Argue With Your Teenager

There is a good deal of stress in everyone's lives these days and that includes children and teenagers. Children and teenagers come under stress from many sources but especially from warring parents and exams. However, children and teenagers are not as well prepared to cope with stress as adults should be.

The death of a parent and bullying at school are also reasons for stress in children and teenagers. The death of a parent can require counseling, bullying calls for adult help, more often than not from school staff. These four cases of stress in children and teenagers can lead to mental health issues like depression, ADHD and aggression.

Other causes of milder stress, which can however be the straw that broke the camel's back, are as follows.

Transferring to a new school, new town or joining a new club, like cub scouts is stressful to a lot of kids. They will not have a lot, if any, friends there and will be unsure of the local customs, which can be nerve wracking. Being on edge like this is very stressful.

Learning how to cope with deadlines is not easy for a lot of young people. Nor is working alone to complete a project. Both of these skills are taught through homework and most children have problems with homework. They hate it. This also causes stress to build up, particularly if the child does not know how to do the homework and there is no one to lend a hand. Perhaps the child does not want to ask or perhaps the parents are incapable of assisting.

Connected with school, if a parent is too assertive about achieving high grades, it can have stressful effects that are opposite to what was intended. Parents have to see the fine line between encouraging and pushing their children to do well in school.

Low self esteem due to a more intelligent or more praised sibling is also the cause of stress. Parents who have a favourite and make this obvious run a serious risk of hurting their other children. Never ever choose a favourite (my 'number one son' or 'my little princess') and if you can not help yourself, then never let it show.

The news can disturb some children, especially gory details like terrorist bombings and natural disasters. These are felt much more deeply of course if they happen locally. Similar to this is if a close family member suffers a terminal illness or even a serious accident like a car accident and the loss of a limb. They may undergo short term stress if they have an illness like mumps or measles or break an arm or a leg as well.

Children quickly pick up on issues between their parents and also on financial problems in the home. Try to keep these things to yourself and do not argue often in front of the children.

You can help in the home by making sure that your children have love and understanding and by not being too demanding. They are only children, but they sometimes have to put up with adult sized stress too. Try to help them not make too big an issue of problems.

Owen Jones, the author of this article, writes on many subjects, but is currently concerned with financial stress. If you are suffering from any kind of stress, please go over to our website now at Stress and Heart Disease.

Getting your teenager do his or her homework can be an exhausting task. A teen will be more interested in going out with friends after returning from school. He or she will want to hang out with friends instead of sitting at home to do homework. That is why parents need to be more proactive to get teenagers to do their homework.

Here are some tips on getting your teen to do their homework:

o It is important to create an environment that is conducive for your teen to do his or her homework. Some teenagers need silence and privacy to complete their tasks while others might be more comfortable sitting in the kitchen with the TV blaring in the background. Make sure that your teenager has everything he or she needs to complete the homework. They can get distracted easily so just make sure that they fetch everything that is required to complete the homework before sitting at the table.

o Routine is very important even if you teenager argues about it. But most teenagers feel very secure when they have a routine. Therefore set a time during which they have to complete their homework. This way you will not have to nag them. However, check on them from time to time and be there if they need any help or assistance to complete their assignments.

o When teenagers enter high school, they may want to take up many different activities. However, you should try talking to your teenager and explaining that they should only take up those activities that they can do and still have time to complete all the school assignments.

Remember, getting teens to do homework is not an easy task but the above tips should help to a great extent.

About Author:
Pauline Go is an online leading expert in education & parenting. She also offers top quality articles like:
How Smoking Effect Environment, Drinking & Driving Effects.

Dealing with difficult subject matters and having sensitive discussions is a part of life. However, when it comes to children broaching such topics can be challenging. Yet, if you know how to approach and explain these difficult topics so they can understand them in a thoughtful and age-appropriate way, the discussions will be less stressful and the resulting better for all involved.

If you are a parent take the time to review this set of general guidelines, as well as more specific suggestions for handling certain topics in order to arm yourself for those challenging discussions that are sure to come.

General Guidelines for Explaining Difficult Topics

No matter what the subject, there are certain principles that can be applied. Knowing what they are will give you a good base for your talk with your young children or teenagers.

Don't overwhelm them with details. Let your child be the guide and follow their lead as to how much information to give.

Remember to be age-appropriate with the amount and type of information you share. Details a teenager might be able to handle would not be assimilated the same way by a younger child.

Break down data in a way would benefit or address the concerns of the child in question.

Allow children to ask their own questions and respond honestly. Encourage openness.

Incorporate your family values into difficult discussions. If you are not sure how you feel about a certain topic or conversation your child what's to have, be honest, share your ambiguous feelings to your children. It is okay to let them know that you do not have all the answers, but that you can and will research the topic and try to find the answers they need.

If you want to have a discussion with your child plan an activity together, and have the necessary discussion while you are both busy at work or play.

While some topics may arise out of the blue, some are predictable. Therefore, plan to talk to your child earlier than necessary about subjects that are bound to come up. That way you will beat their peers to the subject!

Listen carefully to what your child to say about whatever topic is being discussed. You will gain clues on how much you should tell them or what they really want and needs to hear-what their concerns really are. Be patient with yourself and your child, talk as long as your child needs to.

Talking About Divorce

If a child is concerned that his parents may divorce but their relationship is healthy, he or she needs to be reassured of that. They also need to know that some arguing amongst adults is normal. The child simply needs reassurance that his family unit is stable and intact.

