http://www.parents-and-teens-in-tune.com/parenting-teenagers-online-blog.html Get all the latest news and updates about parenting teenagers from Parents and Teens in Tune.com en-us parenting teenagers online Tue, 18 Nov 2008 04:30:13 GMT Tue, 18 Nov 2008 04:30:13 GMT parents-and-teens-in-tune.com http://www.parents-and-teens-in-tune.com/teen-self-esteem.html 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. Tue, 18 Nov 2008 04:07:34 GMT http://www.parents-and-teens-in-tune.com/credit-card-for-your-teen.html 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. Wed, 12 Nov 2008 03:08:07 GMT http://www.parents-and-teens-in-tune.com/cell-phone-generation.html 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 peoples 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. Sun, 02 Nov 2008 15:08:14 GMT http://www.parents-and-teens-in-tune.com/money-management-and-teenagers.html 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. Sun, 26 Oct 2008 04:50:11 GMT http://www.parents-and-teens-in-tune.com/single-parenting-and-dating.html 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. Sat, 11 Oct 2008 21:06:44 GMT http://www.parents-and-teens-in-tune.com/money-management-and-teenagers.html 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. Fri, 10 Oct 2008 01:48:08 GMT http://www.parents-and-teens-in-tune.com/teenagers.html 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! Fri, 10 Oct 2008 01:46:34 GMT http://www.parents-and-teens-in-tune.com/teen-auto-insurance.html 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. Thu, 09 Oct 2008 03:09:07 GMT http://www.parents-and-teens-in-tune.com/cell-phone-generation.html 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. Wed, 08 Oct 2008 01:46:51 GMT http://www.parents-and-teens-in-tune.com/credit-card-for-your-teen.html 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. Wed, 08 Oct 2008 01:09:45 GMT http://www.parents-and-teens-in-tune.com/prepaid-credit-card.html A prepaid credit card with a low limit can help your teen learn to budget and manage money responsibly. Wed, 08 Oct 2008 01:04:48 GMT http://www.parents-and-teens-in-tune.com/home-remedy-for-teenage-acne.html Try a home remedy for teenage acne! From oatmeal to avocados, there's one for you and your skin type! Wed, 01 Oct 2008 15:00:43 GMT http://www.parents-and-teens-in-tune.com/healthy-diet-for-teenagers.html A healthy diet for teenagers is very possible - with proper guidance, education, support and a good example from you, the parent! Wed, 01 Oct 2008 14:54:49 GMT http://www.parents-and-teens-in-tune.com/goal-setting-teenager.html Your goal setting teenager learns by example! Instill your good character and decision making in the youth of tomorrow! Wed, 01 Oct 2008 14:49:49 GMT http://www.parents-and-teens-in-tune.com/goal-setting-teen.html A goal setting teen becomes a goal setting adult! Wed, 01 Oct 2008 14:44:39 GMT http://www.parents-and-teens-in-tune.com/cure-for-teenage-acne.html A preventive cure for teenage acne includes proper skin care and good nutrition! Wed, 01 Oct 2008 14:40:52 GMT http://www.parents-and-teens-in-tune.com/parenting-troubled-teens.html 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 teens confidante by all means encourage it. 3. Keep abreast with your teens 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 teens 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. Sat, 27 Sep 2008 14:43:33 GMT http://www.parents-and-teens-in-tune.com/peer-pressure-and-underage-drinking.html 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. Lets 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 teens 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 ones 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 dont 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. Mon, 22 Sep 2008 06:02:52 GMT http://www.parents-and-teens-in-tune.com/building-self-esteem-in-teenagers.html Building self esteem in teenagers begins with love and support from the family unit!. Sun, 14 Sep 2008 21:19:34 GMT http://www.parents-and-teens-in-tune.com/adhd-teenager.html Parenting an ADHD teenager requires a bit more guidance and support, but the rewards are worth the effort! Sun, 14 Sep 2008 21:03:58 GMT http://www.parents-and-teens-in-tune.com/parenting.html With the hurricane season upon us, the housing crises, and the economic downturn in our lives, hardly a day goes by that families are not bombarded with more seemingly bad news. All these will come and go but they should not take with them our strength, our resolve and our faith. How can we parents immerse our teens in hope and strength so that they not only keep their heads above the drowning waters but swim safely ashore? 