News, Advice, and Tips for Parenting Teenagers

For over 30 years, ParentingPartners has offered parenting education classes in South Carolina. The goal of the classes is to prevent child abuse and neglect, and strengthen families through their many classes and programs.

"Parent Aides are professionally trained home visitors who work one-on-one with families. They teach parents to be more loving and attentive to the needs of their children."

In addition to Parent Aides, ParentingPartners offers classes on nurturing, dealing with divorce, parenting teens and tweens, and more. Source: Wach.com

New Leaf Academy girls boarding schools in North Carolina and Oregon offer a safe, nurturing environment for middle school aged girls to grow into healthy teenagers.

Labels: communication, parenting, relationships

As parents invest time and energy into trying to understand their teenage kids, it might help them to know that their teenagers are trying to understand them, too. In her first book, "How to Raise Your Parents: A Teen Girl's Survival Guide", author Sarah O'Leary tries to shed some light on the subject.

"The teen survival guide is full of straight talk and smart advice on dealing with the 'difficult years' that every teen girl experiences. The guide covers everything from negotiation and bargaining tactics to surviving the report card storm."

O'Leary's book is helpful for both teens and parents, aiding each in understanding the other, and keeping lines of communication open. Source: Bellevue Reporter

If teen is struggling with who they are, then a wilderness therapy program can help. Visit Wilderness-Programs-Info.com to learn more.

Labels: communication, parenting, relationships

Are parents harder on first-born children than their younger siblings? A new study indicates the answer may be yes.

Researchers from the University of Maryland, Duke University, and Johns Hopkins University sorted through data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics on teen pregnancy and high school drop-outs. The researchers found that parents were more likely to withdraw financial support from first-borns who got pregnant or quit high school than their younger siblings. Parents were more likely to allow the younger brothers or sisters to live at home. Younger siblings were also more likely to drop out of school and get pregnant compared to the first-borns in the study.

Lead author Ginger Zhe Jim believes that most parents want to take a tough stand and set an example of their first-borns who get in trouble in order to deter the younger ones from following suit.

This study appears in Economic Journal.

What happens to the younger siblings of a teen struggling with drug addiction? Learn about how to parent your other children while getting your child help for teen alcoholism.

Labels: parenting, rules, siblings

Because of the developmental stage most teenagers are in, they have a hard time managing their emotions; especially if they're provoked. As parents, we can sometimes provoke our kids unintentionally, and author Mark Gregston reminds us that we need to be careful.

"I'm not talking about momentary parental lapses here. If you are going through a struggle with your teenager right now, I guarantee there will be moments when you will not handle matters well. Even the best parent may 'lose it' every now and then. Instead, I'm referring to a parent who has an ongoing problem losing it... of punishing and demeaning a child with destructive or negative words, who may or may not recognize it..."

Teenagers who are continually berated by parents often end up angry and bitter, and they show little or no respect for their parents. Parents must be aware of how they're communicating with their kids, making sure that - even when they're angry - they're not being cruel or unfair. Source: KBIQ Radio

If your teenager exhibits signs of anger and aggression, get him the help he needs before he gets into too much trouble. A licensed, accredited residential treatment program, like the one at Turn-About Ranch, teaches troubled teens real values like honesty and respect. Visit www.TurnAboutRanch.com to learn more.

Labels: aggression, fighting, parenting

Warnings and lectures don't do much to motivate teens. Any parent of a teen can vouch for that. When teaching a teen to take responsibility for their actions, tactile consequences speak louder than words.

"A simple rule might be: 'If the car is not home by curfew, then you won't be able to use the car for a day.' If the teen continues to miss curfew, then don't let him drive for increasingly longer periods. And don't soften the blow by offering rides to school. Let him take the bus, so he learns, and learns quickly, from it."

Neither emotional humiliation nor physical pain should be used as consequences. If it is, it simply pits parent against child and valuable lessons about personal responsibility are never learned.

A therapeutic boarding school can help a teenager who's spinning out of control emotionally. By combining accredited academics with counseling and therapy, a good school will change a child's future. Visit TherapeuticBoardingSchools.com to find a school today.

