Troubled Teens

Paper Advises Parents: For Sake of Teens, Act Your Age

Monterey County, California residents are all too familiar with the tragic results of teen drinking and driving. In the early morning hours of Feb. 20, five teens were seriously injured in a car accident cause by the mixing of alcohol and automobiles.

This latest accident prompted a stern editorial from the Monterey County Herald:

We have lost tolerance for parents who have given in to the notion that "they're going to drink no matter what we do."

Many parents -- too many -- have even chosen to provide their teens with alcohol and a place to drink it under the theory that at least they will know where the kids are. ...

Teens don't need cool parents. What they do need is full-fledged parents, not friends, who are willing to play the roles of enforcer, spy, traffic cop, detective, judge, jury and, if necessary, jailer. ...

Teens will always act like teens. It is time for their parents to act like parents.

Labels: parental_involvement

Overprotective Parents Among Risk Factors for Teen Depression

A new study from Australia isolated three factors that put young people at higher risk for suffering from teen depression:

Low levels of flexibility and positive mood
Overprotective yet low-nurturing parents
A pattern of suppressing the expression of emotions.

Researchers from Monash University compared 44 teenagers with self-reported depressive symptoms to 44 teenagers without such symptoms. The subjects were matched by age, gender and ethnicity. The depressed teens tended to be less flexible, less positive, and less emotionally expressive.

This study appeared in the British Journal of Developmental Psychology.

Labels: depression, parental_involvement

Teen Depression Prevention Begins with Parental Support

The prevalence of suicide thoughts and attempts among teenagers remain distressingly high. Many suicide attempts are related to teen depression -- but there are steps parents can take to support their teens, and help them manage situations that can trigger depression.

The Mayo Clinic advises parents to take the following five steps to lessen the likelihood that their children will suffer from depression -- and to increase the odds of identifying and treating the disorder should it occur:

Praise your child's skills.
Encourage your child to participate in organized activities.
Encourage your child to stay physically active.
Provide emotional support and guidance to your child.
Talk to your child.

Studies have also found that children who struggle academically at a young age develop symptoms of depression early. Getting involved in your children’s education from the beginning, offering support and praise for areas in which they do well, can help reduce or eliminate depressive symptoms.

Labels: depression, parental_involvement, prevention, teens

Regardless of Difficulties, Counselor Urges Caregivers Not to Give Up on Troubled Teens

Any parent whose teenager has been involved with unhealthy or otherwise destructive behaviors knows how hard it can be, and may have even been tempted to give up. But in an article on the website of California's KFAX radio, Mark Gregston of Heartfelt Ministries urged parents to hang in there -- and appreciate small victories:

It's easy to be so overwhelmed by problems with your teen's behavior that you fail to recognize any progress. Progress is not "problem solved." Progress means steady improvement.

So, if your child is screaming at you every day, and then only yells at you once every other day - then that's progress! Finishing some of his homework, when he previously did no homework, is progress.

Effective parenting requires that you look at the big picture while focusing on just a few problems at a time; then applauding any progress, no matter how small.

Refuse to make your teen's lack of a complete turnaround to be your constant disappointment. Turnarounds rarely happen overnight. Instead, applaud every step in the right direction, even if it is a small one.

Labels: parental_involvement, parenting_help

Grant to Help Keep Families Together During Mother's Drug Treatment

The Bureau of Milwaukee Child Welfare will receive nearly $500,000 dollars from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Associated Press has reported:

The grant will be used to fund a collaboration with a local treatment facility. The Meta House allows children to enter residential programs with their mothers. That allows the family to remain together while the mother gets substance-abuse treatment.

Officials told the AP that supporting the whole family is important and that, when mothers seek help for addiction, their children are often at risk. The Meta House works to counteract that risk by keeping the family together, they said.

Labels: family, grants, mothers, parental_involvement

Harrisburg Police Target Teen Prescription Drug Abuse

Law enforcement officials in the Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, are have seen enough cases of teenage prescription drug abuse to consider it a major threat. The fight against prescription drug abuse, however, is aimed at not at the teens themselves, but at their parents. A June 21 article by Daniel Victor of the Patriot News provides details:

"We're seeing more and more prescribed drug abuse among young people, and part of it is the accessibility," said Dennis McMaster, police chief at the East Pennsboro Police Department. "They're stealing it from mom and dad, grandma and grandpa." ...

Some teenagers tend to think the drugs are safer than street drugs because they've been prescribed to someone, said [Lt. Gary Seefeldt of the Lower Paxton Police Department]. But experts say they carry just as much risk.

"They sometimes carry the veneer of safety, but when kids are abusing them and using them recreationally, these are highly addicting medications," [Elizabeth Planet, who manages Columbia University's annual teen survey] said. "They're not safe when used not as prescribed."