1. We should never lose the opportunity to discuss these events as they happen with our teens, and explore possible solutions together. After a kidnapping incident was shown on TV, a father discussed self defense techniques with his daughter which surprisingly came in handy soon after when a kidnapping attempt was made on his daughter. 2. Let us encourage our teens to be persevering and steadfast, equipping them with lifes coping skills, to be able to face lifes challenges head on. 3. Our teens should be taught to be compassionate and caring. Even as they see us parents volunteering, sharing, giving off our time to help others, we become shining examples for them to follow. Love after all, is what makes the world go round. 4. Grieving is an important part of the healing process during any crisis, but we should eventually be able to pick up the pieces and move on with our lives. In cases where this proves difficult and overwhelming, it is okay to seek professional help and counseling. 5. Let us encourage our teens to be role models for their peers. A community where the young and energetic are examples is a community that is strong. A humorous Fathers Day card said.Thank you Dad for the tools you have given me to cope with life. They are all in the garage new and unused! As we continue parenting our teens let us ensure that they do use these life coping skills. Not only will we have strong families when we have guided our teens in the right direction, but we will be preparing them for a better adult life as parents themselves and as leaders in the community. Sat, 13 Sep 2008 21:03:07 GMT http://www.parents-and-teens-in-tune.com/goal-setting-teenager.html Exciting, informative and eye opening has been these past couple of weeks when our politicians, aspiring presidents and their vices and many others have put themselves out into the limelight and addressed us. We have heard the most impressive resumes, sacrifice and voluntary work, community and public service, spanning years. No doubt, they dared to dream, set goals and worked tirelessly to achieve them. What better lesson for our teens who tomorrow will be the decision makers and our future leaders? Whether our teens will be Commander in Chief only of their own house hold, at work in an organization, or of the country, the goal setting teenager is beginning life on the right foot! And what is our role as parents? 1. The earlier we teach and encourage our teens to set goals, the better. No matter how small or seemingly insignificant, short term or long term, they stand a better chance of living a purposeful and meaningful life. 2. Not only should we teach our teens responsibility, but let us not fail to acknowledge them when it is well deserved. Let us steer them towards being role models for younger siblings and peers. Let us teach them to be accountable. 3. Any poor choices our teens make today can come back to haunt them tomorrow. Let us imbue our teens with integrity, honesty, and truthfulness, so that later on down the road, there are no skeletons in their closets to haunt them. 4. Our children learn best by example. When we show that we are sensitive, caring and compassionate, we are more than likely to bring up teens with such virtues. 5. Career choice, especially when our teens are still undecided should be an ongoing conversation. This is the time for them to explore all their possibilities. Our teens just need to be guided and encouraged to keep their eyes on their goal. With us paving the way, and with the shining examples of our political leaders who from varying backgrounds have achieved what others thought impossible, let us encourage our teens to attain their highest, and become confident and bold pacesetters. Sat, 06 Sep 2008 21:07:35 GMT http://www.parents-and-teens-in-tune.com/adhd-teenager.html It was indeed very exciting to find out that the greatest Olympian athlete in the world was diagnosed with ADHD at age seven. Congratulations to Michael Phelps for his great achievement in the Olympics. So how did he with ADHD manage to focus and concentrate on his goals to achieve this great feat? 1. On one Good Morning America interview, his mother said that it takes faith, hard work and dedication, and a willingness to meet challenges head on to achieve great things. 2. It also takes commitment and support from teachers, and other family members and all those involved in the teens care, like school counsellors and therapists. 3. Where appropriate, some teens may need to be on medication. Ty Pennington of the ABC series Extreme Makeover Home Edition was helped by medication and according to some articles, continues to take medication. And then there was this teen with ADHD, who said all his friends seemed to behave better when he was on his medication! Parents may want to see their pediatricians on an individual basis to see what the best option for their teens is. 4. The teen with ADHD should be given assignments in small chunks with frequent breaks where appropriate, to give the teen the best chance of completing the assignment. 5. Parents should be honest with their teens and explain the unique challenges they face as teens with ADHD and then they should work together as a team in facing the challenges head on. On one of the episodes of the Bill Cosby Show, where Theo was told he had dyslexia, there was such a sense of relief to find out that there was a reason for the way he worked, compared to his friends. As we have learned from Michael Phelps and Ty Pennington, having ADHD should not make our teens underachievers. With the right approach, faith and dedication, these teens like all other teens can have great futures and excel in their chosen fields. Mon, 01 Sep 2008 00:53:27 GMT http://www.parents-and-teens-in-tune.com/parenting-teenagers.html Parenting teenagers is a rewarding experience when your teen is prepared for the likely obstacles he or she will face! Mon, 25 Aug 2008 00:17:29 GMT http://www.parents-and-teens-in-tune.com/teen-pregnancy-and-parenting.html Teen pregnancy is one of those difficult issues that every parent wants to avoid. Unfortunately, it is a sad fact that following the gradual decline in teen pregnancy rates from 60 to approximately 40.5 per 1000 teens from 1991 to 2005, in 2006 we saw an increase back to 42 per 1000 teens in 2006. So how does one parent or council a teen who has become pregnant. 1. Let your teen know how disappointed you are with their decision to become pregnant, whether intentionally or unintentionally. 2. Talk to your teen and find out what led to this pregnancy, was it because she felt isolated at home and sought love elsewhere, did she or he just give in to peer pressure and make a genuine mistake etc. It is important to find out what led to this, to prevent a second and possibly third pregnancy. 3. Whatever we do, we should not reject our teens that have become pregnant. Whether we like it or not, this is the time they need the most support. They are probably not proud of themselves either, and we should reassure them that we still love them and want to help them achieve their highest potential, despite the pregnancy. 4. Discuss the various options available to the teen, once the baby is born, and help them find resources to help them decide what to do. 5. Teens who decide to keep their babies, which the majority will do, should be taught to be responsible for the babies themselves. Teen fathers should be taught to accept responsibility and participate in the care of the child. Too often, parents completely take over, and the teens then see the babies as dolls to play with and it is therefore easy to go on and have more babies. 6. We should encourage pregnant teens not to lose sight of their goals and aspirations. They should see the birth of their child as additional motivation to help them succeed. 7. Most importantly, we should never blame the baby for being born. As I always say to parents and teens, children are always a blessing, no matter the circumstances of their birth and we should always love them. Our efforts should be to help the teen succeed, to build a better life for herself and her baby, and beat the statistic. Our pregnant teens can succeed in all they aspire to do, unless they choose not to. Lets give them all the encouragement they need to go out and beat all the odds and teach their children to do the same. Mon, 18 Aug 2008 03:53:20 GMT http://www.parents-and-teens-in-tune.com/peer-pressure-and-violence.html Teenagers are at a stage of development where they feel very invincible. They also want to belong and feel accepted by their friends. Unfortunately, this sometimes leads to teens participating in dangerous and life threatening behaviors. Some otherwise excellent teens in the spur of the moment get involved in drag racing which unfortunately sometimes leads to disastrous consequences, not only for the teens but for others on the road. Teens attempt to pull off stunts on moving cars, resulting in fractures and even death sometimes. And now, there is the choking game, where teens almost choke themselves to death, to experience a high. Here again our teens have actually died. We as parents have to stay alert to all these dangers to protect our youth. 