HowToDoThings.com Recent Dealing with Teenagers Articles

How To Bond with Your Teenager

Ae640 — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 11:01:58 -0800

How To Talk to Your Teenager

rashida.khilawala — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 21:36:12 -0800

How To Help Your Kids Buy Presents Without Handing Over Cash

mamapat — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 11:38:08 -0700

How do you react when your child asks for money to buy a present for a sibling, a friend, a teacher, or even for you? Most parents will take them to the store, let the child pick out the gift, and then pay for it. Or, if the child is a teenager, you may give him a certain amount of money and let him buy it himself.

While the reason the child needs money is unselfish and properly motivated, you should still not just hand over cash or your credit card. "Why not?" you ask. After all, it is for a good reason.

As parents, we should constantly be looking for ways to educate our children and how to manage money is one of the most important lessons we can teach them. There are two ways to make this situation a positive learning opportunity.

First, let's look at allowances:

How To Help Teens Manage Their Anger

mamapat — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 11:25:16 -0700

In this fast-paced world, situations often get out of hand due to:

Workplace stress.
Busy after-work schedules.
Kids under stress from school.
Kids not getting along with other siblings.
Monetary concerns.
And so much more!

Parents must find ways to constructively manage situations that can cause eruptions of anger or that require conflict management. You, a parent, are the most copied examples of how to accomplish these things that your children ever use. It is up to you to manage your own anger and, by example, teach your children. How can this be done, you ask? The following are some suggestions:

How To Help Your Children Make Career Choices

beawsviews — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 17:59:55 -0800

One of the most critical decisions to be made in life is the choice of a career path. While it is not wise to impose a career decision on your children, it is extremely important to be their primary counselors. This article highlights the essential tips that parents need to guide their children into their innate greatness.

How To Teach Your Children to Become Informed Voters

mamapat — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 15:40:44 -0800

With so much going on in the world, it is imperative that every registered voter should cast an informed vote in the upcoming Presidential election. However, it is not enough to vote once every four years; you should be voting in each city, state, and national election.

As parents it is our responsibility to teach our children to become voters, and even more important, responsible voters. I have several ideas to help you do that and they are as follows:

How To Deal with Rebellious Teenagers

sara90 — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 14:18:00 -0800

Teenagers are at a critical stage in their lives, which is the transition from being a child to maturing into an adult. During this period of their lives they are going through vast hormonal changes and are experiencing pressure from their peers, the media as well as other external influences. At this significant stage in their lives they need their parents to become their friends rather than their parents or the high authority controlling their lifestyles. They need to feel help and support throughout this stage in their lives.

During this stage they are continuously seeking independence from their parents through all aspects in their lives. They are beginning to develop sexual desires and question the existence of god and spirituality in their lives. They desire to be treated as adults, and they are in constant search for their identities, finding the groups in which they belong and, more importantly, finding themselves.

How To Let Go of Adult Children

mamapat — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 09:53:30 -0800

It is here! The day you dreamed of for years has finally arrived. All those days of carpools and freezing as you watch your son stand on the sidelines hoping that today he will get in the game—they are over. The days of the door slamming shut and nagging your child about getting that “pig sty clean” are finally, blessedly at an end. You are filled with relief and joy.

What? You aren’t? Yeah, but, remember when you thought what a great day this would be and could not wait for it? Okay, you are feeling sad and already lonely—even though she does not leave for college for another week. Oh my God, what are you going to do?

Be comforted in the fact that you are not the only parent to ever be surprised at the intensity of the sadness you are feeling. Let me give you some advice that might help a little.

How To Tell if Your Child Has a Drinking Problem

mamapat — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 16:43:44 -0800

Plaguing many parents is the issue of teen drinking. We all know that underage drinking is illegal, but we also know that teens do it all the time. There are always unscrupulous store owners who will sell to minors and, as parents, we need to be vigilant to the signs that our child is drinking.

Sometimes the signs are obvious:

How To Motivate your Delinquent Teen to Action

caribmania — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 18:49:58 -0800

How To Make Sure Your Kids Drive Carefully

Denise639 — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 16:41:02 -0800

Driving is a privilege. It is a way to make our lives convenient and more efficient. The truth is, teenage deaths related to car accidents is rising, so talking about vehicle safety should be a priority on your list of topics to discuss with your teen as soon as possible. When you want to make sure that your teenager drives carefully, there are steps you can take to help her understand the importance of driving with caution.

