Parenting Teens Blog

Keep current with what is happening in the world of parents and their teens. Below are our new and updated pages.

Teen Self Esteem

After watching the movie “Take the Lead” in which Antonio Banderas danced with Alfre Woodard, it became abundantly clear how important it is to teach teens self respect. As Antonio Banderas said, if a girl learns how to respect herself , how likely is she to allow some boy to knock her up, and if a boy learns how to respect a girl, how likely is he to abuse and misuse her?

So parents,

1. Teach your teens about self esteem and respect, by personal example, in the way you interact with each other, and with other friends and family members.

2. Teach teens self esteem, by respecting them. Listen to them when they talk to you. Look at them, and show them that their opinion matters.

3. Fathers, interact with your daughters and show them that you love them. Take them out to “Father Daughter” dances” and other outings and show them that they are special and deserve to be treated with deference and dignity.

4. Show your sons how to treat women like partners and people who matter, by treating your wives and mothers with love, and by giving them the respect they deserve.

5. In all your interactions with others, whether in the school, dealing with teachers, in the grocery store or various offices, self discipline must prevail.

6. Instill your values in your teens. You actually need to communicate this over and over to them, and they will eventually get it and adopt those values.

Aretha Franklin was so right when she sang the song “Respect”. Esteem for one ’s self and peers, will go a long way towards improving relationships between family members, and among teens, in their interaction with each other.

Should your Teen have a Credit Card?

The news is bad. Many have lost their jobs and parents are struggling to make ends meet. Budgets go haywire and many who do not have any savings to fall onto are in debt unable to pay bills with some even homeless. Is this the time to encourage your teen to have a credit card? No better time than the present to teach responsibility especially where money is concerned.

1. Teach your teens about money management early. The earlier your teen begins to learn money management the better for you all. Lessons in prioritizing, distinguishing between needs and wants, basics and luxuries will go a long way in guiding your teenager throughout life.

2. Help your teen build good credit by teaching responsible use of the card. Early responsible use of the card, will help build up good credit which will certainly be handy when the teenager needs a car or has to rent an apartment later on in life.

3. Decide who will be making the credit card payments. Discuss in detail with your teen how and when payment will be made and by whom. If your teen has a job and will be making the payments, remind them of how important it is to make each and every payment on time so as to get a good credit rating, and to be eligible for even more credit later.

4. Educate your teens on the importance of a high fico score explaining how that can be achieved and maintained and how important that is financially.

5. If you will be making the payments discuss in very fine detail what may and may not be purchased on the card.

6. Consider getting a secured card or a low limit one just to be on the safe side.

7. Keep a close tab on how it is used. Make clear what the consequences will be if it is used irresponsibly and follow through if the rules are broken.

8. As always, remember that you should be the shining example to your teen. Spend and make payments wisely.

With frequent reminders and watchful eyes, you will be able to teach your teen a most valuable life lesson.

Teenagers and Cell Phones

According to US Cellular Statistics, approximately 60% of American teenagers own cell phones and spend about an hour a day talking on their cell phones.

The benefits of having a cell phone far outweigh the risks and parents are comfortable being able to communicate freely with their teens at all times. Teens use cell phones to call for help in emergencies or when their cars are disabled. Parents worry less knowing they can reach their teens when the teens are out at night and teens can notify their parents when they are out later than expected.

As with all things however, some teenagers do abuse the privilege of having a cell phone. The need for parents to teach their teens responsible cell phone use cannot be over emphasized.

1. Teach teens about personal safety, and about not giving out any personal information to strangers, including their cell phone numbers.

2. Restrict cell phone use while driving and definitely forbid texting while at the wheel. There should be no compromise with this. Using a hands free device is not enough. Motorists who use cell phones whilst driving are four times as likely to get into crashes serious enough to injure themselves. Conversations can wait until the teen can safely pull over.

3. Respecting other people’s privacy by not taking unwanted pictures of them needs to be emphasized. While your teen may think it was only a harmless prank, a person can and will evoke the full extent of the law when they feel their privacy has been violated.

4. Teens need to be honest with the use of their cell phones and not to participate in cheating with their cell phones in school. Certainly using a cell phone to cheat is one of the lowest uses and abuse of cell phones.

5. Cell phone courtesy is an equally important value for teens to learn. It is impolite to interrupt a conversation with friends to answer a non urgent phone call and certainly to have loud private conversations in public places.

6. Discuss the content of text messages that teens send to each other and discourage the use of cell phones to spread gossip or send threatening messages to other people.

