Not sure where this blog came from - but they have made an interesting post on the 3 mistakes often made when parenting teens.

They say you need to do these 3 things to avoid the mistakes:

1. Keep up with modern teenage behaviour
2. Discuss instead of lecture.
3. Do not give up too quickly.

It a quick read - well worth your time in clicking and going to check it out.

Posted: February 17th, 2008 under Communication, Teenager, Understanding Teenagers.
Comments: none

Valerio1 [whoever they are] have quoted some research about young people and the use of cannabis.

Young people who are heavy smokers of cannabis may be putting themselves at significant risk for periodontal disease, according to new research.

Now I am not saying that the research is right or wrong, but the questions raised by it are these:

1. Do they [whoever they are and we will come to that later] really think that young heavy users of cannabis [maybe grammatically incorrect but I am sure you realise I am not referring to fat kids] care about gum disease?
2. Are they anticipating these young people immediately go and stop smoking because of this new research?
3. Am I surprised that funding for the research was provided by organisations that might benefit from the results?

I just hope that none of my hard earned dollars ends up providing such types of research into these kind of things.

Posted: February 11th, 2008 under Parents, Teenager.
Comments: none

In the blog Dads are Disciplers they have a quote by Jim Berg which they have entitled “Parenting Teens Begins at Birth”

How true, but then again how difficult to explain this to parents as their children are growing up. For example, I noticed that a school was holding a seminar for parents , but my experience is that it is very difficult to get parents too attend. Those that should be there don’t think they need to be.

Why is that?

Posted: February 9th, 2008 under Parents, Teenager.
Comments: none

Annette Paxman Bowen writes a great post about connecting with teens [it is excepted from a letter she received. Some of the tips included:

• Support their interests
• let your home be the gathering place
• Look for something to praise and compliment every single day
• natural consequences for choices and behaviours
• Reflective listening is powerful
• Have them check in with you when they come home
• Let them have complete stewardship of their rooms
• Have fun with them every single week
• Laugh a lot
• Talk (and listen) a lot

Actually all the tips were so good I included every one of them!

Go check it out here.

Posted: February 3rd, 2008 under Parents, Teenager, Understanding Teenagers.
Comments: 2