How To Help Your Children Stop Nail Biting

bronwyn — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 10:17:33 -0800

All parents worry about their children's bad habits. Nailbiting, although not one of the worst things a child can do by any means, can be unattractive, annoying, and damage their teeth. Parents often punish or reprimand their children for biting their nails, but there are much more effective ways to help your children stop biting their nails.

Teach your child to crochet or knit. Even children of a young age can learn to knit, crochet, or fingerknit. When they are occupied with creating things out of yarn, they will not remember to bite their fingernails, and their hands would be too occupied to do so anyway!
Give children toys to play with. Play-Doh and clay are wonderful ways to keep children's hands occupied, as are pipe cleaners and twist ties. Children are very creative, so harness their nervous energy.

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How To Be Kind to Others

johnschurmann — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 11:49:47 -0800

Siblings can be very unkind to each other. As a parent, it can be hard to know what to do. Help is here! Try the following exercise with your children and teenagers, and spouse, if needed.

How To Be Kind to Others Worksheet

Directions: Answer the following and discuss before watching TV, using the telephone, or other activity.

How To Teach Your Children About Money

bronwyn — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 10:15:19 -0700

All parents wants their children to be happy and successful. Teaching children about money from a young age is one way to ensure their financial success in later life. Even very young children can be taught about money, by words and actions.

How To Spot a Liar

JohnStejskal — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 16:06:52 -0700

The techniques bellow will show you how to tell if you are being lied to. These techniques are used by government agencies for interrogation. They can easily be utilized in relationships and in business situations. To make successful use of these indicators, it helps to know the suspect's ‘normal' body language and reactions to different situations.

How To Be a Good Parent: Special Situations Such as Child Illness and Behavioral Problems

tjbooks — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 14:09:41 -0700

We all know that boys are different from girls. Boys are more aggressive, want to solve a problem quickly and get it out of the way. Girls like to talk things over and resolve a problem in terms of relationships. Boys will fight at the drop of a match.

Girls will negotiate their way out of a problem. Boys want to be the boss so they are best raised under a reasonable set of unbreakable rules. (You probably should never let a boy off the hook when he breaks a rule.)

Either parent can resolve a problem with a boy. Sometimes a mother resolves things by simply saying, "Just wait until your father gets home, Sonny Boy!" That is often the easy way out. Later the same mother will say to her husband, "You let him off too easy again."

How To Be a Good Parent: Prepare Your Children for Adulthood

tjbooks — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 13:25:47 -0700

I used to tell my kids, "Get yourself an elephant. People will look up to you." What I meant was that a child should do things that are difficult to do. Some parents actually discourage their children from doing what would be beneficial to them. It’s a form of protectionism that hinders growth.

I was pretty free as a child. I could do about whatever I wanted to do. There were two things that I could not do. The first was that I could not have a paper route nor could I sell papers on the street. I could earn money in anyway whatsoever but having a paper route was not one of them. I delivered papers just about everyday with my friends, but they had the routes, not me. The only day I sold papers on the street was VJ Day. I made $13.50. My pockets were so full of nickels and dimes that I could hardly get on the bus to go home.

How To Be a Good Parent: Nurture Children

tjbooks — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 11:54:52 -0700

Parenting can be difficult if you are fully concerned with what is going on today—or last week, for that matter. Thinking ahead can make your life smoother and can help your children to become upright and useful citizens. Here are some things you can do to teach your children correct principles:

How To Get Your Teenager To Talk To You

galbaras — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 09:28:15 -0700

A common expression parents learn is that "kids turn into monsters when they get to the age of about 12." I am here to tell you that this is a myth and that your behavior as a parent is crucial to your teen's openness toward you.

Here are some things you should do, and if you have younger kids, start doing these things with them too:

How To Teach Your Kids the Value of Money

aljacobs — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 10:36:12 -0700

Over the years I’ve witnessed the offspring of many friends and relatives display an inability to handle money. The number of youngsters I’ve known that grew to adulthood without the ability to make regular payments on their home mortgage, pay their credit card bills without incurring interest and penalties, or even balance a checkbook, is frightening.

