Parenting | Growing Pains

Dealing with a Teenager Bending the Rules

Parents of teenagers watch their once cooperative pre-teen turn into a rebellious young adult. Nagging a teenager about bending the rules is stressful for the parent, and leads to a battle of wills more frequently.

Because questioning authority comes into play at this stage, parents need to allow their teens to suffer the consequences of their actions. Over time, they begin to see that for every infraction, there is a reaction from others the teen encounters every day.

At Home

Shirk household chores or responsibilities.

For every time a teenager skips out on their assigned chore, parents need to withhold a privilege, and at this age, teens respond quickly to parents withholding monetary rewards or allowances.

It will not take long for the teen to realize that they will not receive any money if they do not complete their chores.

Use offensive language deemed off-limits by parents

Tell your teen the language is offensive to you, and suggest they use different words to express their thoughts. When these ideas do not work, refuse to respond when they use offensive words while conversing with you.

A teen will realize that in order for a parent to hear what they are saying, they need to stop using offensive words to express their feelings.

At School

Cutting class or disrupting classroom

School administrators will assign detentions for students who continue to skip classes, or who continue to disrupt the class by refusing to follow school rules.

Teenagers learn quickly that trying to get away with spending less time in school than is required; will actually mean spending more time in school for them.

At Play

Alienating friends

To teenagers, having friends is extremely important. Realizing the consequences of their actions among friends, takes less time than in any other area. They learn not to push the boundaries with friends by being rude, obnoxious or downright mean, because they are liable to lose a friend for keeps.

Although the teen years appear to last forever, parents can gain solace in knowing adolescents learn valuable life lessons they will carry with them into adulthood.

Filed Under: Child Development, Parenting Tagged With: Parent, Teenagers

Helping Children with Drug Addictions

Everybody has felt it: the agony of peer pressure. Occasionally, peer pressure can be a good thing. It can induce us to new activities, to go out with friends and encourage us to try things we wouldn’t otherwise do.

However, more often than not, peer pressure seeks complicity rather than compliance. Peer pressure says, “I feel weird trying this thing by myself. Do it with me so I feel less responsible for it.” In fact, most base peer pressure has to do with shirking responsibility, rather than owning up to it.

Children and teenagers face a complicated crossroads when it comes to complicity. If they don’t do what everyone is telling them to do, they face teasing, bullying and alienation. However, by giving into peer pressure, a child may be sacrificing his safety and health, emotional and physical.

In fact, underlying most child drug abuse issues are the more complicated emotional, psychological and social problems. This doesn’t mean that children with drug abuse problems are without hope; it just means that to stop them from hurting themselves, you can’t simply take away the substances. You have to address the deeper issues… the emotions, the negative peer pressure, the loneliness.

Children turn to substance abuse either seeking acceptance or seeking solace. However, drugs and alcohol accomplish neither of these things. The only way to help children understand is not by punishment, but by emotional and physical aide. Organizations, such as MichaelsHouse.com, are living and understanding resources for those in need.

Sometimes help simply begins with someone taking notice. Children – or anyone – with substance abuse problems is often turning to substances as an implicit cry for help. A substance is rarely the problem in and of itself – especially with children. Substances are often dangerous symptoms of deeper-seated issues, and the best way to find help is not alone, but alongside others who understand.

Filed Under: Parenting Tagged With: Child, Peer pressure, Substance abuse, Substance dependence

Don’t Be a “Super-Parent” — Just Be a Parent

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No, it’s not your kid. He or she would neverdo those things, right? Your teen probably brings home the grades like you bring home the bacon. He or she has a great circle of friends—clean, polite, and stable. The teachers love your son or daughter with a passion. Armageddon would occur before you’d realize that your child was doing drugs. Even if you found out that there were ecstasy pills underneath his or her pillow, your immediate response would be to handle it all your own, like the Super-Parent of the Universe, like Jor-el of Krypton sending away his only son Kal-el to become the world’s Superman. Because you don’t need anyone’s help, right? You can handle your teen’s drug addiction all by yourself.

Be humble. Because that’s not the best mindset to take with your troubled teen. It’s serious business, and you don’t have to be a Super-Parent. Just be a parentwho cares and recognize the important steps—such as finding the correct resources to help your child with the addiction. That could mean rehabilitation such as with TheCyn.com, and while that’s a painful decision to make for both you and your child, trust that it’s the best decision ever. This, of course, is a no-brainer, but under no circumstances do you evertake your frustrations out on your child. It almost goes without saying.

Moreover, understanding the problem is important as well. Don’t assume it’s because of peer pressure from friends. There are a number of other issues it could be: bullies, clinical depression, and low self-esteem. Just recognize the underlying issue and deal with it accordingly. What’s important, too, is understanding—not just action. Quite honestly, most of the action inevitably will be done by your child.

Keep these tips in mind. It’s part of being a good parent. It will lead to your son or daughter being a good kid. Not a bad one.

