Category — Teens

The American Academy of Pediatrics published revised guidelines on how parents and schools should deal with head lice

Check out our favorite snooze strategies, from A to Zzzzz

Teenagers have not always been known for their wise decisions.  More often than not, teenagers make rash decisions that have very little conscious thought involved and are more likely spurred on by the crowd.  In the past, these “adventures” involved car races or some form of dare that might cause harm (or embarrassment).  Today the adventures have turned more deadly.  The trend is to play a game – only this game is one of life or death.

The Choking Game (also known as the Blackout Game or the Fainting Game) is when one person shuts off the oxygen to his brain (sometimes by strangulation) in order to get a high from the experience.  This intentional deprivation of oxygen to the brain can result in unconsciousness, temporary or even permanent brain damage, or death.

It is important to talk to your teenager about who he (or she) is spending time with or what he is doing with his friends when he is out.  These recreational activities that teenagers are participating in are no games.  Not only can they cause problems in youth, but they can also lead to more dangerous scenarios as the teenager grows older.  Some teenagers who participate in the Choking Game eventually develop an unnatural fixation on erotic asphyxiation.

There are a variety of reasons that people say they participate in the Choking Game – none of which have ever been substantiated.  Some claim that it produces a brief high.  Others say that cutting off the oxygen produces a more enhanced sense of erotic feelings.  Some even suggest that it gives the same feeling of being intoxicated.  No matter what the reason, the truth is that no one can be sure just how much damage is being done neurologically each time the “game” is “played”.

It might surprise you to find out that this game has been around for longer than most experts realize.  As long as thirty years ago, kids in the school yard were hyperventilating on purpose to get a high or dizzy feeling associated with intoxication.  Unfortunately, the teenagers of today have found more effective ways to play the game.  Even more unfortunate is that few parents realize it is going on.  There are very few documented cases of injury or death from this game.

Make time to talk to your teenager on a regular basis.  Talk about things in the news, hobbies and interests or whatever your teenager wants to discuss.  When things come up, talk about situations like the Choking Game and how deadly serious they can be.  The more open and honest you are with your teenager about little things, the more open he (or she) will be to your opinion about important issues.

If you are looking for help with your teen,  visit  This Link  and gain access to an online parent-program for those who are struggling with their teenagers. Learn cut-to-the-chase parenting strategies that work immediately rather than months or years down the road.

Be sure to also check out the Parenting Your Teen Program and learn How To Handle Your Teenager And All Situations Involving Him Or Her In A True “WIN-WIN” Manner And Develop The Co-Operative, Down-To-Earth, Frustration-Free Relationship That You’ve Always Wanted

To call the doc or not? Kathryn Emery, M.D., an ER physician at the Children’s Hospital at the University of Colorado, Denver–and a mom–reveals when she’d pick up the phone:

Raising children seems to get harder each year.  As they grow up they’re faced with peer pressure and may become friends with people we may prefer they aren’t friends with.  With teenage sons it’s bad enough, but raising a teenage daughter in today’s world may seem nearly impossible.

If your daughter hasn’t reached her teens yet, you may want to do everything you can to prepare yourself for it now.  There will be some major changes in the coming years and you need to know what to expect.

Try to think back to when you were your daughter’s age and all of the things you felt and thought at the time.  Remember how you thought your parents were clueless?  It’s quite possible your daughter thinks the same thing about you.  But she also has to face some problems you didn’t have to deal with.

No matter how frustrated you get with your daughter, do your best to keep communication lines open.  Expect there to be conflicts over any number of subjects including boys, clothes, and friends.  Try to listen to her opinions and remember what it was like to be her age.

Take time to meet any boy she dates.  Get to know him, explain your views, and give her specific rules to follow while dating no matter how archaic she may feel they are.  Honestly, she wants limitations because they show her that you love her.

Let her know how you feel about her possibly becoming sexually active.  Tell her that you want to answer her questions rather than her finding out about sex and its consequences the hard way.

