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Teens

Road Safety Awareness Tips Parents Should Teach Their Teens

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Safety Tips for Teen Girls Driving Alone

Most teens always desire to drive their own car and the more they want to achieve this when the legal age to drive approaches. Many parents also look forward to this time particularly the dads. Those who can afford even surprise their teen child with a car as a gift on the day the teenager becomes of legal age.

But while the excitement is there to finally get to see their teen driving on his own, parents must not forget to remind their child about road safety. Being a model driver who practice safe driving techniques is one effective way of showing the young ones how to be safe on the road with or without passengers on board and eventually enjoy more affordable car insurance as they maintain a good record onward. [Read more…] about Road Safety Awareness Tips Parents Should Teach Their Teens

Originally posted on March 28, 2016 @ 7:34 am

5 Tips for Talking To Your Kids About Alcohol

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Every parent is anxious about the moment when they have to start talking to their kids about alcohol. Especially in the days of social media, social pressure, and the availability of alcohol to younger and younger children, the conversation tends to more and more easily enter the realm of awkward.

But, awkward or else, the communication must be accomplished, especially before kids go off to college. So to help you map your plan of communication, follow these five tips for talking to your children about alcohol – point them to online resources for reference, don’t judge or initiate conflict, find a third party for them to talk honestly with, let the past go, and remind them that safety is the most important factor to you.

teen-drinking

Point Them To Online Resources

Kids don’t always believe their parents, but they may be more likely to accept information from online resources, especially online resources about drugs and alcohol. To start your discussion with them, simply have a list of links that they can click through to see how things are being presented from other people’s perspectives, including professionals like doctors and therapists. [Read more…] about 5 Tips for Talking To Your Kids About Alcohol

Originally posted on September 19, 2015 @ 2:58 am

How Parents Should Cope With Teen Drug Addiction

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Drug abuse in teens isn’t a new thing and it is worse than many parents think. It isn’t difficult for teenagers to become interested in experimenting and drugs are always out there just waiting to be tried. Even small towns are seeing a rise in drug use.

The only way to keep your teen safe is to talk to them and be honest with them about drug use and what it can do to them. The teenage years are pretty stressful as children grow into young adults. That stress, anxiety, and depression they feel can lead to drug abuse and addiction.

teen drug addiction

Share Your Feelings With Them

Many people don’t think that their kids really listen to them, but you’d be amazed at how much of what you say actually sticks with them. Tell them, honestly, about how you feel about drugs and what they can do to people. [Read more…] about How Parents Should Cope With Teen Drug Addiction

Originally posted on August 6, 2015 @ 2:07 am

How to Help Your Teen Choose the Right College

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Not all teens are alike hence, they have different attitudes and they make different decisions. When it comes to their college education, some teens are able to make a firm decision right away on the course they want to pursue and the school they want to enroll in while the others take some time.

When your teenager feels undecided on his college course and school, parents need to provide the proper guidance. Many male teens, for instance, face this problem and sometimes after a year in college, they can still change their minds. Some of them simply want to enroll in the nearest college or the others may want to enroll in the school where their friends are planning to attend.

Various factors need to be taken into account when finding a college for your teen son or daughter. Primarily, though, you need to look for a college or university that meets the academic, social and career goals of its students. [Read more…] about How to Help Your Teen Choose the Right College

Originally posted on October 2, 2015 @ 12:18 pm

Tips For Buying Your Teen Their First Car

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While you may have raised your teenager to work and save money to buy their own car, it’s still fairly likely that you’ll go with them when they shop for that first vehicle. That means you want to know how to make sure they are getting a good deal and a good vehicle. You also want to make sure that they aren’t buying something just because it is cool.

Dad buying a car for teen son

There are a few things to consider when it comes to a teens first vehicle. You want to do some research on the vehicles they may be interested in, ahead of time. [Read more…] about Tips For Buying Your Teen Their First Car

Originally posted on December 2, 2015 @ 6:48 am

Teaching Teens About Drugs

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Teenagers are well known for rebellious behavior and nothing screams rebellion more than drug and alcohol abuse. You can talk and talk to your teenagers about the bad things that drugs can do to them, but in the end it is up to them. You can’t watch them 24/7, so all you can do is hope that your words and love are enough.

teens and drugs

The words you use are important though, because if you just assume they’ll do them whether or not you talk to them you may find yourself with a drug addicted teen. It may not seem like it, but kids do listen to their parents. It may seem like it is all in one ear and out the other, but sometimes something sticks, and if you don’t talk to them at all about the hard topics you aren’t doing your job as a parent.

