September 25, 2008

Successful Ways to Communicate with Your Teenager

Communication is the single most important aspect when parenting a teenager.
We can give them a sense of compassion, understanding, and support. We can listen to their opinion. We can peacefully discuss a situation.
On the other hand, we can convey to them that we are disappointed and angry about what they did. We can scold them for not doing what we told them to.
The way we respond to, or address, our teenagers will determine if they will come to us for answers and advice the next time.
Your teenager will let you know when he is disappointed. He might even be insulted by the way the discussion is going or how he’s being treated.
He will tell you. Not directly, but with phrases such as:
0Whatever you say0 or 0You just don0t understand0 before walking away.
What these phrases really imply:
0 He thinks he has absolutely no input in matters that concern his daily activities
0 He feels you are treating him like a child by not giving him a chance to state any of his thoughts on the subject at hand
0 You are just not listening to him at all
Take a quick inventory of what was said and ask yourself where you cut […]

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September 19, 2008

Eating Disorders in Teens

Eating disorders have long been a serious problem among people of all ages. However, this disease usually begins somewhere in the pre-teen stages of life, and although many adolescent boys suffer with this disorder, it usually affects and is much more severe in young girls.
People who do suffer from an eating disorder like to place blame on factors such as television and family life-styles. Although these situations do influence eating disorders, the basis for this disease lies within the person whom it is affecting.
Most girls and boys who suffer from an eating disorder usually are unhappy with themselves and their own performance in life. With girls, eating disorders may arise if they do not succeed in activities such as cheerleading or gymnastics, or if they do not seem to attract the attention of boys. Many girls believe that they cannot be beautiful unless they are thin, sometimes due to naturally thin girls that surround them both in real life and in fashion. For boys, causes may also result from sports that are weight orientated like wrestling.
There are two types of eating disorders called anorexia nervosa, and bulimia nervosa. The person who is anorexic will place herself on what she […]

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September 17, 2008

How to help your angry Teen

Lately, several parents asked: “Where is my teen’s anger coming from?” Teenagers, like adults, experience stress every day. The stubborn and argumentative teen is fighting for independence and less control by his or her parents. An angry teen is battling with daily difficulties and is trying to make sense of emotional issues, such as:
0 changes in their bodies
0 trying to establish an identity
0 dealing with friends
0 positive and negative peer pressure
0 school demands
0 separation or divorce of parents
0 being accused of something they did not do
0 being treated unfairly
0 not getting a chance to voice their opinion
0 chronic illness or death of a loved one
0 taking on too many activities
0 parents’ high expectations
It’s no surprise that our teens might become overloaded with stress. Teenagers have poor coping skills, and getting angry is the only way they know how to avoid feeling sad, hurt, or afraid.
Teens also have unreasonable expectations, especially if they are used to getting what they want when they want it. If this does not happen, or they realize that things are not always within their control - they get angry.
Their anger can take many forms - some teens might repress their anger and withdraw, while others get defiant, destructive or turn to alcohol and drugs.
Various situations can bring out […]

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