1. As always, communication is key. We should take every opportunity that presents itself to discuss these topics and other violent behaviors with our youth especially whilst watching movies and listening to the news with them. 2. For teens that drive, discuss road safety and speed limits. If necessary, inform them and install devices that monitor their speed and actions whilst on the road. In fact, some insurance companies will give you a discount on your rates if you use these. 3. Discuss gangs, gun violence, date brutality, and most importantly be receptive and understanding so that your teens can feel comfortable discussing their concerns with you. 4. BE ALERT. Visit your teens room. Dont snoop around, but dont feel guilty about dropping in every once in awhile when they are in there. Notice blood shot eyes, marks on the neck, and unusual ropes that could suggest a choking game. For instance if your teen is reading a book on bomb making get involved and start asking questions. 5. Be aware of who your teens friends are and their views on violence. If you do not consider these views appropriate, gently let your child know what your views are and why you disagree with their friends. 6. We as parents need to follow our instincts and openly discuss with our teens when we detect a violent behavior. Hiding our heads in the sand does not make the problem go away. We will be surprised at how relieved our teens are when they realize that we know the dilemma they are in and that we are ready to help them. Giving teens the help they need if they are involved in any of these behaviors will ultimately lead to a happier, successful teen and family. Our teens will appreciate it, even if they act resentful of the interference initially. Mon, 11 Aug 2008 04:24:20 GMT http://www.parents-and-teens-in-tune.com/index.html With the advent of Social Networking Sites like Facebook and My space, our teens are in constant contact with friends all over the world. Unfortunately, some predators and identity thieves are also tapping into this great adventure of social networking and wreaking havoc in peoples lives. So how do we teach our teens about the responsibilities associated with social networking? 1. First of all have the computer in an open or visible space. 2. Have the conversation about the information that can and cannot be shared on line. Emphasize the need for anonymity with no sharing of social security numbers, account numbers, home or school addresses. 3. Pictures showing our teens in compromising situations should not be made public. Showing themselves drunk and misbehaving is not cool. Also, use of the webcam should be monitored. More and more employers are looking at these sites to decide who is appropriate for hiring. 4. Ask to visit your teens Facebook and My space page sometimes so you are aware of who they are communicating with. 5. Obviously, computer time just like TV time should be limited. The computer should never replace time for exercise or homework. 6. We parents should visit websites for helpful suggestions on raising teenagers and visit forums and social networking sites to interact with other parents of teens. 7. Of course we need to put filters and blocks on the internet to prevent exposure to potentially hazardous sites. There are several programs available now to monitor our teens internet usage. The advantages of the internet in our modern society cannot be over emphasized. With responsible usage, the internet can be a great asset in enriching the lives of parents and teens. Sat, 02 Aug 2008 21:16:57 GMT http://www.parents-and-teens-in-tune.com/teenagers-and-sex.html With the constant onslaught of sexual messages from the media and friends and the raging hormones teenagers have to deal with, how do we parents make ourselves heard and help our teens decide. According to the National Campaign to prevent Teen Pregnancy, 46.8 of all high school students and 63 of all twelfth graders are sexually active. However, there is hope! What is different about the 53.2 who are not sexually active and how do we get more teens into this special group? 1. HavingThe Talk is extremely important. As uncomfortable as we may feel, we should have ongoing age appropriate discussions about sex from elementary school. Lets seize every opportunity that presents itself to be honest about our beliefs and values and avoid being judgmental, to keep the communication channel open. 2. We parents should listen to our teens views and explain why we agree or disagree with them. Listening may be hard, but that is the only way we will know what is really going on in our teens lives. 