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 Parenting Related NewsLet’s face it. Teens are not that interested in talking to someone whose sole intent is to pepper them with questions, judge their answers, and offer unsolicited advice. In fact, these forms of communication serve to obstruct rather than facilitate communication with our teens. As a matter of fact, they are part of a longer list of communication blocks that parents would do well to avoid if they’d want their teens to talk to them.
One in five teenagers has abuse prescription pain medication. Dr. Drew shares some reasons why teens are abusing pills and what parents can do if they suspect their child is using.
She smiled and said she was proud of him. He had come to a 180 degree turn in his life. And with that, he turned to the other teens and thanked them for helping him change his life. His victory became theirs.
While it was hard to immediately see the outward effects of my pill intake, inside, I was detaching from reality. I always describe the feeling of being on pills as being inside a protective bubble. You feel like nothing can hurt you…and eventually, nothing can, simply because you’ve got no emotions left.
Truth be told, the lessons about alcohol consumption that are the most powerful may just be the ones that are not accompanied by a wagging finger and a tongue lashing. It is the small, accumulated lessons about drinking that add up to make a difference.
Being a responsive parent instead of a reactive parent begins with more matter-of-fact interactions with our kids. This means speaking to them in a calm manner and not freaking out, overreacting and getting extreme with our emotions. Too often, when we see something in our relationship that we don’t like, we try to change everything wholesale. We say things like, “From now on, things are going to be different!”
Do you know an outstanding youth coach or student athlete who demonstrates a commitment to fair, drug-free play and an overall healthy lifestyle? Does this person inspire others to give it their all, make the team smile after a big defeat, or show exemplary character and integrity on and off the field?
If you answered YES, [...]
As a college student living 5 hours away from my parents, I have the freedom to do pretty much whatever I want. If I got into any real trouble, with the university or the law, only then would the school contact my parents. Otherwise, I can get away with a lot without my parents ever knowing. That’s a scary thought for parents reading this, right?
I am betting that very few of you have sat through a week’s worth of sex education classes at your teenkid’s school. If your school district offers – or mandates – such classes, you no doubt have received a carefully crafted note listing the topics to be covered. And, if you have somehow managed to raise one of those rare tweens or teens who, in response to “so, what happened at school today?” replies polysyllabically, you might have a general notion of what goes on.
My colleague told me she was having her 10-year-old stepson practice his reading and comprehension skills while reading entries from my personal blog. Effectively, she noted, along the way she discovered that it’s a creative method of early drug prevention too.
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Study Suggests Letting Children Sleep Late Can Curb Overweight, ObesityA study published in the November issue of Pediatrics suggests that allowing children to sleep late on weekends and holidays can help curb obesity and overweight, HealthDay reports. Based on data collected by Hong Kong researchers on 5,159 children between age 5 and age 15 regarding their sleep habits, lifestyle, height and weight, the researchers determined that children who slept fewer hours tended to have higher body mass indices than children who slept more. However, among children who slept fewer than eight hours per night during the week, those who compensated by sleeping late on weekends or holidays were significantly less likely to be overweight or obese. The research also revealed that overweight children were less likely to catch up on sleep during weekends or holidays than their normal-weight peers, a factor that the researchers say could be attributed to the fact that overweight children spent more time completing homework or watching television. Although the research confirms previous studies suggesting a link between increased sleep and a reduced risk of overweight or obesity, Kristen Knutson, an assistant professor of medicine at the University of Chicago, who was not involved in the study, noted that it is "the first to show that extending sleep on weekends may help with avoiding weight gain." Despite the promising results, the researchers cautioned that irregular sleep patterns and insufficient sleep among school-aged children can result in a "variety of serious repercussions, including increased daytime sleepiness, academic difficulties, and mood and behavioral problems" (Freeman, HealthDay, 10/28/09; Wing et al., Pediatrics, November 2009 [subscription required]). |
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