February is National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month, which makes it a perfect time to promote safe, healthy relationships to youth. Teens should know that the term ‘dating violence’ does not refer to the occasional argument or bad mood, which are a normal part of any relationship. Rather, dating violence is when someone tries to control their significant
Read moreWith Valentine’s Day right around the corner, it’s a great time to think about your teen’s dating life. Dating is a true rite of passage in adolescence, and if you, as a parent, have the right attitude and message, dating can become a great teaching tool for your child. Dating helps young people learn to get along with others, communicate,
Read moreFor many people, February is labeled as the month of love because of Valentine’s Day. But it is also National Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. It’s disappointing that we need such an observance, but one in three adolescents in the U.S. is a victim of physical, sexual, emotional or verbal abuse from a dating partner! With these types of numbers,
Read moreIt is an emotional, overwhelming, and sometimes awkward time when your teenager starts dating. Many of us fear the time our child begins dating for a variety of reasons – it’s a big sign your child is growing up, it’s a time when your child desires someone else’s attention more than yours, and it opens a whole new area of
Read moreFebruary is National Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. Studies show that 1 in 3 American teenagers have experienced an abusive dating relationship and 1 in 10 teenagers suffers physical violence at the hands of a boyfriend or girlfriend. A nationwide survey from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that 23% of females and 14% of males who ever experienced rape,
Read moreWhen you hear about dating violence, what age do you think is affected? Many of us believe dating abuse is an issue for high school students and young adults, but a new study challenges that misconception. A recent study from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Blue Shield of California found that 75% of middle school students had already had a
Read moreThere are few parents that relish the idea of their teen beginning to date. However, there are actually a lot of benefits to your teenagers experiencing the give and take of a relationship. No one can “learn” how to be a good partner – it’s more “on the job” training. Dating helps young people learn to get along with others,
Read moreThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention describe dating violence as physical, sexual, or psychological harm placed on one partner by the other in a dating relationship. Physical violence includes slapping, scratching or pushing, but can be more extreme. Psychological violence includes insulting, humiliating, threatening, or trying to control what the other partner can or cannot do. Most studies and
Read moreApproximately 6 million children are abused every year. Abuse can range from verbal, physical, psychological, or sexual mistreatment in venues that range from home to work to school. Abuse can be inflicted by family members, so-called friends, teachers, bullies, and romantic partners. The most common form of teen abuse is dating violence. It is estimated that 1 in 3 teens
Read moreDating is a rite of passage for adolescents. Despite the many worries it causes parents – curfews and sexual intimacy just to name a few – the experience for teens of developing relationships with the opposite sex while still under the watchful eye of their parents is a healthy one. Parents should view dating as just another opportunity to mold
Read moreIn our previous blog, we talked about the basics of teen dating: when teens should begin dating, how to talk to your teen about dating, and the rules for helping our children successfully navigate this developmental milestone. Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, sometimes things can go wrong. In this blog, we will discuss teen dating violence. What is dating violence?
Read moreParents tend to worry about their children for a million reasons, ranging from whether they will fit in, be respectful, get good grades, and stay safe. Keeping our teens healthy is probably one of the top concerns that a parent has. To keep you up to date, here is a list of some of the biggest health risks today’s teens
Read moreAbuse, neglect, loss, disaster. Trauma can come in many forms, and it impacts every individual in unique ways. Children, in particular, don’t know how to unlock their own inherent resiliency or access the tools needed to handle trauma in constructive ways. It might seem obvious that youth who grow up in a hostile home environment, witness violence, or experience other
Read moreEthics. Our culture does not always seem to value integrity, and our youth receive a lot of mixed messages about the merit of having good principles. Some teens have seen too many adults acting unethically to believe it’s important. Many teens want to do good deeds but they struggle to find the courage to “do the right thing” at times.
Read moreA little-known sex crime called “sextortion” is becoming more common, and teens are often the victims. Sextortion is when a perpetrator obtains a victim’s private and sensitive photos or videos and then threatens to release them publicly unless the victim meets their demands. Perpetrators tend to blackmail their victims into paying them money, sending sexual images or video, or performing
Read moreThere are many difficult subjects that we are supposed to talk to our youth about – sex, drugs, relationships, crime, depression, alcohol, violence, bullying, peer pressure, safety… well, you get the point. The problem is that all of these subjects can become awkward conversations that often earn eye-rolling and groans in teens. However, difficult conversations are important because they can
Read moreApril is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, which is a good excuse to use to talk to your teen – both boys and girls – about this important issue. Many parents make the mistake of only talking to their daughters about sexual assault. While it’s true that the majority of sexual assault victims are women and girls, many men and boys
Read moreThe New Year is a time when we often reflect over the past year and think about how we would like to improve going forward. Although it’s a wonderful idea to make positive resolutions such as to exercise more or to eat healthier, we recommend that you make a parenting resolution for 2016! Parenting teens is tough! Most of us could
Read moreTeenagers becoming parents is all too common in America. The United States has the highest teen pregnancy rate in the industrialized world. We will explain the reasons many teens end up pregnant, the consequences of teen pregnancy, and how teen pregnancy can be prevented. Reasons There are a number of reasons that teens end up pregnant. Some teens cite contraception
Read moreApril is Stress Awareness Month… in case you were not already aware of your stress. Managing our stress level is an important life skill and can make us a happier and healthier person, so it clearly is a skill we want to teach to our teens. Studies show that adolescents are more likely to start risky behaviors – such as
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