Understanding Teen Disrespect

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Understanding Teen Disrespect
When I was about 25 I got a job working at a wilderness camp for juvenile delinquents between the ages of 13 and 17.  These kids already had disturbingly long rap sheets–battery, multiple court violations, truancy, theft, possession of narcotics, etc. Many of them had been sent to the camp involuntarily by a judge. After my first few days I remember trying to speak to one particular teenager about something. As I spoke he interrupted me over and over again with loud engine roaring sounds to drown out what I was trying to say. He looked me right in the eyes as he was doing it with a “what you gonna do about it?” look on his face. I was blown away by this level of disrespect.
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Firing of Rutgers Head Coach Puts Spotlight Back on Bullying

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Firing of Rutgers Head Coach Puts Spotlight Back on Bullying
Mike Rice, the head coach of Rutgers University men’s basketball program was fired today as video of him physical and verbally abusing his players during practice surfaced. No other word came to mind after watching Mike Rice belittle and push around his players than “bully.” It is a reminder that bullying can occur in a variety of settings and the bullies themselves can be people entrusted to instill value and work ethic into young people.
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Cultural Differences between Parents and their Teens in Miami

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Cultural Differences between Parents and their Teens in Miami
Miami is an international and an immigrant city.  People come from all over the world and especially Latin America to settle here.  The vibrant mix of cultures can sometimes be difficult for families to deal with.  For the teenagers of immigrants who are growing up experiencing a different culture than their parents it can become more and more difficult for them to communicate effectively with their families.  Parents are more likely to adhere firmly to their original culture whereas teenagers tend to very quickly soak up the culture that they experience around them.  This can lead to gaps between teenagers and parents on their levels of Americanism as well as on their levels of the parents’ culture of origin.  In more serious cases parents and teenagers may have a significant language barrier between them, fertile ground for misunderstandings and conflicts to spring up.
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Behind the Annoying Behaviors of Teens

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Behind the Annoying Behaviors of Teens
You’re speaking with a teenager.  Suddenly you can see they are uncomfortable with the conversation.  There is a pause.  They look at you as if you had a bright green ball of snot dangling from your nose and then they say in that long, drawn out, and especially obnoxious tone “awkwaaaaaaard...” Another particularly annoying and ubiquitous teenage reaction is this.  You’ll be in the middle of explaining something important, something that, if the kid would only listen, could really improve his or her life and then you get it.  “Whatever…”
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The Steubenville Rape Video, Alcohol and Teenagers

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Michael Nodianos really messed up. He is the teenager in the video recently released by the hacktavist group Anonymous shown joking about an incident of rape allegedly perpetrated by his fellow high school football teammates in Steubenville, Ohio. The language and attitude in the video is highly disturbing and offensive.
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How to Talk to your Teen About Going to Counseling

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How to Talk to your Teen About Going to Counseling
For dedicated parents it is important that they feel that they are doing everything they can to help their teenager through life’s troubles.  When parents feel at a loss when confronted with their teenager’s problems they often search for professional help.  However, when they speak to their teenager about it he or she is insulted and dead-set against it.  Teenagers may simply refuse to go or become enraged with the possibility of going to counseling.  This unfortunate reaction puts a frustrating obstacle in the way of parents trying to help their teenagers, especially in the case of older teenagers that you cannot physically force to go.
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Untreated Issues in Adolescence Linger into Adulthood: Teen Dating Violence and Teen ADHD

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Two articles published today reinforce the notion that untreated issues in adolescent years linger into adulthood. The first article Teen Dating Violence Affects Well-Being in Adulthood published in USAtoday.com cites a new study that shows that teenagers who reported physical or psychological abuse from a relationship reported more drinking, smoking, drug abuse, depression, thoughts of suicide, and anti-social behaviors 5 years later. The study is hoping to raise awareness about this public health hazard and encourages parents, educators, and pediatricians to talk to teens about dating violence to quickly get help for those who need it.
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Medical Marijuana: Explaining Colorado’s new laws to your teenager

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Medical Marijuana: Explaining Colorado’s new laws to your teenager
This year’s presidential elections brought no change to the presidency but the local elections in Colorado and Washington State led to new laws that will legalize recreational use of marijuana. As a parent, it is important to understand the new rules and how they may apply to your family. News of marijuana legalization and the benefits of medical marijuana may give teenagers the “ammunition” they need to justify to themselves that smoking pot is okay and can even be good for you. So, let’s examine the issues, the new laws, and medical marijuana to give you the ammunition you need to dispel the notion that smoking marijuana is okay because certain states have legalized it.
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Teenagers and Bad Grades: Depression or Bad Behavior?

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Teenagers and Bad Grades: Depression or Bad Behavior?
Succeeding in high school is an important foundation for teenagers as they transition into early adulthood. It is important to stay informed about your teen’s performance at school by communicating with teachers, administrators, or guidance counselors. Talk to your teenager if report card grades fell below expectations. While a drop in grades could be as simple as your teenager struggling with a new subject or teacher, it could be a red flag for a variety of issues such as attention issues such as ADHD, depression, substance abuse, or bad behavior. Consider all factors to help your teen get back on track as soon as possible.
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Facebook, Twitter, Social Media and Teenagers

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Facebook, Twitter, Social Media and Teenagers
The rise of social media has transformed the way people around the world communicate, stay in touch, and learn. Much like social revolutions of the past young people such as teenagers are the most likely group to embrace change and pave the way for the future, while the rest of us struggle to keep up to the frantic pace of change. Today’s adolescents will have never know a world without Facebook or Twitter. On the other hand, adults are still playing catch up and reminiscing of simpler times. Social media platform such Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram bring with them exciting possibilities and potential dangers, especially for adolescents. The ability to stay involved in the life of a dear friend who has moved away through Facebook may lessen the emotional blow of having your friend move away. On the other hand, social media has created a new wave of privacy concerns that teens may overlook.
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