Before a parent gets too righteous or harsh with this, they should take a close look at their own behavior first. Children tend to mimic what they see in authority figures about them. If you want your child to be responsible, you have to be responsible. It is human nature to blame others for problems. Once a person stops and reflects, they often realize they had a part in the problem. Here are some things to try if your child is doing this. Any time you see the child admitting responsibility recognize it. Say things like thank you for being honest. Do not accept excuses. Do not rage … [Read more...]
General Characteristics of Early Years Teenagers
Culturally teenager behavior and growth is grouped into one large category when the reality is there are two stages to a person being a teenager. There is the early teenager age 12 to 15 and the more mature teenager 15 to 18. The two stages are radically different and take different parenting techniques. The early teenager age 12 to 15 tends to be in a major growth spurt. Girls begin the spurt of growth early and are nearly finished at 15 while most boys by age 15 are still in the middle of growing. Puberty is in full bloom with all its radical changes in voice, hormones, and … [Read more...]
Teen Rebllion can be Fixed
Any part of our lives that is out or control is no fun by any means, but having out of control teens can take a toll on a parent. You have tried everything you know how, but it seems that you are getting nowhere with your teenager. It may have gotten to the point where you have just given up on them. Like many parents they reach the end of their rope and feel all is lost. However, there is still time to make a difference. If you have an out of control teen, the first thing to keep in mind is that you have to admit that what you are doing to bring correction is not working. This can be a … [Read more...]
Teen Vs. Money
Most teenagers are not aware of how money should be valued. In the world of technology and fashion, teens can get caught up very easy in all the hype. As for parents it is important for teens to be aware of good spending habits so it will be carried on later in life. If you are giving your teenager an allowance, make sure that they are spending their money wisely. That means having them keep track of their spending on their own. It never helps the teen to spend what they have and then coming to you for more money later! Making them plan a budget will teach them the first steps of need vs. … [Read more...]
Correcting Teens with Words
Raising teens in this day and age is not an easy task. Many teens are faced with challenging situations like drugs, alcohol, sex and smoking to name a few. What are parents to do in these days when peer pressure is stronger than in their generation? If a teen is going through any of these things, how do you deal with them? Although teens are considered young adults they are still minors and need to be educated on life. When parenting a teenager, the goal is to achieve an understanding between you and the teen. Disciplinary actions like spankings or timeouts, which were used when they were … [Read more...]
Hi Ho, Hi Ho, It’s Off to School I Go
It's that time, your child is off to college and as excited as can be to be "on their own." Do you have worries going through your head? No doubt. Although it may not be tops, have you talked to your student about drinking now that they are going to be making that decision themselves? What about if they choose to drink... how much? It is an unfortunate reality that alcohol consumption flourishes on college campuses and is particularly popular with the freshman who are newly away from mom and dad. Studies show that 19 percent of college students ages 18-24 met the criteria for alcohol abuse … [Read more...]
Your Relationship With Your Teen
Teens are by nature, hard to get along with. Parents are the last people they want to hang out with. It is your job as parent to become someone they can trust and confide in. If you do not change your methods of parenting when your child hits puberty, you can miss out on a lot of special moments and possibly not know what they are up too. This is not a good thing. You can become their friend and still maintain the role of a parent; you just have to figure out the perfect balance. One sure fire way to earn some trust from your teen is to confide in them as well. Let … [Read more...]
Parenting a Teen Driver
A learner’s permit for driving will be the most exciting moment for your child to date. They will begin feeling like they are truly growing up. Parents become nervous at this point. Teaching your child to drive is not only a scary activity, but it also means that your child is growing up and you may feel sad or resentful of passing time. So make this particular time in your teens life an incredible memory for you both. Give your teen the confidence to drive safely. The optimum way to begin this monumental experience is to start off small. Find a small residential neighborhood … [Read more...]
Drugs and Alcohol: Teens Experiment
As a parent of a teenager, you are well aware of the chances that they will experiment with drugs and alcohol. It is our job as parents to educate them about this type of experimentation and help them to understand the consequences. If you fear that they are going to try something that will hurt them, you should take a proactive measure. Educate them and show them what can happen if they become addicted or worse. Do not just take them to a rehab center or on a jail tour unless you rebellious teenager is showing signs that might lead you to believe they may try to experiment. One of … [Read more...]