When factors such as the payment of cell phone bills and minutes to be used have been discussed with your teen and are being adhered to, together with all the other enforceable rules and regulations regarding the use of the phone, the cell phone in the hand of a teen becomes an excellent and respected means of communication.

Money Management for Teens

Money management for teens has become exceedingly important, especially with the financial crises the nation as a whole is facing. This period gives parents a great opportunity to teach teens about money management.

1. Teach teens to live within their means, to meet their necessities first and save for their wants. With all the unfortunate news about people losing their homes, and all the talk shows discussing the astounding credit card debt the country as a whole is facing, be examples to them about not keeping up with the Joneses, but living within their means.

2. Discuss money management strategies. Some families are comfortable discussing their earnings with their teens, and others are not. Whatever you decide to do, talk to them on a regular basis about what you are doing yourself in these tough economic times, and why. Older teens are old enough to be told about necessary family changes, and some may even come up with great ideas to help themselves. But if you have a teen who may be distressed by knowing all the details then give the minimum information necessary to them, until they are ready.

3. Be honest with teens. Most teens will prefer to know when they are about to lose their possessions, to prepare themselves psychologically for it, than to suddenly be thrown out of their home without any warning.

4. Instill positive attitudes about money and avoid negative comments. See the good in every situation for there is indeed a silver lining to every problem. Napoleon Hill, the author of the popular book Think and Grow Rich said “Every adversity, every heartache, every failure carries with it the seed of an equal or greater benefit.” Many entrepreneurs have come up with their greatest inventions, during a time of severe adversity.

5. Open a bank account for your teen and teach them to save 10% of whatever they earn. Investing in a Roth IRA is even better still. The teens see their money grow and compound and this motivates them to save even more.

6. Teach teens about tithing and giving to others who are less fortunate than they are. Teens learn about selflessness and the joy and blessing of giving to others.

7. Allow teens to explore and experiment with their natural talents and gifts. There are so many teen entrepreneurs who were not afraid to try, who have become millionaires. Encourage your teens to work on their ideas, they could become the next Bill Gates.

8. Teach teens about honesty and integrity when it comes to money management. Encourage them to work smart and do what it takes to realize the American dream, without compromising their integrity.

Single Parenting and Dating

Being a single parent can be a hard enough task without bringing into the picture a partner whom your teen will have to acknowledge one way or the other. While you may be ready to date, your teen might not be ready to accept another person, to share you with and to replace the absent parent. Keeping things in balance can be overwhelming. Here are some suggestions to take into consideration.

1. It is utterly important that you heal from one relationship before getting into another. You need to be complete within yourself first. Happiness comes from within. You will need to teach your teen to have self love and to be complete within him or herself as well.

2. While it is okay to date, avoid exposing your teen to every partner. It can send the wrong message. Besides your teen can get disappointed when things do not work out with a date they might have liked.

3. Be absolutely certain not to expose your teen to abuse of any form from your partner. Be sure to have checked out your partner well, and know whom you are dating. Do not take any past brushes with the law lightly. If you are willing to take a gamble on a date that has a checkered past, remember that you have the sole responsibility of protecting your children.

4. Do not allow your dating partner to assume the role of the absent parent. Teens can get antagonistic if they feel the other parent is being replaced too soon.

5. Avoid feelings of guilt if you do decide to give up on a relationship which your teen finds great. You are the adult and you are in a position to take an informed decision. By all means take his or her feelings into consideration. Be sure that whoever you finally choose is not only a great partner to you but a wonderful role model for your kid as well.

6. Talk to your kids about evolving situations in life, and about dating in general. Be sure not to neglect them. Feelings of abandonment from you can lead to resentment towards your partner.

7. Always conduct yourself appropriately with your partner. You both need to be their role models. Speak well of the partner and do not put down the absent parent.

As daunting as the task might seem, taking the time to choose the right partner at the right time can be a rewarding experience for both you and your teen.

Teenagers and Money Management

The sooner your teen learns money management skills, the better prepared she will be to go out on her own when the time comes. You can help her learn those skills.

Teenagers

Teenagers face so many issues that we as parents might not fully understand. Sometimes the best thing we can do for our teen is to offer a listening ear!

Auto Insurance for Your Teen

Auto insurance for you teen will be expensive, but there are things you can do to keep the cost down. And things to do to ensure he stays safe.

Today's Teens -- The Cell Phone Generation

Today's teens are the cell phone generation. A mobile phone can be a lifesaver. But owning a phone also has its responsibilities, which you should discuss with your teen.

