Social Media: How It’s Stressing Out Our Teens

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The latest social media apps can stress out your teens and leave them with a deflated sense of self-worth.

Are your teens on social media sites like Twitter, Facebook and Instagram? If they are, there's a good chance that it's caused them stress or anxiety. For something meant to connect us with others, social media seems to have the exact opposite effect on teens. According to mental health consultant Stefanie Weiss it can even make them feel isolated and lonely . Social Media and Self-Worth With many teens accessing social media on a daily basis, it's a place they are increasingly turning ... Continue Reading

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7 Communication Secrets Every Parent of a Teen Should Know

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Learn to communicate with your teen through asking questions, listening, and solving the problem together.

Teenage drinking. It's a subject many parents of teens don't like to think about - or even discuss with their kids. Some parents assume that if they don't have a drinking problem, and don't have any alcohol in their home, their kids will be fine. But, according to a recent study, teenage drinking rarely has anything to do with the parent's drinking habits. So who influences whether our kids will experiment with drinking or not? Their best friends. Samuel Kuperman, from the University of Iowa, ... Continue Reading

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Facebook as a Teaching Tool: Beyond the Obvious

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With teens on Facebook and social media sites, it’s easy to find ways to use them as teaching tools.

If you have children old enough to be on Facebook, then you've probably had plenty of opportunity to use the platform to create “teaching moments” for your kids. There are the obvious lessons - “don’t post pics of yourself you don’t want your Grandma to see” and “don’t use foul language.” Other lessons include teaching your kids how to include or block certain groups when posting things that might be more appropriate for their friends. But last week, I had a moment of real ... Continue Reading

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Blog of the Week: PopCosmo

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The SocialMoms Blog of the Week is PopCosmo – a great place for fashion trends, local deets, and more!

Congratulations to PopCosmo: the SocialMoms Blog of the Week! Looking for a fun site for you and your teen daughter to learn the scoop about your city, get fashion advice, and learn the latest trends? PopCosmo is a perfect solution :) I recently chatted with Kim Gordon, co-founder of the blog: SM: What was your inspiration for starting your site? Our inspiration for starting the blog was our move to Louisville. We didn't know anyone in the area, so we turned to the internet to find ... Continue Reading

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5 Out-of-the-Box Ways to Connect with your Teen, Tween and Young Kids

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Five out-of-the-box ways to get your teens excited to start connecting and hanging out

As kids grow up it can be more and more difficult to find unique and fun ways to connect with them. I work with teens and tweens, and even as a 26-year-old, they are often more honest with me than most of their parents. I asked them what kinds of things they would be willing to do with their families. Together, we came up with these suggestions that are a little out of the ordinary, but might actually get your kids excited to connect and hang out. 1. Weekly Rendezvous. Find a time once a week ... Continue Reading

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Swear Words on T.V. Associated With Aggression in Kids

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Children and teens exposed to profanity in television and video games are more likely to show aggression toward others.

Children and teens exposed to profanity in television and video games are more likely to show aggressive behavior, according to research published in Pediatrics. The study looked at how kids viewed profanity and measured their aggression. They evaluated physical aggression, i.e. kicking or hitting others, as well as relational aggression. An example of relational aggression is when kids purposefully spread gossip to ruin someone’s reputation. Essentially, it looks at how mean a kid can ... Continue Reading

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Teen Drivers: Save on Insurance Costs

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Save on your teen drivers’ auto insurance with these money saving options.

Allowing teenagers to get their driver’s licenses can be an exciting and rewarding time for the entire family as they gain independence and the new “adult” responsibilities that come with driving. While adding a teen driver to your policy may increase your auto insurance rates, there are several things you can do to affordably insure your teen drivers. Consider these potential cost-saving options when you get ready to let your teenager drive. Think Safety When Buying a Car If you’re ... Continue Reading

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Facebook Is Actually a Good Thing For Kids:  Here’s How

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Learn about resources available for you and your teen to harness everything Facebook has to offer, safely, as it becomes an inevitable part of their lives.

A quick Google search confirms my suspicions.  All the dangers of Facebook for kids – everything from cyber bullying to sexual predators to misbehavior that can impact a child’s college admissions to a host of other issues – do indeed exist and there is already a wealth of information on the Internet that addresses these challenges.  A similar search, one that seeks what is good for teens about the world’s most successful social network, comes back with far less information and ... Continue Reading

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