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.
No Place for Cyberbullying
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
posted by ByParents-forParents at 8:42 PM
The Mystery of Teenage Boys
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.
Labels: boys, communication, teens
posted by ByParents-forParents at 10:11 AM
Ambien the Latest Teen Party Drug
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
posted by ByParents-forParents at 10:00 PM
Think Twice about Leaving Teens Home Alone
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
posted by ByParents-forParents at 5:04 PM
Teens of Affluent Families Can Still Find Trouble
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
posted by ByParents-forParents at 10:54 AM
Parents Worry About Too Much Media More Than Alcohol, Sex and Other Concerns
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
posted by ByParents-forParents at 10:05 AM
Watching Sexy TV, Music and Movies May Influence Teens to Have Sex Earlier
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
posted by ByParents-forParents at 1:24 PM
When Your Teen Doesn't Want to go to College
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
posted by ByParents-forParents at 4:05 PM