But if divorce is looming on the horizon, the conversation will be very different. However, it should always begin and end with reassurance. Tell them that they will always be loved and that will never change. Children need to be reminded that no part of the decision to divorce is a reflection on them.

Always addressed the general topic of divorce in a factually manner with an explanation that it is a reality for many families.

Talking About The Concept Of Being Gay

Whether the topic comes up as a generality or if a child asks about the same-sex parent of a friend or neighbor, the subject matter of being gay is another discussion that some parents are unease about or not prepared to have. This is an area where your values may come into play so you might want to tackle it form a factually point of view.

You can explanation to your child that some people happen to love another person who just happens to be of the same-sex. For a young child, this should be sufficient. For a teenager, the discussion regarding sexual orientation may be more complicated and fraught with legal and moral issues. No matter how you choose to handle this be open, and encourage your children to treat everyone as he would want to be treated. Remind them that whether or not a person is gay has no impact on their humanity.

Talking About The Death Of A Parent Or Loved One

Death is one of the most difficult subjects to bring up with children or teenagers. Nevertheless, when faced with it, there is no shying away from it. Communicating effectively about the topic can greatly help young people deal with loss.

Discuss the physical aspects of death, such as illness that couldn't be cured; injury that could not be fixed; and how bodies simply stop working at one point. In regards to the spiritual realm of death, values and religion reign. Share what your family believes. Comfort your children with the idea that death does not change love. Allow your child to openly express their feelings, be sure to provide a safe and judgment free environment for them to do so.

Talking About Strip Clubs

When your child notices the strip club on the highway on the way to school or church, you will most likely face another uncomfortable conversation. Luckily, this discussion does not touch close to home, so it can be dealt with in generalities as you discuss the choices some people make. Be sure to make it a life lesson. You can also explain that just like children have play area, such as amusement parks which are just for them, so does adults. Simply tell children that a strip club is place where some grown-ups chose to go to have fun.

Talking About Sex, Pregnancy And Where Babies Come From

Talking to your children about sex, pregnancy and where babies come from is one of those inevitable discussions that every parent has to have. One of the most important things to remember is to be timely with that discussion. If possible talk about the subject before your child hears about it from friends or classmates. So, you would want to start early on this topic. Simply as questions arise, answer them honestly, with small children being brief and simplistic is very important, don't divulge more information than is absolutely necessity.

Keep in mind that before deciding to introduce any difficult subject with your young children or teenager, have a game plan. Know how much information you want to share. Plan to be responsive to their input. And when subjects come up unexpectedly staying calm and being honest will save the day. Share appropriately to create a well-balanced child who know they can also came or look to they family for help in understanding the tough things in life.

Learn more at: http://www.unityinherited.com

The teen years can be a challenge to say the least. For teenage girls this time is crucial as they are developing their character and establishing morals and values that will define who they become. It's a time when young girls learn many of life's lessons that will carry them into their adult years. To say that teenage girls are impressionable during these years would be an understatement. These girls need a good, solid relationship with their parents. In particular they need a good relationship with their father who is able to instill the needed character traits and values that will help to lay a solid moral foundation for life. Listed below are several reasons that teenage girls need to have a good relationship with their dads.

As a father and a Christian I believe one of the most important reasons to have a good relationship your teenage daughter is to earn her trust and respect. When you as a father lead your family by example, exemplifying the love of Christ through your life, what begins to take place is you begin lying a biblical foundation for her and that foundation is Christ. Once this foundation has been laid you then begin building upon Him who is more than able to hold this young life in His hands. Upon that foundation a father can begin to pour his heart into his teenage daughter's life building her self esteem. A self esteem that is God centered rather than one that is centered on the things of this world. When self esteem is Christ centered rather that self centered there is a world of difference. Christ centered self esteem says that my self esteem or myself worth comes from who I am as a child of God in Christ. I am a child of the Most High. When this is realized then one's self esteem becomes something that cannot be taken away by man. My self esteem is not based on the type of car I drive or based on how much money I have. It's not based on how big my house is or where I live. Where I work or who I associate with. None of these determine my self esteem. My self esteem is found in Christ. If a teenage girl finds her self esteem in Him. That is a good foundation in deed.

Another reason for a teenage girl to have a good relationship with her father is that the father may show his daughter by example what a healthy relationship is and how to establish healthy boundaries. Teenage girls are very impressionable. The way you conduct yourself in your marriage with your wife, with your fiancée or girlfriend can greatly influence what type of relationship your daughter might have as she gets older. If all she sees is arguing, fighting or god forbid some type of physical abuse in your relationships there is a greater chance of her allowing this type of destructive behavior in her relationships. Gaining the trust of your teenage daughter doesn't come by force or by fear but by example. As a Christian father I can show my daughter what a healthy marriage is. What it is to communicate in a healthy manner even if my wife and I disagree on something. We can agree to disagree respectfully and in love. As a father it is not only our responsibility but our privilege to raise our daughters and set a healthy, Godly example for them. A teenage daughter watches how her parents interact. If the mother and father have a relationship with a rocky foundation that includes inappropriate behavior taking place in the home it is more likely that the daughter may follow this pattern. She in turn will gravitate towards someone who will act out in the same manner her parents did. I as the father can set the standard or be the example of what a Godly man is and how a healthy relationship works. It is vital that I lead the family and set the example for my daughter.

It can't be said enough that teenage girls need a good relationship with their dads. The teen years for girls are some of the most important years that they will have. The teen years are when a substantial amount of who they are and who they will become takes place. It is vital that we fathers take the time needed to poor into our daughter's lives. To do so is not just your duty; it's your responsibility and privilege.