Labels: consequences, parenting, rules

A new study of more than 2,000 parents and their children found that boys and girls observe their bad parents' driving habits at early ages and may imitate them once they get drivers' licenses of their own.

Eighty percent of the children (ages 10 to 18 years) observed their parents speeding, and a majority saw them multi-tasking, yelling or arguing with other drivers, and not keeping both hands on their steering wheels. One-third said their parents' driving habits sometimes scared them.

"'Do as I say, not as I do' seems to be the philosophy of many parents when it comes to teaching children safe driving habits," said Bill Windsor, vice president of safety for Nationwide Mutual Insurance, the company that conducted the study.

Island View is an adolescent residential treatment for troubled teens. Learn more about alternative schools for troubled teens at www.islandview-rtc.com.

Labels: driving, parenting, role_models

There are so many conflicting stories and reports about social networking sites like MySpace and Facebook that parents don't know what to believe. Are the sites safe for their children or not? What really happens on these web sites? Some moms, rather than relying on the media, have taken matters into their own hands.

"[Calsey] Merrit's friends though his mother was cool for having a profile on one of today's most popular Web sites, but her intention was not to win them over. She wanted to know what MySpace was about... In Greenville, S.C., mother of three Michele McClain says 'somebody asked me why did I have a MySpace page, and I told them to stay two steps ahead of my kids. Not on the same level, but two steps ahead of them.'"

These moms are not alone. An increasing number of parents across the nation are logging onto to MySpace, and other social networking sites, to learn firsthand what their kids might be exposed to and to better understand how the sites work. Though parental presence on MySpace doesn't guarantee that kids won't get unwanted or unsolicited attention, it does give parents practical experience and information they can use to help keep their kids safe.

Keeping your teen safe in the real world is just as important as internet safety. Visit Teen-Help-Directory.com to learn how to help your teenager.

Labels: myspace, online_safety, parenting

When Marlene Hoefler was in school, she remembers teachers who were attentive to students' needs, and parents who were involved in her academics and her life in general. Today, however, she finds that's more the exception than the rule, and she urges both parents and educators to 'get back to the basics' of teaching and parenting.

"More parents need to get involved with the schools and in their children's lives and know what the schools are doing and speak up. Encourage children and give them morals and values to live by. Teach them to be respectful."

Though it's tempting to try and be a child's friend, parents need to be parents, mentoring and guiding their kids, and helping them develop into healthy adults.

College preparatory boarding schools offer the classes high schoolers need to be prepared for higher education. Find a college prep school at BoardingSchoolsInfo.com.

Labels: parenting, school, teaching

The Partnership for a Drug-Free America has found that fewer parents are warning their children about the dangers of drugs.

Of particular concern was that only a third of parents talked to their children about the dangers of prescription drugs. About one in five of all substance abusers use prescription or over-the-counter drugs.

Researchers surveyed 1356 parents of children in grades seven to twelve and found a 12% decline in the frequency of parental discussions about drug use compared to a similar survey a year earlier. The Partnership estimates that 32 million American families have children at risk for abusing drugs and alcohol.

North Star Center's drug treatment programs for adolescent substance abuse help young adults by offering a structured program of sobriety and recovery.

Labels: communication, influences, parenting

It's that time of year again. Across the nation, millions of kids will be going back to school in the next few weeks. Whether a student is just starting kindergarten, or is in her senior year of high school, communication between parents and teachers is vital.

"Keep up with the hands-on parenting when the kids reach high school, adds Teresa Bullock, a Midtowner who has two graduates of the Memphis City Schools system and served for two years as president of the Central High's PTSA (Parent Teacher Student Association)... She encouraged parents to join their school's parent organizations, to check on homework projects, and to monitor mid-term progress reports."

Many teachers also suggest that parents communicate via Internet discussion boards and email, not only to check on a student's progress and overall activity, but to keep updated on things like projects and mid-term and final exams. Read more at CommercialAppeal.com.

Keeping the lines of communication open with your teen will help prevent teenage drug abuse. Learn how to you can help your teenager at DrugRehabTreatment.com.

