As much as kids look forward to summer, a recent survey shows that the majority of teens expect to be bored. And, bored teens spell trouble because they are more likely to engage in risky behaviors. Wouldn’t it be better if your teen could be engaged in activities that would actually improve their skills, broaden their horizons, and fill out
Read moreWork experience gives teens valuable benefits, including learning responsibility and professionalism, gaining material for their resume and college applications, and developing skills in conflict resolution and problem-solving. Helping your teen apply for their first job can feel both exciting and daunting. You can learn tips on that process in our previous blog, How Teens Can Get that First Job. Applying
Read moreGetting angry is a normal reaction and natural emotion, but yelling, attacking someone with nasty words or judgments, getting violent, or generally reacting in an uncomfortable or out-of-control way is socially unacceptable behavior. Dealing with the emotions you feel inside – frustration, disappointment, hurt feelings – is an important skill to acquire that can help anyone throughout their personal and
Read moreIn several recent surveys, employers have complained that entry-level workers lack the necessary skills needed for success in the workforce. Employers feel it is “very important” that high school graduates possess a strong work ethic and feeling of responsibility, good communication skills, the ability to work in a team, and good problem solving skills. However, many of today’s graduates and
Read moreIt may still be cold outside, but if you are the parent of a teenager, you have probably already heard your teen talk about Spring Break plans. If you’re lucky, your teen wants to relax at home and hang out with friends. If you’re not so lucky, your teen has already asked if they can go with their friends –
Read moreWhen a teen breaks the rules or behaves poorly, parents must step in and ensure that there is a consequence. It’s important to understand that punishment is not the goal in a parent’s discipline, but rather providing a lesson. Learning from your mistakes is often life’s best method for growing and improving. Here are some ideas for appropriate consequences when
Read moreAdolescence is a time of constant change and endless possibilities. As your teen develops, it is common for them to not know exactly what they want to do with their life, or to frequently change their minds. However, it is not normal for your teen to have no direction at all. Your child should be able to express hopes and
Read moreIf your teen has just graduated high school, congratulations! This is a very exciting time in their young life! If your child will be moving to college this Fall, then welcome to one of life’s more difficult transitions. Both parents and teens usually feel overwhelmed by all the upcoming changes, which might lead to an emotional roller coaster. Once they
Read moreEverybody makes mistakes. How many times have we heard or said this? But, what do you do once you’ve made a mistake? That’s where important life lessons can occur. Many of us spend a lot of energy trying not to make any mistakes, trying to hide the mistakes we did make, or feeling guilty about past mistakes. The problem is
Read moreIt is vital to the well being of our communities that teenagers are prepared to enter the workforce, whether that is after high school or college. It is important for the teen – obviously they want to be successful and have a better chance if they can maintain employment. It is important for their parents – who want their children
Read more“Do what I say, not what I do!” It’s a funny expression and one many parents can relate to. How many parents have told their child “don’t smoke” as they picked up their own cigarette, or talked about the importance of healthy eating as they ate potato chips in front of the TV? I can already hear you protesting. ‘But
Read moreReposted with permission from the Online Education Database. Thank you to their team for writing an excellent resource for parents! Today’s job market is more competitive than ever, and it’s not likely to change for the next generation. That means that today’s kids really have to be on the ball when it comes to developing critical job skills, and parents have
Read moreLet’s face it. The current job market is somewhat underwhelming. Getting the attention of a prospective employer is never easy, but it’s even worse when the economy is struggling. But one of the best ways that a student can make themselves more marketable is to get an internship. It provides valuable job experience for a resume, offers insight into a
Read moreThere is more to life than the basic subjects taught in school. We want our teens to know reading, math, and history, but they need to know other basics skills that are not taught fully in our schools. Preparing our teens for their independence is part of a parent’s responsibility. Sometimes it seems so much easier to simply take care
Read moreNote to parents: This blog is written for teens. Please consider printing it out and sharing it with them. A doctor is an excellent source of reliable, responsible, accurate information for your teen, so as much as you might hope your teen would feel comfortable enough to ask you any and every question they have, it is in your best
Read moreIn our every day lives, we encounter a variety of different situations, and through repetition and familiarity, we have learned how to handle each one. But sometimes, we encounter a situation that we have never experienced. We may not know what to do or may take us longer to figure out the right reaction. However, with life experience and knowledge,
Read moreOne of the most anticipated rites of passage for teens is getting a driver’s license. It is a very exciting step in their growth as an independent person. Unfortunately, teens behind the wheel are a constant worry for parents, and for good reason. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), teens and young adults have the most accidents
Read moreParents almost always have the very best of intentions in raising their teen. No mother is trying to reinforce bad behavior and no father wants to encourage problems. Parents want to help and support their children in their growth and development. Unfortunately, sometimes the ways parents try to support their child can actually prevent teenagers from learning healthy behaviors needed
Read moreAs they grow older, teens should and must separate from their parents to begin the process of becoming healthy adults, which means that they should and must have increased responsibility, more opportunity, and increased privacy. Although this is an important process, teens are also notorious for making poor choices and sometimes dangerous decisions. That means parents are stuck between a
Read moreWith summer here, many parents are facing the difficult decision of whether or not to leave their teen or tween home alone while they work. Even if you’re not a working parent, deciding when your child is ready to stay home by himself is a challenging prospect. There are many factors to consider, but we will offer you some guidelines.
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