Your teenager may have 495 friends on Facebook, but does he or she have a couple of close friends? The friends you can tell anything to, the ones you always want to hang out with, the ones who support you no matter what. Does your teen know how to make friends, keep them, act like a good friend? As parents,
Read moreApproximately 7,000 high school students drop out every school day. One in four students does not graduate. There are a number of reasons why students drop out of school, such as they feel like their classes are not interesting, they are failing in school, they are using drugs, they don’t feel as smart as their classmates, they don’t feel like
Read moreOur culture is a fast-paced, multi-tasking society. It’s demanding and exhausting, and our young generation has been sucked into it as well. Learning time management skills now will serve our youth well throughout their lives. Studies show that the most successful students are effective time managers. Additionally, proper management of time reduces stress and allows you to accomplish more. So,
Read moreSummer is coming to an end, stores are in full swing for school supply sales, and likely your teen is unhappy. Going back to school can feel like a real bummer for teens – less free time, no sleeping in, demanding school work – but taking steps to get ready can make it a smoother and happier transition from summer
Read moreAlcohol is, by far, the most socially acceptable and easiest drug to obtain in our country. For that reason, it’s a popular choice among teens. Although it is illegal for teens to purchase alcohol, they can often get it through their parent’s liquor cabinets, unscrupulous store clerks, or older friends who purchase it for them. The median age at which
Read moreA frenemy makes you think of that old adage, “With friends like these, who needs enemies?” A true friend is someone that you love, trust, and who provides support and encouragement. In contrast, a frenemy is someone your child calls a friend, but who never acts in their best interest; someone who is manipulative, unkind and critical. These toxic relationships
Read moreSummer is a great time for youth to get some much-needed relaxation and down time. Unfortunately, although summer goes by too quickly, it is long enough for teens to experience learning losses when they don’t engage in educational activities. Research shows the following problems: students typically score lower on standardized tests at the end of summer vacation than they do
Read moreEye rolling. Door slamming. Loud sighing. Unexplained yelling. If you have a teenager in your house, you have more than likely experienced the “famous” adolescent bad mood. Everyone gets in bad moods sometimes – they are a part of life. Feeling cranky and irritable for no real reason can happen to the best of us, but teens are particularly prone
Read moreClasses, social stress, homework, sports, chores, part-time jobs, after-school activities… teens live busy lives. Does your teen seem to be dragging? Many teens feel tired from their many commitments and look for ways to increase their energy. Some of these ways may not be all that good for them. Before your teen gets burnout, it’s a good time to teach
Read moreThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that, among U.S. high school students surveyed in 2009, 46% had sexual intercourse, which puts them at risk for pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Nearly half of the 19 million new reports of STDs each year are among young people aged 15–24 years. Clearly if almost 10 million youths are
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 moreExercise! Everyone says it is important and that we are not getting enough of it, but how often do we get guidance on how to do it? Teens, because of their short life experience, are more likely than adults to make some common mistakes when it comes to fitness. Here are some examples of those mistakes and some tips to
Read moreParents of teens often wish that they could stop the inevitable fights. No one particularly likes conflict, and teens can be particularly infuriating. However, disagreements are a natural part of any relationship, and two people are never going to agree about everything. Conflict is simply a part of life, and children need to know how to handle it in a
Read moreSummer is upon us and that means no school for teens. While these months are important downtime for children, do not think for a moment that they want to just sit back and relax like we, as adults, dream of doing. Teens can quickly become bored. Instead, they are looking for adventure and excitement. If teenagers can’t find a positive
Read moreTexting is a favorite pastime of the current generation of teenagers. Although it can be a great way of staying in touch with family and friends, it does have pitfalls. One of the problems arising from texting is something called “sexting.” Sexting is sending sexually explicit messages or photos via cell phone or instant messenger. Many teens are engaging in
Read moreSummer is rapidly approaching, and you would love the chance to take a vacation, but you’re just not sure you want to spend it with the eye-rolling, attitude-copping teen you fondly call your son or daughter. Don’t bail yet! Traveling with your teen can be a great experience, if you just follow a few guidelines: Let your teen have input
Read moreA synthetic marijuana product, commonly called K2 or spice, is increasing in popularity among adolescents. K2 looks like marijuana, and is consumed the same way, either inhaled from a pipe or smoked as a ‘joint’ (marijuana rolled in paper, almost like a cigarette). K2 is actually a dry mixture of spices, tobacco and plant products sprayed with toxic chemicals that
Read moreIn this era of social networking and online connections, many teens want to start blogging. Blogs have been around for about 10 years. The word ‘blog’ stands for ‘web log’ and essentially refers to online diaries, though people blog about a wide variety of topics. Blogging can be an entertaining and educational hobby, so do not immediately discount the idea
Read moreCheating is reaching epidemic proportions among teenagers. Recent studies have shown that almost 70% of teens have cheated during a test at school, and more than 80% have copied someone else’s homework at least once. More than one third of teens with cell phones admit to having stored information on them to look at during a test or texting friends
Read moreEveryone wants to feel they belong. All humans desire a connection with someone who cares and to feel they are part of something bigger than themselves. Teens are no exception; in fact, since adolescence is such a radical time of change, the need may be even more prevalent. If young people do not have their need for belonging met in
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