News, Advice, and Tips for Parenting Teenagers

A new study of European teenagers found they are less likely to spend time on the Internet than are their American counterparts.

• Europeans ages 12 to 17 years old actually spend more time watching television at an average of 10 hours a week than they do using the Internet for personal reasons at an average of nine hours a week.
  
• Only 41 percent of European teenagers visit social networks at least once weekly, telling researchers they prefer contact with friends in person.
  
• European teenagers love video games, but prefer console-based games to computer-based ones.
• Hardly any American or European teens read newspapers.

The study was conducted by the Forrester research company.

Labels: europe, internet, teen_culture, teens

In an Oct. 4 Boston Globe column, writer (and mother of five) Lylah Alphonse reflected on the similarities between parenting toddlers and raising teens:

Teenagers and toddlers have a lot in common. Both need to be reminded to "use your words." Both get mad at you for not being able to read their minds. Both can be exasperating.

And while a toddler thrashes around on the floor when she’s furious and a teenager stomps to her room and slams the door, the bottom line is that there’s quite a bit of overlap between the Terrible Twos and the Terrible Teens.

We have five kids, ranging in age from 2 to 15, which actually provides a little bit of balance: The ego-bruising effect of a teenager who thinks you can’t do anything right is mitigated, in part, by the adoration of a toddler who thinks you can’t do anything wrong.

Labels: infants, parenting, teens

A new driver’s license is exciting for teenagers and often scary for theirparents. According to the Centers for Disease Control, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens.

According to an Aug. 20 article by Angela Ebron of womansday.com, choosing a car that's sized correctly can help keep teen drivers safer:

"Small cars don’t provide the same crash protection," says Anne McCartt, senior vice president for research at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. "Have teens drive a midsize or larger." But not pickups or SUVs. "They’re harder to handle and have more of a tendency to roll over."

Ebron also advised parents to let their teens drive the newest car that the family owns (as that one is most likely to have the latest and most effective safety components.

Labels: driving, parenting tips, teens

If a teen girl is overweight or obese at age 18, she is at double the risk for multiple sclerosis, according to a new study from the Harvard School of Public Health.

"Our results suggest that weight during adolescence, rather than childhood or adulthood, is critical in determining the risk of MS," said author Dr. Kassandra Munger.

Dr. Munger and her colleagues used data on 238,371 women participating in the Nurses' Health Study.

This study appeared in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

Labels: girls, health, obesity, overweight, teens

National Teen Driver Safety Week is being observed for the third time in the United States, with a wide range of programs and events scheduled throughout the nation Oct. 18 to 24.

According to information posted on the NTDSW website, the focus of this year’s observance is the danger of distracted driving – a problem that, in the case of many young drivers, is exacerbated by the presence of friends in the vehicle:

There are many well-known factors that raise a teen driver’s risk of getting in a fatal crash: Speeding, drinking, talking on a cell phone and driving at night are among them. Yet there’s another dangerous factor that recent research shows few teens recognize: peer passengers.

Just one teen passenger doubles the risk a teen driver will get into a fatal crash; three or more passengers quadruples the risk. …

The risk is not just for the driver. … Starting at ages 12 to 14, a child passenger’s risk of dying in a crash with a teen driver doubles, and the risk continues to rise for each teen year. Most teen passengers who die in crashes are riding with a teen driver.

Based on this research, National Teen Driver Safety Week 2008 focused on increasing teens’ awareness of how passengers contribute to driver distraction, a leading cause of crashes for teens.

Teens have helped develop the Ride Like A Friend peer-to-peer program, including practical tips on how passengers can be helpful. Buckling up, limiting cell phone conversations, and respecting the driver are some of the messages the program offered to teens.

Labels: driving, safety, teens

Teenagers dream of the day when they gain real freedom and independence -- and for many, that day arrives some time after their 16th birthday, when they receive their first driver's license.

Receiving a driver's license is an understandably exciting rite of passage for many teenagers -- and an angst-inducing event for a number of parents. But even before their kids are allowed behind the wheel, parents can help increase the odds that they will be safe drivers:

• Model good driving behavior. Follow all rules of the road, obey all speed limits, and use your signals when turning or changing lanes.


• Don't be a "road rager." Stay calm even in stressful situations.


• Never drive while under the influence of alcohol or any other drugs.


• Don't use your cell phone, send text messages, eat, or engage in any other distracting behaviors while driving. When you're in the driver's seat, focus on one activity: driving.

By demonstrating the behaviors you want to see in your children, you go a long way toward keeping them as safe as possible during the times that you're not able to observe and protect them yourself.

Labels: driving, parental influence, teens

A study of 1,178 young people between the ages of eight and 18 years old found that 88 percent played video games, and almost one in ten shows several symptoms of being addicted to them.

The study, which was led by Dr. Douglas Gentile of the University of Iowa, found that 12 percent of the boys and 8 percent of the girls who played games had at least six out of eleven symptoms of addiction. Those who were addicted to the games were twice as likely to have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Children had signs of addiction if they agreed to the following statements:

• They skipped homework to play games.


• They played to escape their problems.


• They were restless and irritable if not allowed to play.


• They lied about how much they played.


• They had stolen a game or stolen money for a game.


• They had poor test scores because they neglected homework to play video games.


