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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.

Saturday, August 30, 2008

Explaining Politics

Few kids take the time to study or understand political candidates and their issues. Teenagers have enough going on in their own lives without trying to delve into the life of someone they don't even know. But political involvement is something parents can help encourage.

"Begin by discussing with your children that though our elected officials are often in the limelight, they are not simply celebrities. They are elected by the people, for the people and therefore, uh, kind of work for us... Teach your children that being responsible consistently over time leads to integrity - and that should be the ultimate characteristic of all elected leaders."

Parents should also not shy away from talking about the failures and scandals of political leaders. Kids need to know that though we may not see the public consequences of political scandals, there are - without a doubt - personal ones. Source: Gaston (NC) Gazette

Labels: influences, leaders, teaching

posted by ByParents-forParents at 7:40 PM 0 comments

Friday, August 08, 2008

Work-Based Sex Ed Programs Enhance Parent-Teen Communication

A new study that was published in the British Medical Journal reports that work-based sex education programs for parents increased parent/teen discussions about menstruation, birth control, and other topics.

Researchers enrolled over 500 parents of teenagers in eight weekly sessions of a program called "Talking with Your Teens about Tough Issues." Participants reported that after taking the course - which was presented at their places of work - they became more comfortable initiating difficult discussions with their teens about sexual issues.

Some experts believe that teaching parents to educate their teens about such matters might work better than having the public schools do it, partly because there is so much disagreement about whether to use abstinence-only programs.

Labels: communication, sex_education, teaching

posted by ByParents-forParents at 7:40 AM 0 comments

Sunday, June 08, 2008

Florida Teacher Lets Class "Vote Out" Potentially Autistic Kindergartener

By Hugh C. McBride

A parent has filed a complaint with the Morningside (Florida) Elementary School administration and is considering legal action after learning from her 5-year-old son that his teacher had led a vote by his fellow students that resulted in his being banished from the classroom.

Melissa Barton had originally filed a criminal complaint after learning that her son, Alex, had been relegated to the nurse's office on May 21, 2008, by virtue of a 14-2 "election" in his kindergarten class. However, the state attorney's office declined to file charges, noting that it felt the actions taken by the teacher did not meet the standard for child abuse.

On the day in question, Alex - who his mother said is in the process of being diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome (a high-functioning form of autism) - had been sent to the principal's office because of bad behavior. When he returned, his teacher, Wendy Portillo, had him stand in front of the class while other students told him what they didn't like about him. They then voted that he not be allowed back in the class.

On May 29, the TC Palm website reported that the teacher had provided police with an alternate version of the events. According to a report the Port St. Lucie Police Department released that day, the teacher claimed that she was attempting to demonstrate to Alex the degree to which his behavior was having a negative effect on those around him. She also told police that the vote was to decide whether Barton should be removed from class for that day only, and was not meant to establish his permanent exile.

"Portillo said she did this as she felt that if (Alex) heard from his classmates how his behavior affected them that it would make a bigger difference to him, rather than just hearing it from adults," the police report stated.

The St. Lucie County School District and Florida's Department of Children and Families are both conducting investigations related to the incident.

Labels: school, special needs, teaching

posted by ByParents-forParents at 2:26 PM 0 comments

Saturday, April 26, 2008

Cooperative Learning Better than Competitive Styles

Teens that learn in classrooms where students cooperate and share information score higher on tests than those in classes based on individual competition.

Researchers at the University of Minnesota analyzed data from 148 studies involving 17,000 people aged 12 to 15. Those in classes that supported students working together on projects and test preparation achieved higher scores in problem-solving, critical thinking, and reasoning compared to those who studied alone or in classes based on competitions and "winning."

"When teachers set up their classrooms in a cooperative way," said Dr. Cary Roseth, "both social and academic goals are met simultaneously. Students can interact, which is naturally what they want to do at this age."

This study appears in Psychological Bulletin.

Boarding schools can often cater to different learning styles and offer more attention to students. Find the best boarding school for your child at BoardingSchoolsInfo.com.

Labels: education, learning_styles, teaching

posted by ByParents-forParents at 2:41 PM 0 comments

Monday, February 18, 2008

When Should Kids Get that First Phone?

Kids are getting cell phones at younger and younger ages. It's not uncommon to see elementary-aged students calling parents for rides home after school. Is your child ready for his or her first phone?

"Parenting expert [Diane] Debrovner says to consider whether your children will remember to charge the phone and turn it on, and whether they will lose it or forget to check a message. 'Do they do their homework and remember to turn it in? Get out of the house for school in the morning? Do they follow their rules?' Debrovner asked... "

It's important to consider, as well, whether or not your child is mature enough to follow the rules of cell phone use, which often includes keeping it turned off during school hours. Read more at HonoluluAdvertiser.com.

Having a phone could be a good time to teach your child about fiscal responsibility. Read Teens and Money: Teaching Fiscal Responsibility.

Labels: cell_phones, responsibility, teaching

posted by ByParents-forParents at 8:05 PM 3 comments

Friday, October 26, 2007

Bad Relationships with Teachers Linked to Early Sex Experimentation

Researchers in Canada have found a link between early sex and bad relationships with teachers and peers.

Children who had been verbally abused by their teachers or picked on by their friends were more likely to have sex before age 13. They were also more likely to use drugs and alcohol, and engage in delinquent behaviors such as fighting and stealing.

Dr. Mara Bendgren said that these students with negative relationships with teachers and peers might become less interested in school.

She and her colleagues tracked 312 children from kindergarten through seventh grade. About 17% had sex by the time they were 13 years old.

The study appears in the American Journal of Public Health.

Private boarding schools often offer more extra-curricular activities and honors classes to challenge students academically. Find one at BoardingSchoolsInfo.com.

Labels: influences, sex, teaching

posted by ByParents-forParents at 12:38 PM 0 comments

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Getting Back to the Basics

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

posted by ByParents-forParents at 9:12 PM 1 comments

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