3. Lets give our teens the facts. the emotional pain and rejection that often follows teen sex -the risk of sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy -the increased risk of cervical cancer because of the early age of intercourse and multiple sexual partners as reported by the Siteman Cancer Center -that drugs and alcohol cloud judgment and may lead to unwise choices 4. We parents should be as honest with our teenage boys as we are with our daughters. We should let our sons know that early sex does not make them more macho than their counterparts and that waiting does not make them any less of a male. 5. Teens should be advised not to put themselves in situations where they are forced to have sex against their will. Unfortunately, teens have been raped by people they trusted simply because they were in the wrong company. 6. Abstinence should always be recommended but when appropriate, we should discuss birth control options such as condoms, birth control pills and the Depo Provera shot. 7. What do we do if despite our best efforts, our teens still have sex? The talk should continue. We should express our disappointment, without rejection. We should still express our unconditional love and continue the ongoing conversation. The teen can still decide to abstain even at this point. Parents, having the talk about sex with our teens honestly and frequently, actually makes our teens more informed, and more confident in themselves and in their decision not to have sex. Sat, 26 Jul 2008 18:39:22 GMT http://www.parents-and-teens-in-tune.com/goal-setting-teen.html High school is out and several teens are preparing to make a fresh start in college. Congratulations to parents and teens who are ready to embark on this exciting journey. Unfortunately, a lot of first year college students are side tracked by this unlimited freedom and lose sight of their goals. How do we create goal setting teens and keep these college kids on track? 1) Talk to your teens about goal setting, actually writing down their goals. It is so important. Without a vision, there can be no destination. 2) Stay involved. Let us not assume that because our teens are in college they are mature. NO, we still need to be parents, maybe more like advisers, but we must still be involved. 3) Lets encourage our teens to read their goals daily if possible or as often as they can. 4) Lets discuss our goals with our teens, so they will realize that, even parents keep growing and learning. As we parents achieve our goals, we aim higher for more challenges. 5) As W. Clement Stone said, Aim for the moon, that way even if you miss youll still be among the stars." Let us encourage our teens to aim high and always achieve their best. 6) Congratulate our teens when they achieve their goals. 7) We should let our teens know that the occasional failure should not be a drawback. Instead, we should all learn from our mistakes and move on to bigger and higher goals. 8) Teens need role models they can look up to. Let us encourage them to listen to motivational CDs and emulate the good work ethics and perseverance of successful people in society. Having goal setting, motivated friends who stay accountable to each other will also help keep them on track. A self-motivated, goal setting teen is definitely a successful teen! Sun, 13 Jul 2008 00:47:30 GMT http://www.parents-and-teens-in-tune.com/teenagers-and-substance-abuse.html A single mother who was very concerned about drug use, asked her doctor for a drug test for her teen son. Unfortunately, a negative drug test does not rule out drug use currently, in the past or for the future. So whats a parent to do? 1. Recognize that the danger of substance abuse is very real. Among teens 12 to 17 years of age, 1.1 million meet the criteria for drug dependence and 1 million for alcohol dependence. 2. Communication Nothing beats talking to your teen frequently about drug use and its consequences. Teens do listen to their parents. 3. Pay attention to who your teen hangs out with. The more your teen hangs out with substance abusers, the more likely he or she is to use drugs too. 4. If you believe your teen is using drugs, seek help. Hiding our head in the sand will not make the problem go away. Dr Phil has some great resources on his web site. 5. Be supportive. Do not shun your teen or criticize him or her constantly. Love, support, patience and faith can overcome this frightening situation. 