A recent media campaign by the White House helped increase awareness of prescription drug dangers among parents from forty to eighty percent.

A 2008 survey by Columbia University found that teenagers feel prescription drugs are easier to get than beer. It also found that 65 percent of prescription drugs that teens abuse came from parents or parents of friends.

Labels: parental_involvement, police, prescription_drug_abuse, teenagers

Is It Ever OK to Violate Your Teen's Privacy?

Most parents agree that keeping a close eye on their kids is important. Many insist that computers be kept in a common area when kids can't hide what they’re doing online. Parents get to know their kids' friends (and the friends' parents), and stay up-to-date on daily activities.

But is it ever OK for a parent to go behind his child’s back? Search his room? Log on to his MySpace page? According to a number of parenting experts, the answer to these questions is "no."

“Many experts feel that snooping on your child does more harm than good. Spying can destroy your child’s trust and make it less likely for him to confide in you when he’s in trouble. It’s best to discuss your concerns with him, keep the lines of communication open and let him know he can talk to you about anything.”(Source: MyOptumHealth)

Snooping should only be a last resort that follows numerous attempts to talk to your child and strong evidence that he is engaging in dangerous behavior but won’t be honest about it. Before violating your child's privacy, be sure that you can defend your actions, and that you’ve exhausted all other options.

Labels: parental_involvement, privacy, teenagers

Teen Pregnancy Rate Continues to Rise

Teen birthrates increased for the second year in a row, according to a report from the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy. About 750,000 U.S. teens become pregnant annually, or three in every ten teenage girls. The United States continues to have the highest rate of teen pregnancy in the developed world.

As the experts continue to work on a more effective means of reducing the rate of teen pregnancy, the U.S. government has indicated that federal funding will be directed in a different direction that has been the case in previous years. U.S. President Barack Obama’s administration is cutting two $100 million abstinence-only sex education programs, and is replacing them with a $110-million sex education program that emphasizes pregnancy prevention.

Though many parents might mistakenly believe that their teens have no interest in their opinions about issues such as dating, sex, and teen pregnancy, experts continue to advise that engaging in open and honest communication with your child on topics related to teen dating and pregnancy greatly increases the likelihood that they will make better decisions and engage in healthier behaviors.

Labels: communication, parental_involvement, teen_pregnancy

Teens Praise Quality of Relationships with Parents

Contrary to popular belief, relationships between parents and teenagers are getting better. Results from surveys of 5,500 teens found that nine out of ten say their mothers carry a "high" level of influence and more than eight in ten say the same thing about their fathers. Both of these statistics are up by about ten percent since the 1980s.

Weekly arguments are down from 52 percent a decade ago to 42 percent, the survey shows. Teens are also reporting a greater degree of understanding between themselves and their parents: just 39 percent are troubled about not being understood, compared with 58 percent in 1992. (Source: The Vancouver Sun)

These results were released by sociologist Reginald Bibby of the University of Lethbridge in Alberta, Canada. Though the survey evaluated the quality of parent-teen relationships in Canada, experts estimate that the results are indicative of what would be found in the United States.

The survey statistics are good news for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is that effective parent-teen communication has been cited as a strong positive influence in the effort to keep kids from engaging in a wide range of dangerous teen behaviors.

Labels: communication, parental_involvement, relationships

Law Expands Parents' Accountability for Teen Drinking

Nearly two dozen cities in Minnesota have law about "social hosting." These laws hold adults accountable for providing alcohol to underage drinkers. But another Minnesota city may soon have a more serious regulation on the books.

Chaska was the first area city to pass such a law, in 2007. Adults there who host gatherings and "know or reasonably should know" that minors are drinking can be arrested.

But Minnetonka would prosecute adults who host gatherings where conditions are "ripe" for underage drinking but don't take steps to stop it." (Source: The Star-Tribune)

The challenge with the ordinance in Chaska, and others like it, is that the adult has to know an underage person could or would consume alcohol. The Minnetonka law removes that challenge, making adults easier to prosecute when they're complicit in allowing a situation to develop in which underage drinking is likely.

Though some parents mistakenly believe that alcohol is a relatively harmless substance, the truth is that teen drinking is a dangerous activity that puts young people at increased risk for a wide range of problems.

Labels: alcohol_abuse, laws, parental_involvement, teenagers

During Divorce, Make Sure Kids Know It's Not Their Fault

Divorce is hard on every family it touches. Sometimes an unintended consequence is that the kids feel responsible -- thinking they did something wrong, something that caused one of their parents to want to leave.

