Staying Connected During the Teen Years
Researchers are revisiting the age-old stereotype of the
rebellious teen years. As more is understood about what makes
teens tick, light is being shed on how parents can stay connected
to them during this part of the journey to adulthood.
Consider the timeless stereotype of rebellious teens: They hit
adolescence, start pulling away from parents, and often reach for
independence and a sense of identity by confronting all sorts of
risky business, from smoking to reckless driving to adventures with
the opposite sex. But recent research delved deeper into teenage
development to discern the role parents play in helping teens stay
safe, healthy, and connected. The results yielded some surprises:
one study showed that teens evaluate risk even more carefully than
adults; another, from the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC), showed that fewer high school students engage in
risky behaviors, like driving without a seatbelt and using alcohol,
than in the past. And in a KidsHealth® KidsPoll of 9- to
13-year-olds, 43% of kids said that they do want parents to be more
involved in their lives.
What to Watch:
The increased understanding of how kids develop and behave
during the teen years also puts a spotlight on how parents can give
kids the space they need to develop while staying connected to them
during adolescence. And if parents and teens stay more connected,
kids may make better decisions when confronted with the tough stuff
of growing up ― from peer pressure, to opportunities to try drugs
and alcohol, to decisions about sex.
For Kids:
Getting Along With Parents
Alcohol
Smoking Stinks
For Teens:
Why Do I Fight With My Parents So Much?
Talking to Your Parents - or Other Adults
Drugs and Alcohol
Sexual Health
For Parents:
Connecting With Your Preteen
A Parent's Guide to Surviving the Teen Years
Kids and Alcohol
Kids and Smoking
KidsPoll: Parents and Preteens - Staying
Connected
Reviewed by:
Neil Izenberg, MD
Date reviewed: December 2006
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Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice,
diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
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