Whatever praise or criticism you may direct at the American public school system, one thing must be acknowledged: The handling of personal finances is not a subject to which much attention is devoted. Whatever the average American knows about monetary matters did not come from the classroom. This is understandable, of course, if only because the typical classroom teacher is equally mystified by the world of money. It’s for this reason I’m convinced that a child’s indoctrination into financial matters must be rooted at home.

How To Talk To Your Kids about Sex

Brian263 — Thu, 03 May 2007 18:56:00 -0700

For many parents, "The Talk" is perhaps their most dreaded parental duty. Others look forward to imparting some of their collected wisdom about sex, but don't know how or when to begin. Some even shirk the responsibility in the false comfort that 'schools handle all those questions these days.' But as parents, we have an obligation to discuss sex with our children, especially as our children are confronting sexual depictions and issues in the media at an increasingly tender age. Children who feel comfortable approaching their parents with sexual questions are less likely to rely on unreliable sources of information or to engage in risky sexual behavior. Here we will address some of the common missteps and misconceptions about The Talk, as well as ways that we parents can help our kids reach a healthy understanding of sex.

How To Help Your Child Get Ready for Little League

Staff468 — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 16:33:00 -0800

Little league is just around the corner! Before you bring out the chewing gum and sunflower seeds, help your child prepare for the challenges of the game by practicing key skills and instilling confidence.

Don't just focus on one field position. Little league teams might have three people who all want to play first base, but only one will be chosen as the main first baseman. It's good to cultivate the skills of your child's favorite field position. (Even if the coach chooses someone else as this year's first baseman, next year's team might present new opportunities to pursue the position. And besides, reserve players are often subbed in when a child is unable to play.) But make sure you practice the skills of different positions as well - on a competitive team, there isn't any guarantee that your child will end up in his or her desired part of the field.

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How To Teach Your Children Proper Manners

W.J.592 — Sat, 17 Feb 2007 18:11:00 -0800

Do you, like me, think that proper manners are going the way of the dinosaur? Do you think it's too late to teach your children proper manners? It's not! Follow the steps below and you will have polite little citizens in no time!

How To Understand Father Visitation Rights

Malcolm161 — Sun, 14 Jan 2007 10:59:00 -0800

If you are a non-custodial father, you no doubt find yourself bewildered with what can be a convoluted and often unclear situation. Knowing exactly what rights you have under the law can be a daunting task. To help you gather data that is relevant to your situation, here are a few ideas on just how to understand visitation rights.

One of the first things to understand is that the foundational document governing the process of visitation is the court ruling itself. Often, that is where your minimum rights of visitation will be spelled out, including any particular conditions relating to when you may begin a visit and when the visit is to end. Depending on the relationship that you cultivate with your former spouse, you may be able to work out more frequent visitation, but keep in mind those extras are not guaranteed and take place only because of the willingness of the custodial parent.

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How To Find Single Parent Travel Packages

Kaye305 — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 09:14:00 -0700

If you are a single parent searching for a travel package that is geared toward single parents, you may be wondering where you can find them. Single parents who wish to travel with their children often run into the same problem, being charged only slightly less for a travel package for yourself and your child than you would if you paid for two adults. Are there travel organizations out there that cater solely to the single parent and the single parent who wishes to travel with his child? Where can you find them?

How To Find Online Resources for Work at Home Moms

Andy185 — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 11:00:00 -0700

Many parents dream of having the flexibility to care for their children while still having the opportunity to earn money to pay the bills. Is this a realistic aspiration? Absolutely. Most work at home parents are looking to supplement the income of a spouse with traditional employment, but some manage to make enough money to be self-sufficient.

However, work at home parents are a frequent target of people who want to take advantage of their desire to be home with their children. You don't have to accept sub-minimum-wage assignments or menial work as long as you are smart about it.

There is a wide variety of jobs you can do as a work at home parent. The most common opportunity is telephone work, ranging from sales to customer service and technical support. Other opportunities include party planning, web site design, online tutoring, and writing. Some opportunities require particular care to avoid getting scammed.

How To Learn Positive Parenting

Kaye305 — Fri, 07 Jul 2006 10:44:00 -0700

Being a parent is hard work. Let's face it -- there really is no other job that is quite so difficult but so rewarding at the same time! Parents struggle on a daily basis with being positive when guiding and disciplining their children.