Attorney-at-law Marjorie Shaw-Currie has seen instances like these as marriages dissolve in the divorce court. In fact, she said these situations are not rare and, when they occur, she prescribes counseling ... Divorce brings many changes, and changes are hard for children ... They may wonder, 'If my parents stop loving each other, can they stop loving me?' -- Source: Cleaner News (Jamaica)

Psychologist Karen Richards says parents should reassure their children of their love and ensure them that they are not to blame for their parents' divorce. During and after a divorce, every family member will need time to process and to grieve. Make sure kids have an opportunity to do this, whether it's through talking to a parent, confiding in a teacher, or attending sessions with a trained pediatric counselor.

Regardless of parents' marital status, keeping the lines of communication open is an important part of promoting healthy childhood development, and has even been cited as a means of reducing adolescent and teen depression.

Labels: children, depression, divorce, parental_involvement

Parent-Child Communication Can Reduce Daughters' Depression

Many college girls experience depression. But what affects them in college starts long before they get there, and parents can help prevent those issues by cultivating a close relationship with their teenagers.

"Recognize that to be in touch requires new communications skills, and they have to be learned if you expect to connect with and understand these kids. All the skills that worked up to this point no longer work."

Building the relationship takes time that many parents feel they don't have. But the long-term benefits to both parents and children indicate that time spent in conversation is time well spent. Source: Psychology Today

Labels: communication, depression, parental_involvement

Teen Anxiety Demands Attention

Everyone experiences occasional anxiety. It causes us to look both ways before crossing the street, and to be careful (hopefully) with our words when we're upset. Teenagers feel some anxiety, too, and that's OK - but high levels of this emotion require attention.

"If your child is experiencing undue anxiety, there are several things you can do to help. Good, basic self-care - as in making sure your child eats real food and is getting enough rest and exercise - can help to keep your kid on a level plane."

Parents can help their child cope with anxiety by making sure that his basic needs are met. Help him eat well, and make sure that he is getting plenty of rest and adequate amounts of exercise. If a child's anxiety level seems disproportionate to the stresses in his life, consider having him talk with a professional counselor. Counseling can be an important tool in helping a child learn how to address and cope with stress. Source: Poughkeepsie Journal (NY)

Labels: anxiety, parental_involvement

MTV To Air "Sex ...With Mom and Dad"

It's a title sure to capture the attention of any teen that sees the ad. "Sex... With Mom and Dad" is the name of a new show on MTV feature Dr. Drew Pinsky.

"...the half-hour long show will feature Celebrity Rehab's Dr. Drew, who will discuss certain tips and guidelines when it comes to parent-children dialogue involving teens and topics such as sex, dating and relationships."

The show will also cover specific issues related to sexual promiscuity, homosexuality, and other topics. The show was scheduled to premiere on September 29. Source: BuddyTV

Labels: communication, parental_involvement, sex

Parenting Matters in Middle School

When kids are transitioning into middle school, they need their parents more than ever. Grade school is relatively easy, but in middle school kids are faced with cliques and increased social pressure to fit in.

"Parents can help pave the way to teenagerhood by maintaining communications with their children, being warm and nurturing, and knowing where their kids are and who their friends are..."

Studies have shown that girls who have a warm, nurturing mom were less likely to have problems in middle school and that good, consistent communication helped middle school students manage their fears and reduce their social aggression toward other students. Source: U.S. News

Labels: parental_involvement, schools, social_pressures

State Senate to Recognize Mom Who Works with Troubled Teens

This week, the New York state Senate will present Penny Jennings with the 2008 New York State Woman of Distinction award. The award was created in 1998 to honor New York women whose personal achievements and/or acts of service were an example to others.

"Jennings, a single mom for many years, started A.C.T. Inc. - Adults Caring for Teens - in 2006 to provide mentoring to youth who had had a brush with the law, were in troubled at school or were at loose ends and needed a mentor and a role model."

A.C.T. currently provides mentoring to 26 boys and girls, and beginning July 1 it will provide services to 15 additional students. Jennings earned a master's degree in social policy, and is now pursuing a doctorate in law and policy. Source: The Journal News

Find parenting tips and advice for parenting teenagers at ByParents-forParents.com.

Labels: delinquents, mentoring, parental_involvement

Parents Key to Curbing Gang Activity

In the Columbia Urban League's "State of Black South Carolina," Dr. Kenneth Campbell tells of his visit to a group discussion with 20 young men in an intervention program. The day's topic was "friends."

"When the facilitator asks, 'How many of you have friends,' the young men respond with silence - a deafening silence for this energetic group. Some look down, some look bewildered..."

This same group expressed disappointment in their parents' lack of involvement in their lives. Dr. Campbell goes on to cite a 2002 survey in which young people were asked why kids join gangs. Most said kids were looking for a place to belong because they didn't have a good family or home life. Read more at www.topix.net.