Filed Under: Parenting, Stress Tagged With: Adolescence, Health, Jor-El, Krypton, Major depressive disorder, Parent, Substance dependence, Superman

Getting a Child Psychologist

If your child is having difficulties adjusting to a certain aspect in his or her life, it may be a good idea to find a child psychologist. A child psychologist can identify and work with your child if the situation calls for it. If your child is struggling, it is something that should be seriously considered; if you are unsure, a consultation may be best.

Such situations can be common in difficult periods of a child’s life. For instance, if your child is adopted, there are a wide range of common adjustment issues that your child may face. Isolation, grieving over the loss of a relationship (from birth parents), self-esteem, and identity issues are common responses and feelings that accompany such a major event.

Working through some of these potentially long-term issues with a child psychologist would be ideal. Certainly, a large number of adopted children can find relief and understanding with the help of a child psychologist. In addition, it is important to remember that all types of children can face situations and basic feelings that a child psychologist can cater to.

If you are considering seeking the help of a child psychologist for any situation, both large and small, take a look at Canada 411. Canada 411 is a search engine directory that can help you find services in your area. You can use the website to locate psychologists and find out more information; for instance, if your child is adopted, perhaps you would like to find a psychologist that specifically caters to adopted children’s needs.

Getting a child psychologist for your child can be a great asset to his or her development. If you are considering this, look at Canada 411 today to see what may be available in your area. A child psychologist may be the answer to help your child through a particular difficulty.

Filed Under: Parenting, Stress

Where to Turn for Affordable Winter Clothing

As a parent, protecting your children is most likely your highest priority. When most parents think about keeping their children safe, they think of things they need to teach their children such as not talking to strangers, staying alert and aware of their surroundings, not getting in a vehicle with anyone other than mom and dad, etc. While these are all critical safety precautions that your children should know, you also need to teach your children about how to dress during the winter months.

When children don’t dress warm during the wintertime, their health is at risk. Not only will this make them more susceptible to colds and the flu, but it can also have long term health risks as well. Therefore, you should make sure your children know that they should layer their clothing when the weather gets close to freezing temperatures. They should also understand that bundling up with a warm, heavy coat is also a necessity. Gloves, hats, and scarves should also be worn as well.

Obviously, as the parent, you will need to make sure your children have the proper clothing for this type of weather. Dressing your children for warmth can become expensive, especially if your children want to be “in style.” While many see this as a problem, it really isn’t that big of one. Rocawear wintertime clothing isn’t just in style—it’s also affordable, making the brand a favorite among kids and their parents alike. Both you and your kids will be surprised at the variety of Rocawear clothing that can be found. You can practically purchase your children’s entire wardrobes here for much less than you’d spend elsewhere—which is a huge plus in today’s times. Rocawear understands that times are tough and most families are watching their finances. This is why their goal is to provide kids with cool clothes that are also affordable for parents.

Filed Under: General, Parenting Tagged With: Clothing

Is Your Adolescent Merely Going through a Phase?

As early as the 1950′s, child psychologists theorized that adolescents go through different phases as they experience their bodies changing, such as trying to define themselves through role-playing.

This period in a child’s life is most assuredly the most difficult time for parents, unless you are one of the lucky ones. Some teenagers seem to get from the age of 13 to 18 without too many problems.

To find out whom they are and how they relate to the world, adolescents go through phases that include dressing up like the popular teens or dressing up in outfits that no one else is wearing. Teenage boys and girls now dye their hair with fluorescent colors, and pierce and tattoo their bodies. This is equal to girls in the sixties wearing mini-skirts, and teenage boys growing their hair longer.

Eventually, most adolescents will stop most of the role-playing and will understand how they fit into society. If a parent can find the restraint at some point to stop commenting on the way their teen looks or dresses, the teen will eventually move on and begin to dress in a more appropriate way.

There are those adolescents, however, who struggle to get through this stage, and that is where parents need to step in. A parent needs to watch for other signs that are not in line with their teen’s behavior, as they know it. When a phase becomes an obsession or a problem in school or with friends, most parents will recognize it themselves, or they may begin receiving phone calls of complaints from the teen’s school or parents of their friends.

Counseling with a child psychologist will reveal any problems they may be experiencing that are causing them to act out. Adolescents are able to talk to strangers about subjects that are not comfortable talking to their parents about, and some problems are resolved within a short time.

Child psychologists can also advise parents on what to do if their teen’s problem is something other than a phase, on what to do next, if they feel that counseling is not enough.

Filed Under: Child Development, Parenting Tagged With: Adolescence, Parent

Life Skills For Children With Special Needs

When you are living with a special child the most important thing you can teach them are life skills. These simple skills will help a special child live a full and rewarding life. Comprehensive learning activities are used to help special children acquire the essential life skills they need to become productive adults. A key factor in living with a special child is teaching them how to apply their skills and knowledge to new and familiar situations that will occur throughout their lives. Children with special needs learn how to accomplish the fundamental life skills most of us take for granted. These skills include social, personal, occupational, and daily living skills.

