Parenting

Teen Self-Esteem: Improving Self-Image

During the teen years, self-esteem is like a roller-coaster with constaint ups and downs as we try to figure out who we are and what are place is in the world.

People with healthy self-esteem often feel good about themselves, have self-worth, and take pride in their accomplishments, skills, and abilities. People with low self-esteem often feel unworthy, unloved, unaccepted, and unable to do things right.

There are ways to improve and develop healthy self-esteem:

Focus on the positive and stop thinking negatively about yourself. Instead of being critical of short comings, counter it by saying something positive or doing something positive such as writing down 3 things you excel at.
Stop focusing on perfection and aim for accomplishments. If you enjoy swimming and want to try out for the swim team, don’t hold yourself back because you don’t have proper form.
Don’t put yourself down because you missed a step during a recital or missed the basket during a game. Mistakes are learning opportunities which help us to develop our talents and interests.
Not everyone can be good at everything. Don’t be afraid to try new things and develop new talents.
Recognize the things that you are able to change about yourself and not what you can’t change. Your genes made you short, but that doesn’t mean you can’t stand tall and love the skin your in.
Create a list of goals, plan how to accomplish them, track your progress, reward yourself along the way, and find support from others when you struggle.
Make a difference in someone else’s life by volunteering to tutor a classmate, helping an elderly neighbor, participating in a charity walk, or volunteer your time at a pet shelter. When you feel like you are valued or making a difference in the world, you improve your personal esteem levels.

Filed Under: Driving, Parenting Tagged With: Adolescence, Roller coaster, Self-esteem

Helping Your Teen Wait to Marry

You probably remember how when you were young, it was easy to fall in love with someone and be carried away with it. And chances are you still remember your first love as the first person you ever seriously thought you might trade engagement rings with. In some people’s cases, their high school sweetheart is the person they sit with in their rocking chairs with decades later, watching the last sands of the hourglass drift downward together. However, in many cases, teen marriages do not go so well. Teenage marriages tend to have a lot of problems, even though their feelings are as strong as yours ever were at that age.

First off, you can always forbid marriage before they are 18. This is a dictatorial approach to things, and it is inevitably going to result in all kinds of backlash. This is a knee jerk, emotional response to a person who feels grown being treated like a child. A better response is to counsel your teen, and help them to understand some of the underlying problems with getting married at such a young age, and let them get engagement rings. This will take finesse to do properly.

First off, never tell your teen they’re not emotionally ready. This will explode in your face every time. Instead, take the tack that since your teen is probably not financially independent (and likely neither is their significant other), life will be extremely hard in the early years. While getting engaged is a great idea, getting married too young can spell all kinds of hardships later.

Filed Under: Parenting, Relationships Tagged With: Marriage, Relationships, Wedding

The Pre-Trip Checklist

The average adolescent can’t wait for his first excursion out into the world without his parents. In most cases, the opportunity arises when he is invited on a trip with a friend’s family or his school goes on an overnight field trip. For the average parent, this can be a scary proposition. Although you enjoy seeing your teen grow up, you can’t help but worry just a little bit about what he will encounter out in the world. To make this transition easier for both of you, follow this check list:

Identification and Contact information

No matter how old your teenager may be, it doesn’t hurt to include a slip of paper in his wallet that includes contact information. Although he knows his phone number and address, an accident could render him incapable of communicating. If he has a driver’s license, make sure he carries it. For younger teens, most state DMVs can provide ID cards. It might also be a good idea to include a copy of your insurance card, as well.

Secure Payment Methods

Although it’s good for your teen to have a little bit of cash on him, this is easy to lose. On the other hand, you wouldn’t want to turn him loose with a credit card. However, prepaid credit cards are a great option. If he does lose the card, you can easily cancel it and recover the money.

Medical Information

Most school permission slips will include a place to give your approval for medical treatment in the case of emergency, but a friend’s parents may not think of this critical item. Provide a note authorizing them to seek treatment in the case of emergency along with a list of any medications that your teen takes.

Although this list is far from complete, it provides an idea of what should be included in your teenager’s backpack for their next trip.