Labels: friends, gangs, parental_involvement

Absent Parents can Cause Violent Kids

Nineteen-year-old Robert Hawkins, who opened fire in an Omaha, Nebraska mall this week, spent most of his life moving and out of the foster care system. Psychologist warn that a lack of parental involvement in a child's life can make a child feel like he has no one to turn to, and affects how teens respond to negative attention. A lack of healthy emotional bonding with a parent hinders a child's ability to view people as more than just objects.

"[Psychologist Dr. Louis] Mortillaro said some warning signs for potential violent outbursts in children include feelings of not fitting in, kids who are teased constantly, those who are sent to the office for harming classmates or animals and those who are not afraid to act on their violent tendencies"

Parents are encouraged to develop appropriate, healthy emotional bonds with their kids, even if the parents are separated, divorced or never married at all.

Need parenting tips for your troubled teen? Visit ByParents-forParents.com for free parenting tips, advice, and resources for parents of teenagers.

Labels: influences, parental_involvement, violence

Support Systems Sway Gangs

People who are most susceptible to gang influence are those who have little or no structure or family support. Consequently, community services which provide some of that support not only meet immediate needs, but help curb the influence of gangs.

"During its first year, the Trinity Nursing Center for Infant Health saw 600 babies whose parents were court-ordered to bring them there for care. But from that staggering number came some good: the ability to mentor troubled teen mothers."

Many of the moms wanted to get away from the gang exposure that they encounter daily in their neighborhoods. They were also seeking affirmation and acceptance, which they found at the nursing center.

Labels: gangs, parental_involvement, support

Too Many Teenagers, Too Few Parents, Not Enough to do

The Poconos, in Northern Pennsylvania, has experienced a surge in crimes committed by young people. Between 1990 and 2005, the number of new criminal cases against adolescents increased from 176 to 640 - all of them first-time offenders.

"'Gang activity is on the rise. It is here, and we will be dealing with it for many years,' [Monroe County's Chief Probation Officer Steve] Houloose said. His office has worked with Pocono kids who are admitted members of the Bloods, Crips, Latin Kings and various branches of those gangs."

Houloose and others point to a lack of parental supervision - caused by long commutes which force parents to leave early in the morning and not return until late at night, and an influx of kids from urban communities who struggle to find appropriate activities to keep them busy. Read more at PoconoRecord.com.

Find parenting tips and help for parents of troubled teens at ByParents-ForParents.com.

Labels: criminals, gangs, parental_involvement

Students Share Opinions on Criminals

Students from Clinton Middle School in Utica, New York, recently spent two weeks learning about the law and criminal behavior. The students also sat in on court room proceedings in Onieda County Criminal Court. They were then asked to give their opinions on why some young people turn to crime.

"The path to criminal behavior might begin with a bad childhood. If a child is raised in a community that is poor and the only people there to look up to are drug dealers or criminals, this sets an image for the child."

Most of the students agreed that an abusive or neglectful home life and poverty are two possible causes. They also agreed that it's important to get those kids away from abusive or neglectful parents, or have the parents seek counseling, and help them get the education and resources they need for a better life. Read more at UticaOD.com.

Adolescent substance abuse is a serious matter that can affect an entire family. Learn how you can help at DrugRehabTreatment.com.

Labels: criminals, influences, parental_involvement

Talk to Kids about Risky Behavior

Most young people feel like they're invincible. But most also know the truth - that they're not. Still, some engage in risky and sometimes life-threatening behavior because they have little sense of their own mortality. The untimely death of a 14-year-old boy in Ohio has prompted warnings about risky behavior from some experts.

"[Dr. Steve] Liptak said it is important for parents to know their children and be more watchful of those they have found to be risk-takers. A working relationship with the child - knowing what they are doing and where they are going, not interrogating them - is even more important for known risk-takers, he said."

Dr. Bob Barcus also suggests that parents be honest with their teens about what can realistically happen when people take extreme risks. Read more at DaytonDailyNews.com.

If your child in engaging in risky behaviors, such as teen drug use, visit Adolescent-Substance-Abuse.com for ways you can help.

Labels: communication, parental_involvement, risky_behaviors

Father's Presence Weighs Heavily

The new movie 'Daddy's Little Girls' tells the story of a father who fights for shared custody of his daughters with his ex-wife. The movie brings to the forefront an important fact that's often overlooked - a father's involvement has dramatic effects in his kids' lives.

"A just-released Boston College study found that when nonresident fathers are involved in their adolescent children's lives, the incidence of substance abuse, violence, crime, and truancy decreases markedly... The study also found that when teens begin to slide towards delinquency, nonresident fathers increase their involvement in response. The researchers found such involvement to be effective - the impact of father involvement was the greatest on the kids who had previously been the most troubled."

Studies have also determined that father involvement is a greater predictor of juvenile crime than the family's socio-economic status. Read more at PostChronicle.com.

Labels: fathers, influences, parental_involvement

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