Positive parenting requires parents to change their parenting techniques from negative to positive, thereby improving a child's mental health and behavior. Positive parenting allows parents to help develop social skills in their children, trains parents to talk instead of yell, encourages the use of constructive criticism instead of punishment, shows how to use time-outs instead of physical consequences, and gives examples of how to redirect your child rather than focus on what the child may be doing that is negative.

How To Transition Into a Step Parent Role

Elizabeth69 — Sat, 27 May 2006 09:45:00 -0700

Today, "blended" families are the norm. It is not uncommon for newlyweds to come into a marriage with children from previous relationships, and when they do, the new family must learn to adapt to a new living situation. If you are about to become a step parent, there are some things that you can do to make the transition easier--for yourself, and for every member of the family.

Go slowly. Changes are hard for everyone, and children, especially, may have a difficult time in the beginning. You can expect some initial resentment and objections to your role in their lives. It is not uncommon for children to hold on to the hope that their parents will be getting back together--your presence, in the eyes of the children, is evidence that their parents have moved on.

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How To Learn About Single Father Parenting

Theresa157 — Wed, 24 May 2006 06:20:00 -0700

Single fathers now make up about thirteen percent of single parents. Statistically, single fathers have more financial benefits than single mothers do, though according to statistics, they also do not communicate as well with their children as single mothers do. Currently, there is more research and resources for single mothers rather than single fathers, though that is changing.

If you are or about to become a single father, you may be wondering where you can learn about parenting geared for your life.

How To Throw a Great Party for Your Teen

Andrea143 — Sat, 20 May 2006 19:42:00 -0700

Statistics say that teens are most likely to consume alcohol and participate in inappropriate activities during parties. It is also a known fact that too much parental participation at a teen party may embarrass your child "for life." Finding a balance between cool parent and responsible parent can be difficult at best. Here are steps you can follow to help you strike a balance between a great party and a well-supervised party for your teen.

Have a talk with your teen about the party. Set expectations in advance.
Set a limit for invitees. Just like in any restaurant or elevator, there are a maximum number of people that should be in a house before it becomes a hazard to the occupants. Having too many cars around your home or too much noise may also anger your neighbors.

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How To Throw a Sweet 16 Birthday Party

Andrea143 — Sat, 20 May 2006 18:51:00 -0700

For many girls, having a sweet sixteen party is second only to their plans for a future wedding. Whether you are planning a sweet sixteen party, or a Quinceanera, here is a guide that will allow you to make it a day to remember.

How To Evaluate Different Parenting Styles

Heather166 — Sat, 20 May 2006 13:09:00 -0700

Parenting is hard. There is no doubt about that. Every parent struggles at some point to figure out how to handle situations and how to be the best parent possible. Understanding your parenting style is the first step to understanding why your children behave the way they do and how you can improve your parenting skills.

How To Learn About Tough Love Parenting

Theresa157 — Mon, 15 May 2006 10:22:00 -0700

Tough Love was coined the 1980s by a couple in the Philadelphia area after dealing with their teenage daughter. Phyllis and David York founded the Toughlove Network and the term "tough love" began to be used.

How To Find Online Resources and Assistance for Single Moms

Susie254 — Fri, 12 May 2006 05:55:00 -0700

Being a single mom can be rewarding and stressful. It may seem as if everything is on your shoulders. In some ways, this may be true. However, you don't have to handle everything alone! It is important that single moms build a good support system. While of course, you are the primary caregiver to your child, and you are the main supporter of your family, you should have others around you who can help out at times. This may include friends, co-workers, and family members.

There are actually several different areas that single moms can look for assistance, and some of these can be found online. Look for support groups in your community. If you aren't sure where to begin, you can ask your doctor's office or pediatrician for the names of area groups that are made up of single moms. You can also contact the local YMCA and your city's Chamber of Commerce. Don't forget to check the yellow pages of your local phone book, too. For online resources, check out the following:

How To Learn About Motherhood

Theresa157 — Tue, 09 May 2006 05:32:00 -0700

Having a baby does not mean that women automatically know about motherhood. Most women worry about how to be a good mother and whether the mistakes they make will damage their children later in life. Many women wonder where they can learn about motherhood and what resources are available.

