 'social norming'. Social norming operates on the notion that if the general impression is that most kids don't drink alcohol, then those who do drink will drink less, and fewer will start drinking."

Several high schools, middle schools, and colleges have begun using the social norming approach and found it to be very effective in curbing risky behavior. It's a strategy parents can use as well by talking to their teens about what everyone is not doing. Source: San Marcos Daily Record

Labels: behavior, stereotypes, trends

posted by ByParents-forParents at 3:25 AM 0 comments

Thursday, September 20, 2007

Peer Groups Influence Teens' Behaviors

A new study from the University of Western Ontario indicates that peer groups can influence children to behave in ways similar to the group.

Researchers studied 526 children in grades five through eight, asking them to classify their classmates into groups such as "popular," "nice kids," and "physically aggressive." The children who were in the "nice" group did not change over the course of the study. However, children in the "cool and popular" group changed their behaviors to live up to the peer group. Likewise, children in the deviant groups engaged in more risky behaviors and became more disliked over time.

This study appears in the July/August issue of Child Development.

Therapeutic boarding schools, like Oakley School in Utah, offer college prep academics in addition to therapy and counseling.

Labels: behavior, influences, research

posted by ByParents-forParents at 9:51 PM 0 comments

Friday, March 23, 2007

Too Much Self Esteem Can Be A Bad Thing: Profs Say Kids Think They Are Too Special

College students suffer from too much self-esteem, according to a comprehensive new study by five psychologists at San Diego State University.

Because their self-involvement is at record high, this generation of young people might pose a threat to society.

People who are in love with themselves are "more likely to have romantic relationships that are short-lived, be at risk for infidelity, lack emotional warmth, and exhibit game-playing, dishonesty and over-controlling and violent behaviors," according to lead author Dr. Jean Twenge. Narcissists tend to promote themselves, lack empathy for others, and overreact to criticism. She said that today's youth exhibit record high narcissism.

Dr. Twenge and her colleagues examined answers to personality questionnaires filled out by 16,475 college students between 1982 and 2006. Known as the Narcissistic Personality Inventory, the form requires yes and no responses to statements such as, "I think I am a special person," "If I ruled the world, it would be a better place," and "I can live my life anyway I want to."

The researchers found that narcissism has steadily increased since 1982. About two-thirds of today's college students have above-average scores. This is 30 percent more than in 1982.

Dr. Twenge believes that a "self-esteem movement" begun in schools in the 1980s fueled the change.

Labels: behavior, narcissism, research

posted by ByParents-forParents at 10:48 AM 0 comments

Wednesday, March 21, 2007

Are Teens Really Crazy?

Psychologist and therapist Michael Bradley has authored a book called 'Yes, Your Teen is Crazy! Loving Your Kid Without Losing Your Mind'. But is it true? Are teens really crazy? Many people don't think so.

"Bradley's thesis is interesting (is not original), and he manages to give reasonably practical advice within what is, overall, an entertaining read. But the exceptions disprove Bradley's rule. Let's face it: A significant number of teenagers don't act like they have loose screws rattling around inside their craniums."

In the mid-1800s, teens were described as hard-working and community-minded. Columnist John Rosemond suggests that the change in teens may reflect a change in parenting. Read more online.

Labels: advice, behavior, parenting books

posted by ByParents-forParents at 5:57 PM 0 comments

Sunday, February 25, 2007

Gene for Arguing May Cause Kids' Conduct Disorders

Years ago, scientific studies indicated that parents who argue a lot have children with conduct disorders.

Now a new study concludes that argumentative parents probably pass on genes for conduct problems.

A research team led by Dr. Paige Harden at the University of Virginia studied 1,045 twins and their 2,051 children. The team concluded that genetics, not marital conflicts, caused children's conduct disorders.

Children with conduct disorders exhibit a range of misbehaviors such as skipping school, bullying, shoplifting, lying, and running away from home.

This study appears in the January/February 2007 issue of the journal, Child Development.

Labels: behavior, research, role models

posted by ByParents-forParents at 10:55 PM

Friday, February 09, 2007

Kids Pick up on Parents' Anti-social Behavior

A study conducted by the University of California Davis and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University has concluded that anti-social behavior is often learned by children observing parents who display anti-social behavior.

"Parents' behavior provides children with a model for their own behavior, and children's perception that a parent is anti-social may be a key component in choosing and validating their own behaviors, giving children permission to engage in this type of behavior."

The study also found that the development of this behavior began well before the child reached the 9th grade, and often continued on throughout high school. Read more at PsychCentral.com.

Could your child's anti-social behavior be Asperger's Syndrome? Children diagnosed with Aspergers or AS can be overly logical, clumsy and uncoordinated, tend to speak too loudly or in whispers, or may have trouble with sensory integration. The most difficult trait for kids with Asperger's is their inability to pick up other people's social cues and to respond appropriately. Learn more about Asperger's Syndrome, including diagnosing symptoms, the benefits, and the differences between AS and autism, at www.yourlittleprofessor.com.

Labels: behavior, role models

posted by ByParents-forParents at 3:22 PM

Monday, February 05, 2007

New Study Reveals New Issues for Teens

Emerson Hospital in Massachusetts created a new study to identify risky behaviors among middle- and high school students. One of the most surprising results was the students' responses to questions about oral sex; 36% of high school students admitted giving or receiving oral sex.

"Educators say the study is a valuable assessment of teenage behavior and opens up a window for parents to talk to their teens about good decision making."

More than 8,000 middle- and high school students filled out the anonymous surveys which will be discussed at upcoming school committee meetings. Read more at LowellSun.com.

Labels: behavior, communication, sex

posted by ByParents-forParents at 3:26 PM

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