Teaching life skills to a special child will greatly improve their living conditions and help them conquer daily living tasks. Mastering these basic skills are the first steps towards productivity and independence. Children with special needs are taught how to apply these skills to their occupational, personal, and private lives. Your child should be encouraged to try new activities and hands-on projects that can help them develop sustainable skills that will last a lifetime. Trying new things will help special children develop practical experience and teach them how to apply the learned skills to their personal or social lives.

Medical and educational websites offer informative details on living with a special child. You can find resource information, learning activities, and teaching facilities for children with special needs. These resources are widely used by parents who are living with a special child to teach them the basic life skills they will need to help them function as an adult. With the proper training and life skills a special child can be independent and productive. This will allow them to secure regular employment, as well as live a happy and normal life.

Filed Under: Parenting, Resources Tagged With: Activities of daily living, Child, Education, Life skills, Parent

Understanding The Needs Of Special Children

One of the most rewarding things about living with a special child is watching their success and improvement each day. Their achievements in simple task such as eating and feeding themselves are teaching the life skills that are important for their growth and development. It is essential for a special child to learn the basic life skills that will help prepare them for adulthood. With the proper training a special child can be independent and well behaved. When you are living with a child who has special needs your ultimate goal is to teach them how to be a productive member of society.

There are a large number of resources you can use to help a special child improve their basic living skills. Occupational therapists who work with special children use a variety of assessments to identify problems that are related to daily living or social activities. With the help of equipment and tools, therapist can identify problem areas and use specific activities to help improve the life skills of children with special needs. Some of the methods they use include positioning the child during an activity, dividing the activity into smaller sections so the child will not become frustrated, and making each skill a fun game instead of a learning activity.

Occupational therapists also work with special children who rely on family members for daily living task. The therapist will supply helpful suggestions regarding making changes to certain areas of the home like the bathroom, or increasing the workspace in your child’s bedroom. You may be required to purchase special equipment such as a hoist for heavy lifting, bed blocks that are used to raise and lower the bed, and personal items that your child may need such as a wheelchair. Special items for your child’s bed can help reduce bending.

Filed Under: Parenting, Resources Tagged With: Occupational, Occupational therapist, Occupational therapy

Teaching Finacial Lessons to Your Child

Raising children is probably one of the hardest jobs there is and teaching them to be responsible adult takes a lot of time, effort and TLC. One important thing a parent must instill into their child is to be responsible in the area of finances. A parent can teach lessons in financial responsibility when a child is very young and starts to understand the concept of money.

All children love getting things and as your child accompanies you to the grocery store they are learning the concept of exchange as they see you hand money to the cashier in exchange for getting items like groceries. This lesson is very important as the child learns they must first give in order to receive. As the child grows and receives allowance, take them to the store and allow them to purchase some of their favorite items in exchange for a portion of their allowance. As they approach the teen years and beyond teaching them the importance of savings and good credit are also important. Opening up a savings account in their names and teaching them how to balance their checking account will establish the foundation of how they will conduct their financial affairs in the future. You can also get them a prepaid card and show them how this will help them build their credit.

With a prepaid card, you deposit money into an account, then use the card much like you would a debit card. Unlike a credit card, when the money is gone, it’s gone. Essentially, these cards work the way debit cards are used. A prepaid card is much safer to carry around than cash because if they get lost or stolen they can not be used unless someone knows the pin number.

Filed Under: Parenting

Recreational Activities For Children With Special Needs

Children with special needs share the same passion for fun and games as any other kids. While they may need special equipment or accommodations when they are playing, their desire for stimulating learning activities and a sense of independence is just as strong as their peers. No matter what type of physical or learning disability is present, education and social interaction are key factors for healthy family and community relationships. Playtime provides a wonderful opportunity for your special child to bond with siblings, classmates, teachers, or parents. The state department of education in your area can supply information regarding recreational programs for special needs children.

Playtime is an enjoyable and educational experience for children with special needs. Regular participation in playtime activities contributes to a child’s development, as well as their intellectual, physical, and emotional well being. Toys for children with special needs should be easy for them to understand and simple to operate. The toys you purchase for your special needs child should hold their interest, and provide a learning experience. When you purchase a new toy or game, spend some time playing with your child to explain the learning activities and help them understand how to play the game.

If your child has a special interest such as gymnastics, karate, or piano, enroll them in community classes that are designed especially for children with special needs. Organized sports such as hockey, soccer, and baseball allow children with disabilities to participate in physical fitness activities that help with development and coordination. Occupational therapists often use learning activities in the early stages of development when working with children who have special needs. Physical recreation and active learning are essential to the health and well being of special children. Many community programs can supply resource information regarding recreational activities for children with special needs.

Filed Under: Parenting, Resources Tagged With: Child, Education, Special needs