A Credit Card for Your Teen?

Should your teen have a credit card? There are advantages and disadvantages. If they can keep spending under control, a credit card can help them develop a good credit rating.

A Prepaid Credit Card Can Teach Your Teen Money Management

A prepaid credit card with a low limit can help your teen learn to budget and manage money responsibly.

Home Remedy For Teenage Acne

Try a home remedy for teenage acne! From oatmeal to avocados, there's one for you and your skin type!

Healthy Diet For Teenagers

A healthy diet for teenagers is very possible - with proper guidance, education, support and a good example from you, the parent!

Goal Setting Teenager

Your goal setting teenager learns by example! Instill your good character and decision making in the youth of tomorrow!

Goal Setting Teen

A goal setting teen becomes a goal setting adult!

Cure For Teenage Acne

A preventive cure for teenage acne includes proper skin care and good nutrition!

Parenting Troubled Teens

There are the growing pains of nearing adulthood that many teenagers experience and then there are the real troubles such as drugs and alcohol, pregnancy, violence, dropping out of school, depression and even suicide that really plague our teens. With so much going on in the lives of our teens these days it can be very difficult to determine when intervention is absolutely necessary.

It is a fact that the teenage mind is not fully developed. The average teenager might at one time or the other, say or do things that are at best illogical or downright foolish. It may be time to intervene when, to mention a few common telltale signs, your teen becomes rebellious, is very secretive, has changed friends for the worse, sleeps excessively or is sleeping very little, has poor grades in school, takes little or no interest in family activities and needs or even steals money.

A successful rescue mission should include the following:

1. As always communication is the first step. We parents need to talk to and listen to our teens. What is troubling the teen might not be very apparent. It might take some digging and snooping around to find out.

2. Our teens may be more comfortable talking to a school counselor, pastor or other professionals other than us. So long as you trust the judgment of your teen’s confidante by all means encourage it.

3. Keep abreast with your teen’s internet activities, blocking access to sites they must not visit. If you must sign up with My Space, Facebook, etc. so you will know what they are up to, by all means do so.

4. Know who your teen’s friends are and stamp out any relationships you feel strongly against.

5. Set boundaries with consequences if they are broken and follow through with the consequences.

6. Be loving, but firm and consistent. Our teens need structure, direction and guidance in their lives. Let us not give up on our troubled teens. We really are all they have. Many a teen has emerged from the dark brighter than before.

Peer Pressure and Underage Drinking

Underage drinking is a big challenge our teens will be faced with especially as they approach the college years. Interestingly enough, only 23% of college students frequently drink in a high risk way and these teens then try to exert peer pressure to get other teens involved.

So why do teens drink? Some teens drink to be accepted by peers. Others simply think that it is grown up and cool to drink, and others believe erroneously that it reduces stress. Of course family background also contributes to underage drinking.

So how should parents approach peer pressure and underage drinking?

1. Let’s start the conversation about peer pressure and underage drinking early on in life. Teens should be taught that it is illegal to drink before age 21 years and that there are legal ramifications to underage drinking.

2. Since we are our teen’s first role models, we should be careful about the way we consume alcohol. If we are irresponsible around alcohol, our teens will be too, no matter what we say to them.

3. Helping our teens to develop their purpose and goal in life is also very important. A motivated and goal setting teen is less likely to give in to peer pressure and underage drinking.

4. Teens should learn that alcohol removes one’s inhibitions and they are more likely to make decisions and behave in a manner that they will later regret, whilst drunk.

5. It is important for our teens to learn stress reducers like exercising and listening to music and motivational CDs etc, so they don’t fall into the myth of using alcohol for relaxation.

6. We should teach our teens to be aware of what others give them to drink. Lots of teens have gotten into trouble by consuming alcohol and drugs they did not know they were consuming.

7. As much as possible, teens should not put themselves in situations where they are forced to drink, but in extremely difficult situations where there is a lot of peer pressure to drink, the teen can offer to be the designated driver, or should be bold enough to leave that situation.

Peer pressure and underage drinking is a challenge most teens will face at some point in their lives. We parents should stay involved in our teens lives so that they will feel comfortable coming to us and talking to us about all the challenges they face. We should be aware of the friends they hang out with, and we should be able to spot a problem with alcohol should the situation arise and give our teens all the help they need, to become responsible adults.

Building Self Esteem In Teenagers

Building self esteem in teenagers begins with love and support from the family unit!.

ADHD Teenager

Parenting an ADHD teenager requires a bit more guidance and support, but the rewards are worth the effort!