Tag Archives: teen

The Stuff Urban Myths Are Made Of

Did you hear the one about the Colorado teen who almost died after being struck by lightning while listening to his iPod. Does it sound like material that urban myths are made of? In this case most of the statement is true. Jason Bunch, a high school senior from Castle Rock, Colorado, was listening to his iPod while mowing his lawn last week. He was just finishing up when a bolt of lightning struck him. Bunch was rushed to the hospital where spent time in the intensive care unit before being released a few days later. “I woke up and … Continue reading →

When Does A Child Become A Teenager?

It used to be that a teenager was a child whose age ended with the suffix “teen”. Yet today many parents are finding that their 10 and 11 year olds are acting like teenagers. In today’s technology world children are bombarded with adult information from the television, Internet, and movies. These influences along with peer groups and environmental pressures are forcing children to grow up faster. Take a look at the girls clothing department and you will see that the fashions mimic those of teenage girls. Yet the cause isn’t completely environmental. A recent study by the American Academy of … Continue reading →

The Sign Game

Number of Players: 6 to 12 Age: 10+ Supplies Needed: None Often teens are a challenge at family reunions. So here’s a fun game that the teens at your reunion or anytime will love. I learned this game while in college and introduced it to my high-school age sister who played it with her friends. It provided hours of free and simple fun. This game needs at least six players to be fun and more than twelve is too difficult. To begin the players sit in a circle and each player chooses a discreet and silent sign. For example touching … Continue reading →

Car Cameras

My friend has three very active teenage sons and yesterday the youngest got his driver’s license. She and her husband say they may never sleep again. I don’t blame them. Their oldest son has gotten into two fender-benders (both while he was talking on a cell phone) and their middle son recently ripped the side-view mirror off one of the cars while he was backing out of the driveway (he misjudged the distance between the mirror and the basketball pole). Their car insurance premium is through the roof and getting the third son on their policy was nothing less than … Continue reading →

What Happened at Kyle’s IEP Meeting

Having a son with autism who is now a teenager means that, for me, IEP meetings are taken in stride. I drove up to the junior high school, parked, entered the building, and immediately saw Kyle waiting in the hallway by the office. A wide grin spread across his face when he saw me, and he began to stoop over and clap to himself. “Hello, Kyle!” I said, hugging him exuberantly. Then we went into the principal’s office, where Kyle’s special education teacher, principal, speech and language pathologist, and art teacher were waiting. (I have started to notice, interestingly enough, … Continue reading →

Profile: The Tween Years

What are the tween years? The tween years are those years between approximately 8 and 13 when a child is not yet a teen but no longer just a little kid. They are often overlooked by parents and experts, alike because they happen to fall between two very busy and exciting stages of life – early childhood and the teen years. But this is a tumultuous time for kids as they transition from childhood to the teen years. It is a time of extremes – emotions, fluctuations, expectations and responsibilities. Characteristics of a Tween: Tweens will often act like teenagers … Continue reading →

Keeping Your Teen Safe on the Web

Since we can’t keep our children on a leash, a concerned parent has to teach her children basic safety rules: don’t talk to strangers, look both ways before crossing, etc. Teaching them the value of, and the reasons for thinking ahead to prevent danger, is perhaps the most important help we can give them as they advance towards the inevitable: adulthood. The same applies for safety on the internet. There are a number of aids you can use to prevent your teen from gaining access to sites and experiencing situations on the web that would best be avoided. Microsoft has … Continue reading →

Teen Blogging: Beware!

Blogging isn’t just for us adult techno-geeks anymore! If you haven’t heard of MySpace.com, the number one (but certainly not the only) free blogging website used by teens today, chances are your pre-teen or teenager has! Some statistics suggest that children ages 13 – 17 make up over half of all internet bloggers today! Children as young as 9 and 10 years old are making themselves at home on these free blog websites, creating homepages filled with every personal detail including photos, lists of hobbies and interests, family details, location and income details and, frequently, blogs containing up to date … Continue reading →

Teen Choking Game – A Potentially Deadly High Pt 3

What to do if You Think Your Child May be Trying This Don’t forget that this is going on all over the world, in schools across the nation, and even adults have tried and do this. Talking to your child about this can be very difficult, as they might lack good judgment. Children think they are invincible – that nothing can hurt them. They often think it would never happen to me, I am in control. They could also think you are attacking them, or accusing them of being “bad” or doing something wrong. Simply explain to them that you … Continue reading →