Start with your own mother. Think about the things she did that you liked and the things you didn't like. If the two of you have a good relationship, talk to her about motherhood. Ask her what she would do over again, and what she would do differently. Ask about the things she's proud of. Finally, let things go that you're still angry or upset about. Get professional help or counseling if you have to.

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How To Create Chore Charts for Your Kids

Ann110 — Fri, 21 Apr 2006 19:29:00 -0700

Chore charts are a great way to remind your children of the tasks that you expect them to do. They give kids a visual reminder of their responsibilities, are a lot more fun than nagging your children, and allow you to track their accomplishments, too! So, how do you create a chore chart?

First, decide what chores you are going to assign to each of your kids. The tasks should be appropriate for each child's age and skill level. For example, a 3-year-old can make his bed, pick up his toys and put laundry in a hamper. 4- and 5-year-olds can set the table with non-breakable items like silverware and napkins, help put away clean laundry and do dry dusting. By the time kids are in school, they can do more elaborate tasks like sweeping, taking care of family pets, watering plants, and emptying trash cans.

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How To Choose Age Appropriate Chores

Elizabeth69 — Fri, 21 Apr 2006 09:39:00 -0700

We all want to raise our children to be capable, responsible adults. In order to teach children the value of making a contribution, we should start when they are young by assigning them a few household chores. It can sometimes be challenging to decide what chores are appropriate for your child. Here are a few guidelines:

Consider your child's maturity and individual abilities in addition to his age when choosing appropriate chores.
Start small and increase your child's responsibilities at home as he grows and matures.
Even very young children can help. Toddlers should be encouraged to help clean up their toys after playtime and learn that there is a proper place for their things.

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How To Encourage a Healthy Mother Daughter Relationship

Laura98 — Thu, 20 Apr 2006 09:48:00 -0700

A mother-daughter relationship is one of the most important ties each will have in her lifetime. As little girls, we see our mothers as queens. We often try to imitate them by wearing their clothes, playing with their make-up and imitating their every move. As we reach teen years, we face puberty challenges and often want nothing to do with our mothers, then in our 20's we tend to revert back to admiration, understanding and friendship. The job is tough on the mother's end, trying to see life through the eyes of her daughter in the different stages and trying to remain understanding.

Encouraging a healthy mother daughter relationship isn't an easy task. It takes work on both ends. Here are some thoughts on how to keep that relationship healthy as you go through different life stages.

How To Develop Parenting Skills

Laura98 — Fri, 14 Apr 2006 11:27:00 -0700

Parenting styles differ between individuals and families. Each style is unique and typically encompasses much of who the parents are themselves. Children are very impressionable, giving you this prime opportunity to teach them and do what is best for them. Here are some basic tips to consider while tuning your parenting skills.

How To Manage Sibling Rivalry

Michele230 — Wed, 12 Apr 2006 11:54:00 -0700

"You love him more than me!" "Kelly always gets to have her way!" Those are the cries of a common and age-old household ailment called "sibling rivalry." Of course we want our kids to feel we love them equally, and we desperately try to make things "fair." But treating kids equally is plain unrealistic: after all, they come packaged with different temperaments, interests, and needs. So don't drive yourself too crazy trying to make things always fair. Besides, real life isn't fair. The real trick to managing sibling rivalry is to reduce those situations that can cause long-lasting resentment and break down their relationships with one another. Here are a few secrets to help you minimize sibling rivalry in your home.

How To Discipline Children with Challenging Behavior

Thu, 06 Apr 2006 15:23:00 -0700

One of the most difficult jobs you may face as a parent is disciplining your children, especially when they exhibit particularly challenging behavior. And when your children are at their worst, your temper is usually at its shortest. But the good news is that when you have effective discipline strategies in place, you can turn negative behaviors into positive, learning situations. Here are some things you can try to help your children become well behaved:

Decide on a discipline method you and your spouse will use and come up with some ground rules. Make sure you share this information with your whole family so everyone knows the consequences of breaking the rules.
Be consistent in responding to misbehavior so your children will know what to expect each and every time. When you have a discipline plan in place in advance, it will also help you to keep your temper and handle things calmly and coolly.

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