• They had tried to quit and failed.


• They thought excessively about gaming.

Though many enthusiasts incorrectly employ the word "addiction" when discussing the object of their passion, video game addiction has been identified as a legitimate mental health disorder that can be treated with effective professional intervention.

Labels: addictions, adolescents, teens, video_games

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: mentoring, parenting, parents, teenagers, teens

Many experts feel that too many medications, especially those that are designed to treat mood and behavioral issues, are being prescribed to young people. Ritalin prescriptions for U.S. kids, for example, rose from 900,000 in 1990 to 5 million in 2000.

"From my diminutive observations in Northwest Ohio, having worked in one school district for over 25 years, I am amazed at the increase in teens diagnosed with a bipolar disorder. The practice of prescribing psychotropic drugs to kids has snowballed, regardless of the unknown side effects." (Rachel Morton, retired school psychologist)

Morton went on to caution both parents and doctors against the "quick fix" of medication, encouraging them instead to explore behavior modification solutions first. Source: News-Messenger (OH)

Labels: overmedicated, psychotropic drugs, teens

The Anti-Defamation League of Philadelphia recently sponsored a program called "Trickery, Trolling and Threats: Understanding and Addressing Cyberbullying." The focus was on not only identifying cyberbullying, but giving parents and young people ideas and tools to use in response.

"Cyberbullying is defined as 'willful and repeated harm through electronic media,' explained [Randi] Boyette, assistant regional director for the ADL in Eastern Pennsylvania and Delaware. 'The impact is not one incident, the impact is magnified' because of the immediate and widespread nature of e-mail and mobile phones."

Cyberbullying often goes unreported because young people don't want to have computers and phones taken away or be forced to delete accounts from on-line social networking sites like MySpace. Recent studies have also shown that, though boys have traditionally been more likely to be bullies, there are increasing incidents of girls bullying each other. Read more at JewishExponent.com.

Learn more ways to help your troubled teen by reading our articles for parents of troubled teens. Find more articles about bullying and other issues today's teens face.

Labels: cell_phones, cyberbulling, email, teens

Parents of teenagers often struggle with talking to their kids about serious issues. But it can even harder when the teenager is a boy. Parents feel their kids don't want to talk. But Kim Combes, who has been a foster parent to over 40 teenagers, says that's just not true.

"I think that's the biggest fallacy that we have as adults to overcome. The research and the literature show... kids in high schools and junior highs, they want parental involvement. They want structure."

Combes suggests making your conversations with your teenager more relaxed by doing it over a meal, or while you're hanging out and "shooting hoops". The casual atmosphere will make it easier for your teen to open up. Read more at DesMoinesRegister.com.

SUWS of the Carolinas is a therapeutic wilderness program with a focus on clinical intervention and assessment. The wilderness setting removes modern distractions, simplifies choices and teaches valuable lessons. Visit www.suwscarolinas.com to learn more.

Labels: boys, communication, teens

Ambien, one of the most popular prescription medicines in the U.S., is now among the drug of choice at teen parties says the Drug Enforcement Agency. A recent survey by the government shows that more and more teenagers are abusing prescription drugs because they're easy to get from parents, friends or on the Internet.

"On the street, it's called "A-minus", "zombie pills", or "tic-tacs." Teens find it cheap and are popping Ambien for relaxation, euphoria and hallucinations. Dr. Richard Friedman of the Cornell Medical Center says when Ambien is abused, it can be dangerous."

Read more from CBS5.com.

Labels: drugs, party, teens

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

Philadelphia Eagles Head Coach Andy Reid is taking a 30-day leave of absence to be with his family as they wait for the outcome of potential legal proceedings against both of his sons. While the general public may be surprised that the children of such an affluent family have gotten in trouble with the law, many counselors and psychologists are not.

"Studies show that children of affluence can actually be more prone to damaging and dangerous behavior once thought to be the province of their less-privileged peers."

The reason? In a word: pressure. Many teens of affluent families feel a tremendous amount of pressure to be as successful as their parents. Many feel their parents value achievement over character. Read more online.

Labels: affluence, teens, trouble

Sex and alcohol use are now second-rate worries among parents, a new study finds. Parents in the United States now say their number one concern is that their children spend too much time in front of TV and computer screens.

A study by Insight Research Group funded by a San Francisco organization that monitors the effect of media on children found that 57% of parents in their survey were concerned about the time spent in computer, television and video activities. Fewer parents (45%) worried about sex and alcohol.

Labels: alcohol, sex, teens

Blame the media?

Young white teens who take in a lot of sexual content from movies, television, magazines and music are twice as likely to have sex at an earlier age than those who don't, according to a study done in North Carolina. The "media effect" was much weaker for black teens, who were more influenced by parents and friends.

Researchers in the Department of Sociology at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, interviewed about a thousand middle school students ages 12 to 14 years and asked how often they were exposed to sexual content in the four media. Two years later, the white teens who had the most exposure to such media were 2.2 times more likely to be sexually active than those who did not.

The research team also concluded that parental attitudes among both white and black 16-year-olds could deter them from having sex, but the biggest risk factor was if the teens believed their friends were sexually active. This study appeared in the April 2006 issue of Pediatrics.

Labels: music, teens, tv

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