Family and Relationships | Teen Help - Parenting of Teenagers

How To Write a Home Rules Contract

What is a Home Rules Contract? A home rules contract is a written set of expectations that adults have of their teens (and preteens). The contract includes basic rules, consequences and privileges. What is the Purpose of a Home Rules…

In today’s uber-connected culture it seems everyone from preschoolers to baby boomers are glued to phones, tablets, laptops, and a whole host of other techno-gadgetry. There’s certainly a place for that in our busy lives –those tools are necessary components…

Ahh, summer vacation. What could be better than the all-American, old-fashioned family road trip with kids? Not much…until the whining starts. Before you reach for the earplugs, try one of these fun solutions to keep your kids happy and you…

For some parents, this season is merry and bright. For others, it’s like the “Santa gone wrong” photo with kids screaming and Santa looking like he needs a serious vacation. If your holiday is starting to look more like the…

Is it your goal in life to be your child’s best friend? If so, that’s honorable. But do you sometimes allow your friendship to take precedence over being a good parent? Out there on the far end of the relational…

Two minutes after you see a blur of Oliver and Emma scream through the hallway, you hear a major crash in the living room. Immediately, you start berating the kids for running in the house. You head into the room,…

Focusing On What Is Important To Your Teen As a person, you no doubt understand the joy of others paying attention to things that matter to you. It feels good to discuss your passions with others, sharing some of the…

Let’s be honest. We love our kids to pieces, right? But parenting is exhausting – especially when we add in sports, extracurricular activities, family obligations, keeping the house in order, getting a semi-decent meal on the table, our own jobs…

Many adopted kids seem to have more than their fair share of issues when they reach the adolescent years. Some can seem to turn on the very people who rescued them years before, their adopted parents. Why is that? Here's…

As parents, we’ve all been there. We’ve tried to lovingly craft a meal that’s different and healthy for our kids only to be met with a resounding "ewwwww….” from across the table. It can feel discouraging and sometimes even impossible…

The relationship between siblings is one of the most significant contacts in a person’s life. Studies show that sibling relationships are by far the longest-lasting familial connections in a person’s life, outlasting the bond between people and their grandparents or…

Our world has become smaller and smaller, in part, because today’s technology helps us communicate in ways we never dreamed possible. On the other hand, there is still a big, wonderful world out there beyond our smartphones and tablets, filled…

Parents of teenagers need to get out of the way and allow their kids to bend in the winds of life a little more. Through that gentle buffeting they’ll gain strength and wisdom to stand upright and flourish as adults.…

In 2006, a 14-year-old girl named Megan Meier took her own life as the direct result of what we now call “cyber-bullying”. Her mother was aware of her Internet activity and had taken realistic and active precautions to protect her.…

For every parent who has ever felt the frustration of trying to feed a picky eater without losing their cool, or caving into unhealthy habits, this message is for you. Here’s what we know – in today’s world, there’s not…