Anger, Fear, and Sadness – As Experienced by A Teen
Anger and sadness come right along with fear in most any fear-based situation, and can do a lot of damage to someone. After all, as humans, we learn by mistakes. So when we are told there is a monster outside, the emotional reactions we have are going to stick with us much longer than the feeling of relief which comes with the rising sun. Continue reading
Do You Want to be a Foster Parent?
You want to have kids, and for one reason or another, having your own is not in the plan. So now you’re considering adopting. Becoming a foster parent is one path to adoption and there are many children in the foster care system waiting for a family. Continue reading
The Teen and Body Image
At what point can someone say, with confidence, that they are beautiful? What constitutes being beautiful? Does it suddenly happen when you reach a certain age, or is there some sort of merit prerequisite? I don’t believe that any of those standards apply. For me, being able to say with confidence that I am beautiful came with a little shift of perspective. Continue reading
Understanding Child Mistreatment
“When it comes to damage, there is no real difference between physical, sexual and emotional abuse. All that distinguishes one from the other is the abuser’s choice of weapons.” – Andrew Vachss. There are many formal, accepted definitions of child mistreatment. The information in this article is intended as a basic guide to understanding child abuse and neglect. Continue reading
Talking to Your Child About Sexual Predators
We receive many messages from the media, talk shows, television and the Internet regarding the existence of childhood sexual abuse. Unfortunately, there is not an equivalent amount of information on how to talk to your child about sexual abuse and how to prevent it. Most parents never think about talking to their child, and it is very common to be uncomfortable while talking to your child about this topic. Why not give your child all of the information they need to protect themselves? Continue reading
Texting and Sexting – The Behavior and the Consequences
The moment you send a picture of yourself to someone else, consider it public information. It only takes a second for the recipient to forward it to friends (or your parents), or to post that pose on Facebook. As a result, you may face embarrassment and ridicule. Continue reading
The Effects of the Decline of Physical Activity
Kids don’t even have to walk to each other’s house to socialize these days; they can send text messages instead. Then there’s the allure of the television set. The first things some kids do when they come home from school is to park themselves in front of the “boob tube” where they’re glued until dinnertime, snacking while they watch their favorite television shows.
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Ways to Tell if Your Teen is Experimenting with Drugs
Every young person will respond to drugs in ways that are particular to their temperaments and physiology. The key thing to look for is abrupt changes in behavior. Mood swings, for example, can be a giveaway. Your teen may be withdrawn and isolated one moment and then overly talkative and animated the next. Continue reading
