Fewer Children Read for Fun

I have spent a lot of time and article space on reading lately. In those articles I have discussed the various aspects in reading and reading instruction. However one thing that I have not fully addressed is the fact that children should enjoy reading and read for fun. Sadly fewer and fewer children are finding that reading is fun. In fact, recent surveys show that the number of 17 year old children that admit they rarely or never read for fun has rose from 9% to 19% over the past twenty years. As children grow older the desire to read … Continue reading

Privacy, Teens and Parents—Part Two

Earlier this morning I introduced the important topic of privacy as it pertains to adolescents and parents. While I wrote about WHY I think how we negotiate privacy issues can be such a big deal in the teen years, I also wanted to talk about the areas where I think we need to figure out how we will handle privacy issues with our teens. Some of the biggies when it comes to teens and privacy are their rooms, their possessions and things like book bags, journals, e-mail messages, etc. I think that a general rule of thumb can be that … Continue reading

Combating A Messy Room

In a previous blog, I discussed why teens have a messy room and why it is important that they be allowed some independence in this area. For as Dr. Michelle Aycock reminds parents a teen’s room “is an expression of their personality. It is their sanctuary and it is not your responsibility to clean it.” But you can establish certain rules that govern the untidiness of their bedroom and expect them to abide by these rules. Here are some simple bedroom rules that you can establish: 1. There have to be clear paths in the room where a person can … Continue reading