Chiladult? Whatever you call them, teenagers are a changin' and parents need to know what to do.
Wow... What Happened?
That's what most parents find themselves asking about the time their kids hit twelve or thirteen. But the changes really start unfolding between nine to eleven years old.
Your sweet little babies who's whole world has revolved around you start revolving around everything but you. This can be really hard on the old ego, but it requires a steady hand, and an even temper. While your kids may not agree, they need you now more then ever.
This is a time when they start to explore new worlds, take steps of independence, and try to spread their wings and see what it is like to "Fly Alone". Scary stuff for a kid, a lot more scary for the parent.
The best thing you can do as a parent is stay involved in their daily lives. Spend time together. Listen to what they are trying to tell you. Don't be too judgmental. And help provide the tools that will still educate them, and steer them in the direction you want them to go.
Most kids who get into trouble admit two primary things: Their parents don't care about them (you have to stay involved for them to believe you care), and they are bored (they don't have anything challenging their minds, or stimulating their creative energy).
Most kids this age actually love to build things, or create projects. They love to see the results of something that they did. They love to pursue talents they feel they have, and we should as parents encourage this, even if they give it up in a few months, this is how they experiment and "Find Themselves".
They like sports, computers, hobbies, music, building stuff, and scientific discoveries. There is really an endless world of "Educational Toys" for kids this age, it really is too bad that so many kids are left to MTV and evil computer games that waste away their ability to think.
Recent studies have shown that kids left to play computer games more than 30 minutes at a time, and more than once a day actually change the chemistry of their brain and lose some of their ability to think creatively. They become to some extent Zombies.
As parents, we have a responsibility to make sure our children aren't playing computer games, watching movies, and listening to music that is demonically inspired. There is a "Culture of Death" that invades the lives of our children today, and you can prove it to yourself by walking down any computer game isle and looking at the game covers and titles. Or tune in any music video channel. It is all Death or Sex. I often think that if we were to transplant someone from one hundred years ago into our popular culture and sit them in front of most of the movies we consider entertainment, they would likely have to be put in a straightjacket and hospitalized for mental trauma. If we abandon our kids to such filth, how can we be surprised when they walk into school and shoot down their classmates and teachers? How can we be shocked when they get pregnant, have abortions, and lose their innocence?
That is why we started our website, educational-toys-4u.com, to try and provide healthy alternatives, and to give you as parents a little encouragement to keep up the battle for your children's future. Don't just turn them over to the popular culture, they deserve much better, and they will thank you for your standing in the gap for them for the rest of their lives.
Just think? someday there will be grandchildren sitting on your knee, and thinking that you are the greatest thing since peanut butter.
Ain't life Grand? ;-)
Tom Cooper
Tom & Shelley Cooper are the founders of http://educational-toys-4u.com offering healthy alternatives for the educational toys your children need to learn and grow.
Tom is the administrator of a large humanitarian aid project and Shelley left a successful career as a financial analyst to work in education. With a 12 year old son and a 9 year old daughter, they are keenly interested in the educational process and welfare of their children, and children everywhere.
How we train our children today will determine their futures tomorrow.
Visit now and subscribe to our Smart Play Newsletter: http://educational-toys-4u.com
insured cleaning company Deerfield ..Having worked with parents for the last 35 years and... Read More
Ever blown your top to your children, only to regret... Read More
Why Is Spending Time with Your Child So Important?For children... Read More
Did you know that the number of twin births have... Read More
When your child shows signs of potty training readiness, it's... Read More
The teenage years are a crucial time in a child's... Read More
A while ago I received this story from David in... Read More
'And all because of a damned cat! It's only a... Read More
Let's face it: raising children can be quite the adventure.... Read More
Home-schooling removes children from public school. That alone makes home-schooling... Read More
Recently, a parent came to me, conflicted over whether to... Read More
There are few thoughts as terrifying as the abduction of... Read More
1. They are leaders as well as parents. They don't... Read More
WHEN AN INJURY HAPPENS AT CAMP, HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED... Read More
Family meetings provide opportunities for feelings to be aired and... Read More
The purpose of this article is to address some of... Read More
Vacations and trips are great family events, but how do... Read More
In this form of treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder... Read More
Diagnosing children and teens with ADHD can be a challenge.... Read More
Giving advice to a teenager is very easy; getting a... Read More
Giving with a happy heart. If you teach a child... Read More
The first year of a child's life is the most... Read More
They Spur Members To Grow EmotionallyTatiana Tannenbaum grappled with a... Read More
Nothing touches the heartstrings of a parent more than the... Read More
Your daughter tells you that Uncle Charley has touched her... Read More
top rated cleaning service Bannockburn ..I recall somewhere in the recesses of my aging brain... Read More
You have two kids who are 14 months apart. How... Read More
The children of Baby Boomers, the Echo Generation, are entering... Read More
When is a person brilliant? When does a person show... Read More
Public-school teaching is structured in such a way that it... Read More
For every season, check, check, check, There is a chart,... Read More
Before going further into choosing computers for children, I believe... Read More
Sex has a lot to answer for ? babies usually... Read More
What's in a name? Er?well, everything, really! Of course your... Read More
This can be a very complicated issue, so I don't... Read More
Not all parents subscribe to the notion of "tough love,"... Read More
Sara loves pampering. Haircuts, facials, manicures, and makeup bring smiles,... Read More
From criticizing a spouse, to claming up about one's own... Read More
Do you think you really know your child? I don't... Read More
By not planning for the future we guarantee that we... Read More
There are so many learning labels floating around these days... Read More
As the father of a toddler, I am an expert... Read More
Child Car Seat Safety:We know you love your children, but... Read More
Today's dads are more hands-on than ever before and their... Read More
As the kids go back to school, you can go... Read More
I have a bit of a different response than most... Read More
When parents help their children learn to read, they help... Read More
Something happened the other day that made me feel uneasy.... Read More
Parents play a critical role in their child's success. These... Read More
Spare the rod, spoil the child!This philosophy's been around a... Read More
Parenting |