Student Council

Your School Counsellors Connecting With Parents

Raising teenagers isn’t what it used to be. Parents are dealing with a more complex society and the ever changing teenager. Research does indicate that teenagers brains are still developing. For more on the teen brain go to these websites:

www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/teenbrain/

http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/dev.html

www.duke.edu/~amwhite/Adolescence/#

http://teenagerstoday.com/resources/articles/teenbrain.htm

Teenagers make decisions that baffle their parents, making them think “Is this really my kid doing such and such?” Was he/ she really raised by me. It is difficult to know what normal is.

So what are teens really like?

They are trying figure out who they are
They are often moody
They are moving away from their parents, wanting to be independent in thought and action
They are able to express them selves more openly
They are influenced by their peer group
They often take risks
To test the limits

When you first encounter the world of adolescence you can expect your teen to:

Begin questioning your values
Be moody
Identify your faults
Follow peer group
Pay more attention to the influence of friends

Later from about 14 –17 your teen will:

Become more involved with self
Have a fluctuating self-image
Be interested in their appearance
Gain their identity from peers

The good news is that they will become more emotionally stable, self-reliant, independent and develop firmer identities by ages 17-19.

Things to Remember

Having a sharp tongue can cut your own throat.
If you want your dreams to come true, don't oversleep.
The smallest good deed is better than the grandest intention.
Of all the things you wear, your expression is the most important.
The best vitamin for making friends....B1.
The 10 commandments are not multiple choice.
The happiness of your life depends on the quality of your thoughts.
Minds are like parachutes...they function only when open.
Ideas won't work unless YOU do.

One thing you can't recycle is wasted time.
One who lacks the courage to start has already finished.
The heaviest thing to carry is a grudge.
Don't learn safety rules by accident.
We lie the loudest when we lie to ourselves.
Jumping to conclusions can be bad exercise.
A turtle makes progress when it sticks its head out.
One thing you can give and still keep...is your word.

Smile!

Think Good Thoughts.

Resources for More Information

Yes, Your Teen Is Crazy : Loving Your Kid Without Losing Your Mind - Michael J. Bradley Ed.D
Rage Rebellion and Rudeness Parenting Teenager in a New Millennium - Dr. Scott Wooding
Positive Discipline for Teenagers - Jane Nelson
Ophelia’s Mom - Nina Shandler
Reviving Ophelia - Mary Phiper
Real Boys - William Pollick
Secrets of the Teenage Brain - Sheryl Feinstein
The Primal Teen - Barbara Strauch
Why Do They Act That Way - David Wallace
Positive Discipline - Jane Nelson

Student Council

Your School Counsellors Connecting With Parents

Raising teenagers isn’t what it used to be. Parents are dealing with a more complex society and the ever changing teenager. Research does indicate that teenagers brains are still developing. For more on the teen brain go to these websites:

www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/teenbrain/

http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/dev.html

www.duke.edu/~amwhite/Adolescence/#

http://teenagerstoday.com/resources/articles/teenbrain.htm

Teenagers make decisions that baffle their parents, making them think “Is this really my kid doing such and such?” Was he/ she really raised by me. It is difficult to know what normal is.

So what are teens really like?

They are trying figure out who they are

They are often moody

They are moving away from their parents, wanting to be independent in thought and action

They are able to express them selves more openly

They are influenced by their peer group

They often take risks

To test the limits

When you first encounter the world of adolescence you can expect your teen to:

Begin questioning your values

Be moody

Identify your faults

Follow peer group

Pay more attention to the influence of friends

Later from about 14 –17 your teen will:

Become more involved with self

Have a fluctuating self-image

Be interested in their appearance

Gain their identity from peers

The good news is that they will become more emotionally stable, self-reliant, independent and develop firmer identities by ages 17-19.

Things to Remember

Having a sharp tongue can cut your own throat.

If you want your dreams to come true, don't oversleep.

The smallest good deed is better than the grandest intention.

Of all the things you wear, your expression is the most important.

The best vitamin for making friends....B1.

The 10 commandments are not multiple choice.

The happiness of your life depends on the quality of your thoughts.

Minds are like parachutes...they function only when open.

Ideas won't work unless YOU do.

One thing you can't recycle is wasted time.

One who lacks the courage to start has already finished.

The heaviest thing to carry is a grudge.

Don't learn safety rules by accident.

We lie the loudest when we lie to ourselves.

Jumping to conclusions can be bad exercise.

A turtle makes progress when it sticks its head out.

One thing you can give and still keep...is your word.

Smile!

Think Good Thoughts.

Resources for More Information