News, Advice, and Tips for Parenting Teenagers

Despite their best intentions and efforts, no parent can protect their children from all of life's difficulties. There will be the occasional misstep, the scraped knee, the lost job, and the broken heart. While these situations can be painful, they're relatively easy to navigate.

Unfortunately, however, many teens may be faced with real tragedy, such as the death of a friend or loved one. These types of experiences require a different level of support.

Licensed independent social worker Raquel Wilson addressed this topic in a March 23 article on the website of the Toledo Free Press:

React calmly and rationally. Sudden or traumatic loss can propel schools and families into crisis mode. ... However, when your child loses a friend or a school peer, it is important to be a calming source of comfort. Much like other life skills learned during childhood, children learn how to grieve by watching their parents. Parents can use this heartbreaking experience and turn it into a teaching moment. ...

Parenting your child through a tragedy might be one of the greatest challenges you face. Remember, there is no one right way of approaching this very difficult situation. If nothing else, remain supportive and attentive, model healthy grief reactions and keep the door of communication wide open.

Labels: parenting_tips, trauma

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Most people are aware that 50 percent of all marriages in the United States end in divorce. But many don't know is that about one million children experience divorce right along with their parents - and a poorly handled divorce can be traumatic for kids.

"[Barbara] Cochran [of Community Counseling Services] described children responding to conflict in their parents' divorce in very different manners. Some act out with delinquent or violent behavior and an uncontrolled anger, others simply isolate themselves and fall into depression, substance abuse or frequent headaches, accidents or injuries. She also showed how children in homes of great conflict do not interact well with others, or have trouble with school."

The bottom line is that children need their parents, and parents need to make the health and well-being of their kids a priority - even in cases of divorce. Source: Telegraph Forum

Labels: trauma, divorce, relationships

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Let's face it: We live in a world where bad things happen. If something traumatic happens to your family, or in your neighborhood, your kids will need to process their emotions - and they may need some help from you.

"Stick to routines. It is easiest for children to deal with stress when they feel comfortable and know what to expect. Minimize exposure to the media. Do not let children repeatedly view footage of traumatic events, and avoid letting them watch footage alone."

Take some extra time to reassure your child that she is safe, and talk about what happened in terms your child can understand. Because children process trauma at differing rates, be sure to give your child plenty of opportunities to ask questions and talk about how they're feeling. Source: WISinfo

Labels: trauma, stress, therapy

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Crisis and pain are a part of life, and children are often affected more than we realize. They may not know how to respond to traumatic events, but parents can help them through these difficult times.

"For example, some children may behave as if nothing is wrong. They may not know what to feel or say, particularly if they have mixed feelings about a loss or a person who has died."

Bertie Conrad, a youth counselor, says it's important for parents to let kids know that they're emotions - whatever they are - are OK. There are books and other resources available that can help parents know learn the best ways to talk to their children. Among the most common tips offered to parents is that they should honest with their children about their own emotions. Source: Bellvue Reporter

If your family has experienced a traumatic event, an adolescent treatment center, like Island View in Utah, may help your teenager heal wounds and work towards healthier relationships.

Labels: trauma, feelings, crisis

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