Today it seems like teenagers are always on the phone. But what else is new? Teenagers have tied up phone lines for years. However, with monthly cell phone bills on the rise, and the usage of cell phone minutes and text messages climbing, many parents are turning to prepaid cell phones to limit the financial damage. Prepaid cell phones allow for a pay-as-you-go plan. Once the cell phone is bought and a specific unit of minutes has been purchased and added to the phone, no other charges apply! While some prepaid cell phones do charge a minor activation fee, for the most part, prepaid phones … [Read more...]
Keeping Tabs On Your Teen
Teens today can communicate with each other every minute of every day. The telephone hanging on the wall in your house may as well be a plant holder. They don't need that. They have more communication devices that Captain Kirk had on The Enterprise. They can call their friends, they can text, they can e-mail or Skype, they can communicate through a social network or even a gaming site. With a laptop and a cell phone, a teen has the capacity to communicate with anyone, at any time, anywhere, including not in this country. While this technology is amazing, without proper guidance, it … [Read more...]
The New Driver
As excited as a teenager is to be a new driver, there is a parent or two at the other end of that line chewing their nails and pulling their hair out. Learning to drive is scary for a teenager, petrifying for their parents. As parents, we hate to admit our children are growing up, and getting that driver's license is a sure sign that is happening. We would like to think that our children are more than ready to accept this huge responsibility, that they know how important it is to be adult when behind the wheel. Then we quickly remember that this is the child who cannot find her bed … [Read more...]
Is Unsafe Driving A Rebellious Statement For Your Teen? How To Tackle It?
Does your teen take pleasure in ignoring your words of advice and strictures when you are sitting beside him or her in the vehicle? Do you feel that your teenager child pays lip service to all your words of advice and proceeds to rebel against each and every instruction? If yes, then perhaps the answer to this behavior may be hidden inside your house. Do you give adequate space to your teenager? Does he or she have adequate freedom in your house? Well, this is a controversial question because the definition of adequate freedom is something that parents and teenagers always disagree upon. … [Read more...]
Help Your Teen Feel at Home at College
College is very, very different from high school. For most teens, it’s an entirely new world full of new people, new places, and new experiences. That’s daunting, for both the teens and their parents. So how can you, as a mom or dad, help your teen get off to a good start and feel at home while at college? First, talk to your child about getting involved on campus. Whether your child is attending a traditional four-year university or a community college, there are dozens of opportunities for him or her to really become part of the college experience. Talk to your child about the various … [Read more...]
Driving A Car To Impress Others – Shortcut To Major Accidents
Why does your teenager child want to use the car? Is it because he or she wants to travel to a specific destination in the shortest time possible? Is it important to travel comfortably? Or does the child simply want to show off in front of his or her friends? If it is the last reason, then you have ample reason to worry. The process of showing off and impressing friends and peers may quickly proceed from driving the car to sharing the car. Every additional teenager in the car increases the risk of accident by a significant percentage. Just keep track of all the horrific accidents that you … [Read more...]
Trusting Your Teenager To Be A Safe Driver – Insist On Solid Proof
Young parents often talk of trusting their children. Parents of teenagers find this amusing. Why would anyone want to trust one who is waiting for freedom from parental supervision to commit reckless acts? You will have to strike the right balance between discipline, watchfulness and freedom when dealing with a teenager. If you are overly protective, the child will end up growing up to be a dunderhead. If you believe too much in nice things like trust and freedom, chances are high that you may find a pack of cigarettes and a bottle of alcohol in your child is backpack. Knowing when to … [Read more...]
Clothing is Important – and It Can be Empowering
If you like various styles of clothing and don't want to wear the same look all the time, you're not alone. Many people, especially teenagers and young people, like to wear clothing that really expresses who they are and what they stand for. There are plenty of ways to do that, but one of those ways is through choosing brands that speak to something important. Empowerment is a valuable feeling for teenagers, because growing up can be rough. If you're popular, there is a lot of pressure to look and act a certain way. If you're not popular, you may get picked on and bullied by others. Either … [Read more...]
Helping Your Teen Become A Safe Driver – Think Like A Teen Yourself
It is true that most parents end up forgetting what teenage is like by the time their own kids become teenagers. Teenagers think that they know something more than all others in the world. Teenagers are of the opinion that people face problem only because they commit mistakes. They do not believe in bad luck, failure, helplessness and situations beyond repair. This optimism and confidence is something that defines teenage. It also makes it the riskiest period of one’s life. Overconfidence can lead to your child ignoring basic traffic safety rules or basic rules of discipline during … [Read more...]