Resources+For+Parents

= Parenting (and teaching!) Teens is HARD! =

[|The Radical Parenting] online newsletter is created by teenagers about parenting skills and suggestions to their parents. Communication skills are KEY. This young editor has won numerous awards from parent and teen groups, due to her success at bonding this relationship between you and your child. Membership to her blog and newsletter are free. With most "mass email updates" I receive, I simply scan and delete. With this one, however, I learn something new and useful every time I open it. Your child will thank you for subscribing to it.

To put some perspective on things..... Most of you are familiar with this[| Mom's Song] Here is the [|teen counter attack]from the author of Radical Parenting (above):

Take advantage of our wonderful [|Lakeside Library]! Making homework time A HABIT is key to your child's success at school. For many kids, they do not have access to computers, nor a quiet, supervised place to study. Making the library their daily destination after school is a great way to make sure they learn this habit of getting their work done before you even come home from work. When students are busy with school, work, sports, etc, they are more likely to make smarter choices about the free time they do have.* Asking your child if they did their homework is usually not enough. Ask to see it and be encouraging when it really is done. Positive reinforcement is key. Here is the library's [|Homework Helper page] [|.]

*By the way, one in every three teenage pregnancies are conceived between 3pm and 5pm! There are lots of ways to keep your child engaged with activity before you get home from work. It will be worth your time, helping them to be productive in healthy ways. Overtly talking WITH them (to TO THEM) will help them to make these healthy choices. Click "Radical Parenting" link above for more....