6. Remember, there s a reason why drug use was started in the first place. Lets get to the root of the problem and resolve it. Sat, 05 Jul 2008 22:19:28 GMT http://www.parents-and-teens-in-tune.com/teen-obesity.html Obesity and its many complications is fast becoming one of the deadliest health hazards our teens are faced with. With more than 30 of American school children overweight, the question is how we can stop this ever increasing epidemic. We parents must join our teens in the battle against obesity by standing together as a team. We as role models must set good examples for our teens to follow. 1. As much as teenagers like to skip breakfast, we should encourage a healthy breakfast. This decreases the need to snack on high calorie drinks and foods later in the day, due to the excessive hunger which encourages obesity. 2. We and our teens should eat five servings of fruits and vegetables daily. Remember, that its hard to do this when the pantry is stocked with doughnuts and chocolate chip cookies. If its not in the house, they cant eat it, and we can then concentrate on giving choices on what kind of fruit or vegetable they want. 3. Lets cut out the soda, regular, and diet if possible, or at least, limit it. Fruit juice though better than soda is also full of sugar and can lead to rapid weight gain. Nothing beats fresh cold water. 4. Limiting T.V., computer and video games time to 1 to 2 hours a day is also a great idea. Instead we should have fun filled activities for the whole family, like bike riding, swimming, skating and yes dancing. We all enjoy Dancing with the Stars, so lets dance with our Stars, our teens. 5. Dont scold your teen for the occasional poor food choice, it only decreases self esteem and does not work. Instead commend them for the little improvements in lifestyle they make. 6. Finally, lets teach a healthier lifestyle, where exercising is the norm and making healthy food choices becomes natural for us. This takes away the dreaded word dieting and we parents and teens are more likely to have long term success and win the war against obesity. Sun, 29 Jun 2008 03:33:29 GMT http://www.parents-and-teens-in-tune.com/say-no-to-peer-pressure.html Following the story about the Pregnancy pact In Gloucester High, a lot of parents are in shock and asking themselves how this could happen! Most parents are completely unaware of what is happening in their teen's lives. Once again, we are faced with the issue of poor communication between parents and teens. How do we get our teens to communicate better with us rather than bowing down to peer pressure? Here are some helpful tips to keep parents in tune with their teens. 1. Communication - While still maintaining your position as a parent, be open enough for your teen to feel comfortable about talking to you as a friend. 2. Use every opportunity you get to discuss "life events". Encourage your teens to share their views with you and they will be more willing to listen to your opinion. 3. Love your teens and make time for them. Let them know how important they are to you. 4. Empathize with your child about the consequences of the decisions teens make and teach them to be responsible for those consequences. 5. Know who your teen hangs out with and be friends with them too. Tim Russert's son Luke, talked about how his father hang out with he and his friends. We can imagine the positive influence he had on them all. 6. Let's lead by example. Where necessary, let us take responsibility for the mistakes we parents have made even as we point them in the right direction. Sat, 21 Jun 2008 20:18:46 GMT http://www.parents-and-teens-in-tune.com/smoking-and-peer-pressure.html Smoking and peer pressure rear their ugly heads around junior high. Teach your teen the pitfalls of smoking! Sat, 14 Jun 2008 17:30:55 GMT http://www.parents-and-teens-in-tune.com/peer-pressure-and-violence.html Peer pressure and violence are more commonplace than ever. Talk to your teen about these issues! Sat, 14 Jun 2008 17:29:41 GMT http://www.parents-and-teens-in-tune.com/parenting-troubled-teens.html Parenting troubled teens can be frustrating but when your child needs help, he or she needs your support. Sat, 14 Jun 2008 17:23:29 GMT http://www.parents-and-teens-in-tune.com/parenting-teens-with-love.html Parenting teens with love can be a one-sided affair. Learn to show your care in subtle ways and you'll be rewarded! Sat, 14 Jun 2008 17:21:49 GMT http://www.parents-and-teens-in-tune.com/parenting-pregnant-teens.html Parenting pregnant teens is a practice in patience and support. Sat, 14 Jun 2008 17:19:18 GMT http://www.parents-and-teens-in-tune.com/parenting-a-pre-teen.html Parenting a pre teen is a very important process as he or she develops into a teenager! Sat, 14 Jun 2008 17:17:47 GMT http://www.parents-and-teens-in-tune.com/index.html Parenting teenagers online provides so many tips for your teen as well as yourself! Sat, 14 Jun 2008 16:48:49 GMT