Parenting Styles & Skills
Parenting Styles and Skills - for Parents of Teenagers and Tweens
Expert advice on parenting styles for parents of teens and tweens. Learn how to utilize modeling behavior, raising an only child, how kids cope with divorce, and more.
Parenting Solutions Come in Many Styles
Get feedback on “bad parenting” and how to avoid it. Hear what style of parenting is working for families experiencing some of the same things you are (high school stress, responsibilities in middle school, behavior problems, etc.). Use proven, good parenting skills to deal with common teen/tween issues that come up, like leaving your child home alone and kids letting feelings out. Our parenting articles guide you through helping kids cope with divorce and how to use modeling behavior with children. Raising an only child and raising grandchildren are becoming more common; these parents can benefit from our experts’ detailed advice as well.
Think divorce is an emotional rollercoaster for adults? Compared to the emotions kids face, that rollercoaster might be better compared to a carrousel. The effects of divorce on children can be long-lasting and vary a great deal from child to child. While most of the more than one million children affected by divorce each year cope well, expert therapists say up to 25% will experience significant emotional or behavioral problems that can impair their relationships well into the future. So even if you and your spouse will soon be going separate ways, coming together as a team and keeping your child's best interests in mind is crucial.
Each year, millions of parents are faced with the decision of whether or not their tween or young teen is ready to stay home alone. It's a big decision, and one for which there is no clear cut answer. Each child is different, and only parents know if that child is responsible enough and ready to take the leap to being home alone!
Whether or not your child is ready to start working largely depends on your child. You know him better than anyone else, so you know what he can handle and if he is mature enough to take on the responsibilities of a job. If he is ready, he may be able to learn some great skills, as well as earn some extra cash.
By Linda Sorkin, LMFT and Teen Life Coach
Let's face it. Kids have a lot on their minds: Sometimes, too much. While keeping their feelings bottled up is anything but healthy, getting them to open up is often difficult. They're uneasy sharing their emotions and often assume their mind-reading parents know what's going on, anyway.
By Linda Sorkin, LFMT and Teen Life Coach with Soul Empowered Coaching
If your kids don't listen, don't blame them. Blame their teachers. Because you are the one your kids learn from, if your child is not listening, perhaps it's time for you to brush up on your listening techniques. Tweens and teens are like sponges and quickly mimic your behavior. At this age, your kids are old enough to have intelligent discussions about listening and how they (and you) can do a better job at home and in the classroom.
Years ago, Madonna sang that we live in a material world. And things have only gotten more materialistic since those words rang out! Materialism is the act of putting material objects and possessions above what is on the inside. Kids who are materialistic may focus on wanting all the top name brand fashions, video game systems, or shoes. They focus more on wanting more and better things than on the more important issues on which most parents want them focused.
Do you ever find yourself baffled about why your child acts out, over and over, despite knowing it drives you crazy? Do you ever feel helpless or frustrated because you just can't make sense of your child's need to misbehave? If you feel challenged more often than not, then you are not alone.
There are 14 million children in the United States who do not have siblings. It's true! As the economy stalls and expenses rise, many people are increasingly having only one child. For many families, raising an only child comes with some unique types of issues that need to be addressed.
Right at the top of the list of parental frustrations is the picky eater. We do everything we can to dress up and disguise healthy foods only to have our children reject, sometimes vehemently, what we put in front of them. But there are some things you can do to help your picky eater overcome his food aversions. First, remember that most kids get the nutrition they need regardless of their somewhat odd eating habits. Try keeping a food journal for a few weeks. You'll probably notice that, even though he doesn't eat "right" at any given time, your child gets enough of all of the major food groups.
Have you ever told your child she couldn't do something, only to let her do it another time because you were busy on the phone? While the scenarios may vary, most parents have been guilty of this transgression from time to time. Problem is, if you are not consistent with the type of behavior you expect, you will not be successful in getting that desired behavior!