Filed Under: Advice, Parenting Tagged With: Checklist, Credit card, Telephone number

Education Alternatives are Available for Your Child

There are several alternative education options available that may be what your troubled child needs to put his or her academics back on track. Whether your child is struggling with behavioral or sociological issues, you know how important it is for him or her to continue with academic pursuits. You may want to look into non-traditional or alternative educational options to help your child. These schools may have a different curriculum or teaching style than those offered at regular, public schools.

Many alternative schools try to provide things that may be lacking in a traditional school. These things usually include personalized attention and may have roots in philosophical, religious or scholarly backgrounds. You should do research to find what may be the best alternative educational opportunity for your child.

First you should ascertain what issue your child is facing. Is it disciplinary? Is it behavioral or something else? There are schools that can concentrate on behavioral issues such as boot camps or other discipline-based schools. Students are often required to attend such schools after they have been expelled.

Perhaps you understand that your child does not do well in a larger classroom situation. You may want to look at charter schools that are required to maintain the same standards as the public schools, because in fact they are part of the public school system.

You may also want to consider home schooling or online schools. You will be much more involved with your child’s education on a day-to-day basis. These options will let your student study at his or her individual pace or repeat an online module for great understanding.

You may need to visit several of these options to find the one that will best suit the needs of your child, but in the end it will be worth it when you have an academically successful child.

Filed Under: Advice, Parenting Tagged With: Alternative education, Charter school, Education

The Pros and Cons of Monitoring Software for Kids

Parents walk a fine line between trusting their children to make the right decisions when online and needing to defend children from the bad things that go on in the world and on the Internet.

There are so many dangers lurking at every turn. It makes perfect sense to many parents to monitor what their children are doing online at all times. On the other side of the coin, there are those who believe that trusting their children will prepare them better for life after high school. There are compelling arguments on both sides.

Here are a few things you might want to consider to help you decide what the best choice for your family may be.

1) Even good kids make bad decisions sometimes.

2) You can’t always be looking over their shoulders no matter how careful you are.

3) Monitoring software protects them from others as well as from themselves.

4) There are some things your kids just aren’t ready to accidentally stumble across.

Monitoring software and similar PC Tools can protect your kids from all those things and more. As difficult as the decision can be, it’s better than facing the alternative for many parents.

The arguments in favor of trusting your children are true and quite compelling. But the fact remains that there are bad things that happen to good kids every day because of innocent interactions online. Your first priority is to protect your children no matter how much you do or do not trust them.

Is it a good idea to spy on your children? I can’t speak for everyone. I can only speak for myself. I’d rather have my children safe at home and mad at me for spying on them than facing the unthinkable alone because I didn’t want them to hate me for prying.

Filed Under: Advice, Parenting Tagged With: Facebook, Family, Parental Control

Christian Faith Can Stay Strong At College

Image via Wikipedia

College is the time when most teens transition to adulthood. It’s a wonderful time of growth, learning and new experiences. It can also be a time of temptations. For students with a deep tradition in Christian faith and education, the college experience can be a time of tumult. This doesn’t mean it should be shunned. Instead, the campus experience can be embraced as a perfect test and testament to how strong a Christian student’s faith can truly be.

Just because a student is heading off to college doesn’t mean the parent’s role in their upbringing ends. In fact, this is when that kicks into high gear. Even if your child is headed off to a Christian-based college, that doesn’t mean they won’t be confronted with many issues you’ve kept them safe from. The goal should be what it has always been: stick to your faith. No matter what kind of campus they move to, Christian students will always find like-minded classmates. There are many fellowship clubs they can join. In the absence of them, perhaps you could encourage your kid to start their own Christian organization. We all know it just takes a strong Christian leader to show the way. Perhaps that’s your child!

It’s also vital that parents keep the lines of communication open to their college-bound students. Perhaps the addition of a webcam hook-up could be a way to have your presence felt. Temptation is going to be lurking around every corner. However, when you can provide the same level of wisdom and encouragement as you have, then you can keep your child on the straight and narrow. If that means learning how to work a webcam then so be it! The popular college site earnmydegree.com has plenty more helpful tips to make this transition as seamless as possible. And if it’s not a good fit, they can always earn their degree from the comfort of their own home with online classes.

Filed Under: Advice, Parenting Tagged With: Christian, Colleges and Universities, Student