"PROMise" Video Asks Teens to Pledge to Follow Safe Driving Laws at Prom Time

PROMise video- 30 seconds

PROMise video- 1 minute

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DMV has created a special public service video called "PROMise" as the first prom season approaches following the the start of tougher teen driving laws last August. It tells the story of promises teens should make about safe driving on prom night. It is a promise, though, that should carry over to every day and night of the year.

In addition, DMV has created a special My Safe Driving PROMise for students to sign and commit to following safe driving practices.

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-Connecticut's Department of Motor Vehicles

Parents and Teens: What Do They Need to Know?

The reality of life in some areas of the U.S. are dire. Many have lost jobs, homes, and the basic security that those things bring.

Parents find themselves not sure what to tell their teen. If you are in that situation, I encourage you to read "Need to Know Basis Applies to Your Kids" by Dr. Benjamin Garber, Healthy Parent.

Here is an exerpt:

As parents, we're our children's emotional anchors. We create the foundation upon which they slowly build self. Anything that shakes that foundation – from financial hardship to substance abuse, from co-parental conflict to serious illness – resonates through them.

Denying the reality can make the problem worse. The mom who reassures "Everything's fine, sweetie" through her tears or the dad who stomps away from the dinner table without any explanation then or later only adds confusion to the child's already stirred-up emotions.

This isn't reassuring, this is lying in the face of obvious changes. As a result, our kids will draw their own conclusions, too often blaming themselves, exaggerating the situation and assuming the worst.

I'm telling him what I believe he can understand. Good. Do this by figuring out what your kids are thinking and feeling.

Ten Years After the Columbine Massacre

(HealthNewsDigest.com) - BINGHAMTON, NY -- Ten years after the horrific massacre at Columbine High School sharpened the nation’s views on youth violence, Binghamton University researcher Mary Muscari sees cause for optimism — and for deep concern — about the way adolescents are growing up in America.

“Many things have gotten better. School shootings are horrible things, but they’re incredibly rare,” said Muscari, associate professor in the Decker School of Nursing and a nationally known expert on parenting. “Schools are still basically a safe place. However, we have enormous issues with bullying and cyberbullying.”

Muscari has worked with juvenile delinquents since the early 1980s. As a pediatric nurse practitioner, she has also worked with healthy children throughout her more than 30-year career. Muscari, author of five books for parents, has conducted workshops around the country on topics such as keeping kids safe from predators, bullying and how to raise nonviolent children.
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Muscari continues: “Some degree of teen-parent friction is expected, but disruptive family conflict isn’t normal. Neither is persistent defiance, fighting or property destruction. This turmoil represents pathology, and it will not be outgrown.” She goes on to list behaviors that warrant professional attention.

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Three Ways for Attacking Teen Anger

Knowledge is power, and understanding is essential to parenting. So many youth today allow anger to control their actions, causing regrettable behavior. As a parent, we want our children to make as few mistakes as is necessary, but we must first understand.

Rest easy, if you happen to have an angry teen, your teen is not abnormal. The unfortunate reality is that many Americans are victims to anger, and many of us have no idea of how to control it. The emotion anger is not necessarily the threatening factor, our concern rests in the actions associated with anger when it grows out of control. According to John M. Grohol with Psych Central, teenage anger arises from fear. Adolescents do have quite a bit to fear: they are experiencing new changes, they have the pressure of leaving home and their comfort zone, and school and peer pressures to name a few. As a parent, knowing that this stage in your youth’s life is normal, you are better equipped to handle the tough situations.

Inherently, any human being who is under pressure will react, though reactions may vary depending on the individual. Just as with depression, which can be a cause of anger, anger can harm your youth if not addressed appropriately.

Read the three ways to attack teen anger.

-Sierra Langh, Tampa Teen Issues Examiner

Sexting and Teens

There is no question that the age of high-tech devices have made keeping connected better than ever before. FaceBook, cell phones, MySpace, and other social networking has not only created positive interactions between teens but as time goes by society is learning of the negatives as well.

Sexting has become one of the biggest issues in a teens life. Pressures from boyfriends, social groups, and wanting to "fit in", teens send suggestive texts or pictures to others. Even when teens are told the consequences of sexting, it continues to occur.

Read about this alarming trend here. In this article it shares one teen's story and how she tried to warn others by appearing on a Cinncinnati television station to tell her story. Two months later she committed suicide.

The devastating affects on a teen who is ostracised due to sexting is heart breaking. One decision in a moment of pressure or "fun" can ruin a teen's life forever.

Teen Depression

Sue Scheff: Teen Depression

As I saw on the news last night, experts are saying that parents with children between the ages of 12-18 should have them screened for depression. It is not about promoting medication, it is about helping to understand if there are areas in their lives that can be causing stress and anxiety that can leave to making negative choices such has experimenting with substance abuse, hanging with a less than desirable peer group, feelings of low self worth, etc. Like adults, children can be prone to depression and stress and not mature enough to understand these feelings. With this, acting out in a negative way can follow. Take time to learn more.

Source: USA Today

Tools4Teens Summer Camp

This program will cover critical topics outlined in the Tools 4 Teens book. The focus will be on character and life skill development set on a Godly foundation.

Students will scrapbook throughout the duration of the program. This creative element will encourage self-awareness and positive goal setting. Our summer camp program can hold six students.

This program includes

• Eight hours of instruction, M-Th. 10am-noon, July, 2009
• On-site staff photographer
• Approximately 14-16 personal photographs per student for use in scrapbooks.
• All scrapbooking supplies, including 8 X 8 scrapbook.
• Each student will receive a customized Tools 4 Teens book using photographs taken by our staff photographer.

<< click here to request info on the Summer Camp Program >>