News, Advice, and Tips for Parenting Teenagers

When most adults look back on their teenage years, they admit that times were often tough. Few teens consider themselves "kids" anymore, but they arent quite adults yet either. Issues such as dating, school stress, and peer pressure can be difficult to manage. In New York, young people who are experiencing these types of troubles can turn to community-based organizations:

Some adolescents find that they have few places to seek help or advice when it comes to navigating the tumultuous waters of the journey to adulthood. Fortunately, there are local organizations to help teens and pre-teens find their way."(Source: Democrat and Chronicle (NY), April 28, 2009)

One of these organizations is called Boys to Men, which helps boys ages ten to 17 by providing adult mentors who offer guidance and a ready ear. The group's mentors offer time and attention to help the boys learn how to become men of character and integrity.

Boys to Men is one of many youth mentoring efforts throughout the world that are designed to help young people navigate the challenging path between adolescence and adulthood.

Labels: mentoring

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A study of a Big Sister program in Boston found that an adult mentor can improve an adolescent's psychosocial functioning through shared activities, emotional support, and companionship.

Researchers from Boston University School of Social Work interviewed 12 girls and their 12 adult "big sisters" who had been working with them for two to eleven years.

"We found that these girls' relationships with their mentors offered both emotional support and opportunities to develop skills and confidence through collaborations with their mentors in shared activities, such as doing homework together or learning to sing," said Dr. Renee Spencer, author of the study.

This study appeared in the Journal of Primary Prevention.

Labels: parenting, teenagers, girls, mentoring

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Teenagers often have mentors. They may not be referred to by this term, but typically there is a coach, teacher or parent of a friend whom your teenager will admire. If you join forces, this person can be a valuable ally during the teen years.

"Sometimes kids can hear better when the words that are spoken are not coming from their own parents' lips. Adolescents who disregard their parents' point of view on principle can sometimes absorb an adult voice of reason when that voice is not genetically akin to their own."

While you want to accept adult friends in your teenager's life, you also want to pay attention to how your teen is being influenced. You want to be sure the influence is positive and is moving your teen in the right direction.

Source: Poughkeepsie Journal

Labels: teens, parenting, teenagers, parents, mentoring

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