Category Archives: Teen Parenting

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Kids and Quitting Video

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Teens are often quick to sign-up for some extracurricular activity, but sometimes just as quick to quit. How do parents deal with this problem? Dr. Russell Hyken addresses the issues with KTVI-TV Fox 2 in St. Louis, MO.


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Teenage Depression

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According to The National institute of Mental Health (NIMH) it is estimated that depression affects 11 percent of adolescents. As awareness for teenage depression grows, more people are recognizing its effect on their lives. Depression is a general state or sad and hopeless feelings, expressed over along period of time. “People with depression usually have low energy and low motivation.” Dr, Russell Hyken, a notable St. Louis child and adolescent psychologist said. Poor appetite, trouble sleeping, change in friends, poor grades and frequent illness are all signs of depression. Depression is constant sadness. Bad moods and stress are expected from teenagers. “Depression is not about having a bad day or a bad week. It is about having many bad weeks and months,” Hyken said, “too much stress ties closer to anxiety than depression.”

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Curfew Conflicts

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My son and I have been arguing about his curfew all summer. We have different opinions about what it should be. This has also created a problem for his younger brother as he feels that his curfew should be the same. How do you determine what is an appropriate time?

Curfew controversies have been a source of contention between teens and parents for many generations. We argued with our parents about it, and now, you are faced with the same situation. Unfortunately, most adolescents feel that this rule is a parental power play and are more concerned with their own freedom and independence than parental feelings. This situation, however, is an opportunity to teach your kids about setting limits, social responsibility and common courtesy. It is an important conversation, so prepare wisely.

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Teen ADHD

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My son is in the 10th grade. During the past year he has become more impulsive and easily distractible. Can students this old, have ADHD?

Adolescents with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) may act impulsively, be easily distracted and have difficulty focusing, but this is not necessarily specific to ADHD. Anxious kids may be hyper and restless, depressed kids may be inattentive and disorganized and typical teens may display all of the above. How is a parent to know if their teen is experiencing turbulent times or engaging in developmentally appropriate activities?

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Divorce and Holidays

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I am recently divorced with two teenage children. How do split families make the holiday season special for their kids?

Holidays can be an especially difficult time for teens with divorced parents. There are often painful reminders of the past, or new and unfamiliar routines as kids spend time with a new step family. Parents may also try to provide an extra dose of holiday cheer and family togetherness to overcome their own personal guilt. Don’t try to relive the past or over-compensate for the present, instead create a stress-free holiday celebration.

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Wilderness Program

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Our daughter is really out of control. My husband and I are considering sending her to a wilderness program or therapeutic boarding school, but we are very hesitant. We really feel we are out of options. How did this happen and what do we do?

This is a difficult question for any parent to ask, but you are not alone. Many families have faced this same concern; however, wilderness programs and therapeutic schools can change lives.

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Negotiating with Older Kids

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The other night, I got into an argument with my daughter. She was making unreasonable demands, and I just sent her to her room. Do you have any tips for handling my teenager when she is being unreasonable?

When kids are little, they will do what is asked because they worry about their parents’ reaction. The teenage years, however, don’t work like this. Sometime during the high school years, kids really strive for the independence. They begin to expect more freedom, and they challenge the adults in their life. When this happens it is time to change your approach. Many family therapists work with parents on a skill we call “responsive listening”. When your kids are argumentative or are just being difficult, consider the following approach.

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Defiant Teens

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My teenager has been breaking a lot of house rules lately. Some of the things she is doing feel like normal teenage behavior, but other times it feels excessive. How do I know when my daughter has crossed the line?

As teenagers enter the driving years, their behavior often changes. This is usually related to an adolescent’s desire to develop her own identity as well as her own independence. Peers start to become more important than parents, and the ability to drive creates a new found freedom and opportunity to push the boundaries of household rules. When gauging
the seriousness of your rule breaking teen’s behavior consider the following guidelines to help you determine when your child has crossed the line.

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Services Overview

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What is an Educational Consultant?
Consultants assist families with locating private residential treatment facilities, programs, and schools for troubled adolescents and adults. Consultants have a unique expertise and knowledge to help families choose a facility or school program that is a good personal match for the identified individual, a program that will foster a particular individual’s growth in all areas of life including academic, social/emotional concerns, and clinical issues.

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Teen Gambling

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My son seems to be spending a lot of time playing poker with his friends. He also reads about it on the internet and watches it on TV. Could he have a gambling problem?

Most kids are exposed to gambling long before they reach the adolescent years. They bet with their friends about who can run faster, make a basket, or choose the winning team. They play chance games at fast food restaurants with lucky scratch-off cards or look under the cap of carbonated beverages to win a prize. In fact, I will bet that you have made an innocent wager with your child and didn’t even realize it.

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