You’ll probably also bump heads about what your daughter wears.  Fashion has changed dramatically since you were your daughter’s age.  The media dictates what is fashionable and let’s be honest, quite a bit of it is barely there and looks trashy.  Try to compromise on clothing, but stick to your values as much as possible.  It is possible for your daughter to dress modestly in today’s society, but you may have to spend extra time shopping to find the right clothes.

It’s quite possible that the friends your daughter has have been with her for many years.  They may have met during grade school and grown up together.  If this is the case, you most likely know her friends.  If she’s recently made new friends, it would be a good idea to develop a relationship with them as well.  Invite her friends over so you can learn about them and their values.  Encourage friends you know, and make it a point to get to know new ones.

Raising a teenage daughter in today’s world may be more effort than you’re prepared for.  Reach down inside, remember how you felt as a teen, and keep talking with your daughter.  Try to meet on common ground, your love for each other, and you should be fine.

Teen Got You Frazzled? Click here for real guidance right now.

Feeling like your family is overdosing on media? Take a week to tune out and rediscover back-to-basics pleasures … like talking to each other! We’ve rounded up helpful resources, startling stats, and real-life tales from families who’ve cut back on TV time.

Feeling like your family is overdosing on media? Take a week to tune out and rediscover back-to-basics pleasures … like talking to each other! We’ve rounded up helpful resources, startling stats, and real-life tales from families who’ve cut back on TV time.

We have all heard it, parenting teens is difficult. But until you experience the confusion, heartache, and fear that a teen’s careless and self destructive behavior can cause in a family, it’s nearly impossible to fully understand the reason teens have such a collective bad reputation among parents.

If you find yourself trying to parent a teen who behaves in ways that totally blindside you and leave you frustrated, worried, and without answers, life can become very emotional and stressful. An out of control teen can wreak havoc on a family and household. Ahead are some suggestions for dealing with a troubled teen that will hopefully keep the damage they cause in your home and family to a minimum.

Get back to the basics – If you have a teen who is engaging in unacceptable and/or self destructive behaviors, you are likely very concerned. These behaviors may include ditching school, experimenting with drugs and/or alcohol, or sexual activity. One part of your approach to modifying your child’s behavior is to remove all forms of their entertainment. This would include restricting them from hanging out with friends, using the phone, watching TV, using the Internet, and any other forms of entertainment, such as video game privileges at home. If you have to, clear their room of everything but their bed, and necessary furniture and clothing. Consider doing this for an extended period of time, only offering to return items and privileges when your teen has earned them back. If they don’t earn them, well then, they just don’t get them back. Even if this doesn’t get them to behave in the manner you wish, it does teach them that when they don’t behave maturely and responsibly in their lives, they lose what is important to them. This is an important life lesson for everyone to learn, and you owe it to your teen to teach it to them.

Take away decision making opportunities – If your teen is making self destructive choices, it is your responsibility to remove decision making opportunities from their lives. If they can’t seem to handle making responsible choices when with friends, then they shouldn’t be allowed to spend time with friends. If your teen sneaks around every time they are supposed to be at work, or even on their way to or from work, then they should not be permitted to keep their job. If every time they walk out the door they engage in behavior that puts their health, safety, and future at risk, then you may have to go as far as pulling them out of school to home school them. I personally have taken this route, and my husband and I feel it is one of the best decisions we have ever made as parents.

Out with the bad, in with the good - Even though teens are old enough to be responsible for their own decisions, they are most influenced by their peers. As a result, if they happen to be caught up with a group of kids who accept alcohol and drug abuse, ditching school, sexual promiscuity and other irresponsible and self destructive behaviors, then the likelihood that your teen is taking part in these behaviors as a result of peer pressure is high. It is not an easy task, but separating your troubled teen from these influences can make a huge difference. At the same time, finding other opportunities for them to spend time with teens who are involved in more constructive behaviors can help your teen to change their focus and direction. Church youth groups and sporting activities such as karate are good places to start. Teaching your child that the world does not revolve around them, and that they have an obligation to be a productive part of society is very important as well, and you can work to teach them this through community service, such as volunteering at a homeless shelter.

