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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.

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Sunday, October 26, 2008

University of Texas Explores Ways to Develop Teens' Critical Reasoning

The University of Dallas in Texas is seeking $20 million in grants to develop a web-based program to teach strategic reasoning to middle school students.

Scientists at the UTD Center for Brain Health have already created a program called SMART (Strategic Memory and Reasoning Training) for children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Teens who participate in the SMART program learn how to block details and organize information into main ideas, rather than to just memorize facts.

"The frontal lobes, the area of the brain associated with critical thinking and reasoning, develop rapidly through adolescence," said Dr. Sandra Chapman, director of the UTD Center. "High-level reasoning and critical thinking are skills that have to be learned and practiced. If teens do not acquire the ability to learn strategically, they might never do so."

Chapman noted that the United States ranks 24th out of 29 developed countries in critical thinking.

"We're missing the critical brain years and building a brain that does not reason," she said.

Labels: reasoning, research, students

posted by ByParents-forParents at 8:48 AM 0 comments

Monday, August 18, 2008

Teaching College-bound Teens about Credit

This fall, college campuses across the nation will be populated with bleary-eyed freshmen trying to take it all in. Awaiting them will be class professors, dormitory roommates, and credit card offers.

"Advise your college freshman not to fill out any application impulsively, and without understanding the fine print. If you don't want your college student to have a credit card just yet, put your foot down. Remind him that if he does anyway, you will not bail him out if he gets into debt."

If your teenager is adamant about getting a credit card, have him get one before he goes to college. Stop by the local bank and ask for a no-fee, low-limit card that will prevent him from overspending. Source: The Porterville Recorder

Read Money and Teens: Fiscal Responsibility for more information.

Labels: college, money, students

posted by ByParents-forParents at 7:48 AM 0 comments

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