Teens and Drugs Statistics

According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse, while the use of illicit drugs has dropped, as of 2014, they are still out there. Their studies found, though, that there has been less availability of certain addictive substances to the teenagers, which could equate for the approximately 7 percent drop since its peak in 1997. [Read more…] about Teaching Teens About Drugs

Originally posted on April 22, 2015 @ 2:00 pm

Dealing with Underage DUI That Brings Desired Results

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The one thing that can possibly be worse than underage drinking or taking drugs is underage DUI or driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Alcohol drinking or taking prohibited drugs can be very damaging to young people and adults alike. The risks doubles if drinking or taking drugs and driving is combined. These drivers eventually end up hurting themselves or others and destroying properties in the process. Either way, they would need to get the services of an excellent DUI defense lawyer to get them through their troubles. It is either that or they straighten themselves up before they get themselves into real trouble.

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The Underage DUI Problem

Not a few parents  have had to deal with the problem of underage drinking or teenagers taking prohibited drugs right in their own homes. The problem is real not only because it affects the whole family but also other people who may be in harm’s way when a DUI teenager is holding the wheel. But it is never easy to bring up the subject with anyone, more so with a teenage kid who may interpret parents’ concern as a veiled way of establishing excessive control. Never the less, parents have the responsibility to talk with their children because no one else will care more to do so. The law will care but in an all-together different dimension than that of parents thus all efforts must be exerted to prevent or stop the practice early on.

What Happens to Underage Caught DUI

Any person under the age of 21 caught driving under the influence of alcohol or combination or alcohol and drugs will have their licenses suspended or revoked immediately. This should effectively prevent the driver from legally operating a motor vehicle until such revocation or suspension is set aside. The services of a good lawyer is necessary if there were properties destroyed , people hurt, or lost lives. Such morbid results can haunt a young driver for the rest of his life.

Dealing with Underage DUI

It is primarily up to the parents to make sure that their children will not reach this point. Here are some ways parents can effectively deal with underage drinking or drug-taking to prevent the deadly consequences of driving under the influence.

1. Talk with the concerned child. Do it using clear words so that the message is understood. Do it with empathy that shows that you understand what the teen is going through.

2. Explain the possible results of being caught under the influence. There is no need to exaggerate since the reality of accidents is real enough. Be upfront without resorting to scare tactics.

3. Guide your child. Know when to have your presence felt and when to step back. Be encouraging and never condescending.

 

Originally posted on July 29, 2014 @ 3:16 am

When is the Right Time to Allow Children on Social Media?

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Social media is so popular these days that even the youngsters have made it their favorite hangout. It is a very powerful tool and one that can impact a child positively or negatively.

With the many issues involving social networking sites in particular cyberbullying, however, parents are concerned over their influence on their young children. Some allow their kids to create accounts on the popular sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram while the others think it’s better not to introduce social media until their child is much older and able to handle themselves well online.

social-media-families

The minimum age requirement for a child to join Facebook is 13. Many parents agree this is an ideal age during which a child is supposedly already responsible enough to behave properly online. But this is not always the case as some sensitive kids can easily get offended when they read negative comments from friends although they may not really be directed to them. Also, there are much younger kids who have created accounts on various social networking sites without their parents’ consent. [Read more…] about When is the Right Time to Allow Children on Social Media?

Originally posted on May 30, 2014 @ 8:43 am

The Art of Listening

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listening

Are you a good listener? I actually find it amusing that I got the idea for this post from one of those online quizzes in a social networking site. I like taking those quizzes when I am passing away time. They may not be as accurate as they can be but they are fun and sometimes, provides valuable insight – like this one. As I was reading my results (I am supposedly a good listener although I don’t always come across as one), I could not help by relate the topic to being a parent.

As Munashe shares in his blog, the art of listening is perhaps one of the most important – if not THE most important – things that a parent should develop. What does the art of listening entail?

I believe that it is more than sitting there and hearing the things that your child has to say. It is not a passive activity but an interactive one. You actively listen by understanding what your child is saying and contributing something to the conversation. More so, listening entails understanding that maybe, at times, your child just wants to be heard and does not really need to be told what to do.

I think that is one problem that arises when children share things with their parents – we sometimes automatically think that we need to provide a solution to whatever they are presenting. Have you ever thought that maybe your child just wants to rant and let off steam and be heard? I sure know that I feel that way a lot of times.

So do you take the time out to really listen to your child? How do you listen?

Originally posted on July 27, 2011 @ 2:14 pm