Trying to Understand Youth Violence
The reality is that bullying, mass school shootings and gang violence are inflicted and directed toward our youth on a random basis. This aggressive behavior is the foundation for the one of the escalating problems that our youth are facing everyday. Youth between the ages of 12 and 24 have the highest risk of being victims of violence. Continue reading
Sex Discrimination – As Seen Through A Teen’s Eyes
When you think of sex discrimination, you probably think about a work environment where a woman is getting paid less than a man, or a woman is not promoted simply because she is a woman. While these situations are often true, sex discrimination is something that could potentially happen to anybody. Continue reading
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
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
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
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 Your teen may be withdrawn and isolated one moment and then overly talkative and animated the next.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
Helping Preteens Deal With Peer Pressure
If you have a preteen, then be prepared. Peer pressure usually escalates in middle school and, if your child doesn’t know how to adequately handle it, high school can be brutal. There are a few key ways that you can help your preteen deal with peer pressure better: teach them about what peer pressure is, offer them ways to cope with it, and keep the lines of communication open. Continue reading
Communicating Effectively With Your Teen
Communicative support is a critical developmental factor that adds to the well-being of all children, but it is especially important during the sometimes turbulent teenage years. Teens need their parents to develop the ability to support them with compassion and guide them with understanding. Continue reading
Teen Suicides and the Contagion Effect
Parents are not helpless when it comes to intervening in teen suicides. Become a careful observer of your teen and learn to recognize the signs that often indicate that a teen might be contemplating suicide. Continue reading
Understanding Development During The Teens Years
“Just wait until they’re teenagers!” is a phrase often uttered by parents, usually with some degree of dread. People often talk about “having teenagers” like it’s the worst thing that can happen to a person, akin to “having the plague.” The good news is that no one is going to just drop a teenager off at your doorstep one day, complete with a bad attitude and the music you hate. Your teenager is still your child, your helpless newborn whose toes you counted and kissed the day they were born. Continue reading
How to Help Your Teen Get Over a Break-up
At some time every parent will have the opportunity, and the need, to support their teenager through a relationship break-up. It is one of the great obstacles on the road to adulthood. Show what a great and sympathetic mom or dad you are by following these tips. Continue reading
Teens May Be More Vulnerable to Brain Injuries Than Others
Though teenagers are commonly thought of as being resilient, a new study shows the brains of teenagers are more greatly affected by concussions than the brains of children or adults. Continue reading
Understanding Teen “Cutting”
If you or your child know someone who is cutting, make it your top priority to let that person know that you really care. Don’t shame or judge the person, don’t make fun of the person, and don’t treat the person like a freak. Cutters don’t cut for attention, but sometimes paying attention can go a long way in helping a cutter grow strong and happy enough to kick the habit. Above all, if you want to help, become the good listener that the cutter can trust.
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Why Teens Contemplate Suicide
Many teens that survive a suicide attempt have said that they were trying to escape a seemingly impossible situation or avoid unrelenting bad feelings. They say that they don’t want to die as much as they are want relief from painful emotions. Some teens may be feeling rejected, worthless, or they may feel like they are a disappointment to family members. Continue reading
Talking to Teens about Forgiveness
Consider the wisdom of this anonymous quote: “Not forgiving someone is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.” Although the term “forgive” seems to imply that the other person is the one getting a great gift, it’s the one that has the ability to forgive that is receiving the most notable reward. Continue reading
Should My Teen Be My Facebook Friend?
A recent report from the Pew Research Center found that the parents who friended their children on Facebook were most likely to talk to their teens about online safety. On the other hand, the survey found that these parents were much more likely to experience conflict with their teens about social media. Continue reading
Natalie Warne Wants More “Anonymous Extraordinaries”
Natalie Warne did not let being too young stop her from running a successful campaign for the Invisible Children project. In a recent speech to other teens and young adults, she called on young people everywhere not to let age stop them from changing the world. Continue reading
12-Year-Old Encourages Kids To Become App Developers
Most 12-year-old boys love playing video games — Thomas Suarez taught himself how to create them. After developing iPhone apps like “Bustin Jeiber,” a whack-a-mole game, he is now using his skills to help other kids become developers. Continue reading
The Collision Between the Teenager and Mid-Life Parents
Many times, parents are overwhelmed with their own struggle with mortality and they feel somewhat vulnerable in the face of the youthful actions and carefree style of teens. But your budding adult needs for you to remember that their healthy journey into adulthood is dependent upon a sound relationship with you – their parent. Continue reading
Teen Pregnancy: Risk Factors and Intervention
We like to think of our society as progressive and capable of solving our social ills one problem at a time, but the fact of the matter is that, among industrialized nations, the U.S. leads the way in teen pregnancy. Currently, 4 out of every 10 girls in the U.S. will become pregnant by their 20th birthday. Continue reading