Show love – Even though your teen may be acting more unlovable than you could have ever imagined, it is profoundly important that he or she has no reason to doubt your love for them. If your teen acts angry and will not accept shows of love such as hugs, at least remind them that you love them often. If you feel the lines of communication are so strained that you cannot do even this, express how you feel in writing, and just leave the note in their room.

Be a good example – Clearly, your teen cannot learn responsibility or the importance of refraining from unhealthy and self destructive behavior if you are engaging in these types of behaviors yourself.

Parenting a troubled teen is very tough, and can make everyone in the family feel as though the family itself is coming apart. During this troubled time, stand your ground, stay the course, and try to remember that this stage of your child’s life is temporary. Stay motivated by reminding yourself that the serious action you take now may very well help to steer your teen down a much better path then the one they are currently on.

By, Brandy Madison

My Out Of Control Teen:  A online parent-program for those who are struggling with their out-of-control teenagers. learn cut-to-the-chase parenting strategies that work immediately rather than months or years down the road.

Parenting Your Teen Program – Learn How To Handle Your Teenager And All Situations Involving Him Or Her In A True “WIN-WIN” Manner And Develop The Co-Operative, Down-To-Earth, Frustration-Free Relationship That You’ve Always Wanted

Two lucky readers will each win a Celeb Baby Basket including a Rockin’ Baby sling, Little Giraffe blanket and City Threads shirt themed for either a boy or girl!

As a leader in our youth group, most of the kids that attend are from dysfunctional and broken homes; their parents are either divorced or were never married and are now living with one parent full time, or are living part time with each parent. As a divorced mom, I know how devastating this can be to your child(ren). It’s even worse when one parent is completely removed from their lives, whether it’s by miles, or due to some other circumstance. When a parent is absent from the picture, the child suffers emotionally, mentally and sometimes even physically. But, there are some ways you can help your teen avoid or overcome the difficulties that often arise in this situation.

If it’s at all possible, try to keep the other parent in the picture. Unless the other parent is doing something detrimental to your teen, your teen needs them in their life. I know this may be difficult for you, especially if you have ill feelings toward the other parent. However, it is very important to your teen to be allowed to interact and live a somewhat “normal” life with both parents.

In my situation, my ex-husband is addicted to marijuana and alcohol. Therefore, it is not a good situation for my children to be in, but I do allow them to see him, and my 19 year old son chooses to live with him. That’s a whole other story which I will get to sometime, and have even touched on it here some in previous posts.

If the other parent isn’t allowed to be an active participant in your child’s life, there will be empty places in his or her life that he or she will try to fill with other things. For example, if a young girl doesn’t have a stable daddy figure in her life, she will most likely tend to act out sexually. Girls do this because they are trying to fill that missing void of a daddy figure in their life. What usually happens is, girls find boys that will have sex with them, thinking the boy loves them, but the boy ends up dumping them. The girl now has a broken heart, has given a piece of her heart to that boy, and now feels empty again. This cycle continues until the girl realizes she’s trying to fill that daddy spot with other male figures and learns to fill her life in other meaningful ways.  Church, sports, music and other talents are things some girls turn to fill that empty void.

If you’re divorced or a single parent and the other parent isn’t in the picture, help your teen find meaningful ways to fill that empty place in their lives. If they have a particular talent in music or sports, support them every way you can by being present at games or recitals. If they get involved in church, help drive them to youth group or Sunday services.

If you see your teen turning to drugs or sex, get help right away. But most important of all, talk to your teen and be involved in their life and let them know how much you love them.

Recommended reading: Getting Your Teen to Talk, How to Get a Teen To Talk, Addictions, Relationships, Sex and Body Image