Labels: communication, networking, parenting

In the age of text messages, internationally-equipped cell phones and MySpace pages, teens are closer to and more in touch with their parents than ever before. But is that a good thing? Or has something important been sacrificed in these new parent-teen friendships?

"Instead of saying 'Go get a Saturday job if you want to go clubbing', you see parents hand over the money - and then ask their teenagers if they can go clubbing with them. That may appear cute, but it is not good. As parents, you have got to be prepared to take the unpopularity hit."

The risk with blurring the line between parent and friend is that kids begin relying too heavily on mom and dad for just about everything. It may sound good when kids are young, but can pose big problems when it's time for them to make their own way. Read more at Women.TimesOneline.co.uk.

Finding that balance between being a friend and being a parent can be difficult for some parents. Read how Over-Protective Child-Rearing is Ruining Kids' Lives to learn why you need to learn to let go.

Labels: parenting, role_models, seperation

Some parents, in an attempt to protect their teens from making poor decisions, will resort to checking out their MySpace pages, listening in on conversations, and possibly even reading their diaries or journals. But what is this kind of behavior teaching the kids?

"A mentor and author of My Feet Aren't Ugly: A Girl's Guide to Loving Herself from the Inside Out (Beaufort Books), [Debra] Beck believes that parents today need to reassess how they're approaching parenting. According to Beck, 'Too often, parents inadvertently give their [kids] mixed messages. By sneaking around and looking at a teen's MySpace page, listening in on private conversations and snooping, parents are teaching that honoring someone's privacy isn't that big of a deal.'"

Open lines of communication can be difficult, but are vital during your child's teenage years. Talk to your child, not at her. This will give you the opportunity to discuss important issues like drinking, without pushing her away. Read more online.

Labels: parenting, privacy, role_models

A new 30-second television commercial will air on NBC on April 30th. Titled "Daddy's Girl", the spot emphasizes the importance of saying "no" and guiding teenagers in making healthy decisions, especially when it comes to underage drinking.

"According to a recent survey conducted by Data Development Worldwide for Anheuser-Bush, 98 percent of parents agree that it's never OK for parents to buy alcohol for their own teens and other teens at parties or gatherings. Unfortunately, some parents say 'yes' when faced with this situation. Research has found that two-thirds of teens who drink say they get alcohol from their parents or other adults."

The Roper Youth Report, an annual survey of teens, reports that 74 percent of teenagers consistently name their parents as the number one influence on their decision to drink or not. Read more online.

Labels: influences, parenting, pushovers

It's a common theme among teenagers; the "the parents are away on vacation" party. In this day and age, word can spread quickly that a teenager's parents are gone for a weekend or for an entire week. Is it possible to ensure that your teenager will act responsibly while you're gone?

"[Family Project] Panelist Joanne Nigito says it may be possible to go away and leave teens at home but safety nets need to be in place and kids need to have their activities planned out."

Other members on the Family Project panel suggest having a responsible adult stay in the house when you're gone, and plan trips during the week, when kids are busy with school. Read more at McCall.com.

Labels: parenting, teens

Parents of teenagers often seek solace in books. Some are looking for advice; others simply want to know they're not alone. The teenage years are tough, both for the teen and for the parent.

"Teens are beautiful in the same way that thunderstorms are. You never know whether to step outside and revel in the display or run for cover."

This list of books offers both sound advice and reassurance that parents all over the world are struggling with the same experiences, questions, and doubts. Read more at ParentingTeens.com.

Labels: parenting, teenagers

The Indy Star recently received a question from a parent about what to do with a child who didn't want to go to college. The parent said that grades and money weren't the issue - just the teenager's willingness to continue their education. The reply by the Star's parenting expert said to ask the teen questions about why they didn't want to go, what their plans where for the future, and to avoid lecturing. Read more online.

Turn-About Ranch, the world-renown program for teens, is launching a new vocational program. While at Turn-About Ranch, teenagers can earn certificates in subjects including Culinary Arts and Automotive Technology.

Labels: college, parenting, teens