Parenting Towards Independence: Setting Rules For Teenagers

April 29th, 2012 Comments off

What are good rules and rewards for teenagers? Why do we bother putting rules into place? Limits and guidelines in the course of adolescence are an important component of getting the budding adult ready to leave home. In the course of this preparation time, keeping focused on the end result (a effective adult) is important. When presenting and negotiating rules with your adolescent, start by exploring the potential results of effectively following guidelines.

Here’s what your list may well look like:

You’ve reached maturity when… You decide on to be with family and engage politely with them in the course of loved ones time. You manage your own homework and schooling. You develop good solid friendships: e.g. consistent, caring and respectful. You balance your wants versus your desires: e.g. schooling versus electronics. You spend time every single day engaging in housework on your own. You take care of your own stuff such as doing your own laundry and cleaning up right after your self. You manage your own schedule (academic, function, home, social). You take care of your body by exercising often, your nutrition by generating excellent food alternatives and your mind by giving yourself relaxing/reflective time. You manage your own money for entertainment, activities, and clothing by keeping a checkbook and budget. You function outside the home to earn and contribute to your own care. You manage your time and inform your parents in detail and beforehand about your plans and schedule. You can cook fundamental meals. You volunteer for your community.

Do all of the above and you’ve achieved INDEPENDENCE and maturity!

Categories: Teenage Mental Health Tags:

Preventing Health Problems is Best

April 28th, 2012 Comments off

In dealing with well being difficulties, it is said that prevention is better than cure. Although it is surely not an illness to be cured, the hard scenario of having an unwanted pregnancy can only be avoided in two ways: abstinence or prevention.

In 1999, the Canadian Federation for Sexual Health released a truth sheet about unwanted pregnancy.   1 reality listed there is that yearly, at least eight percent of Canadian women have an unwanted pregnancy. Unwanted pregnancy is a generally a result of ignorance, irresponsibility, or failure to use contraceptives. There are also cases where the contraceptive itself failed. The incidence of unwanted pregnancy has increased and, as a result, caused a rise in the number of reported abortions.

Nowadays, sexual activities are already widely discussed in the media and in public.  Sex is no longer a taboo or forbidden subject. From movies to t.v. programs, from magazines to music — sex is already a nicely-worn subject or subject.  The open discussions about sexuality had also exposed girls to sex.

Categories: Teenage Mental Health Tags:

Adolescent Obesity ? Hope Against Fear

April 27th, 2012 Comments off

Childhood and adolescent obesity has turn into what most would agree to be of epidemic proportions in the United States today.

The main reason for this is that the number of overweight kids and teens is increasing so speedily every year. In the years between 1976 and 1980, only 7 percent of all children, ages 6 -11 had been likely to be obese. By 2004, this number of obese youngsters had more than doubled to a staggering 17 percent!

Today, at least 1 of every four children is overweight some studies have it as 1 in 3. Teens don’t fare any much better due to the fact overweight kids typically understand consuming patterns that then turn out to be a component of their lives.

These way of life alternatives follow them into their adolescence, producing it very hard to shed the pounds gained in childhood. In 2010, it is estimated that 50 percent of the youngsters in America are overweight, according to Yale’s Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity.

Categories: Adolescent Health Tags:

Adolescent Therapy

April 26th, 2012 Comments off

Mother looked up at her teenager. When had she shrunk and her child grown so tall? Did their relationship have to change, too? When had they stopped understanding each other?

You are late. We agreed your curfew would be 11 pm. That was 20 minutes ago.
I forgot. I’m sorry it won’t happen once again.
That is what you stated last time.
I do not care. I do not have to listen to you. I hate you!

Right after repeated altercations with her teen, this mother decided to seek aid from a assortment of mental health experts. The latter frequently assume parents are to blame for their children’s difficulties (see blog entry 12/16/08, Blaming Parents). As a result, as soon as they hear the child say something negative about parents – and what child wouldn’t, especially an unhappy 1 – they may possibly think, “Aha! Now I know the source of the dilemma.” They call in the parents for a feedback session:

Your daughter doesn’t want you to know what’s bothering her. She doesn’t trust you. I’m not permitted to tell you because it’s confidential.
or
Your son hates you. He’s angry with you, doesn’t want to talk to you and wants me to support him find a location to live.

Categories: Adolescent Health Tags: