The Blog of P.U.R.E. and Sue Scheff

Teen depression , sadly, is common today. Feeling good has a lot to do with the choices your teen makes regarding their health. The life of a teen is filled with choices, and most teens do not base decisions on their health, future, or long-term risks. Keeping up teens' health ultimately falls on the parents' shoulders, even though most teens are already making many of their own choices. If you struggle finding a balance when it comes to your teen's health or want to be sure that you're doing as much as you can with the time you do have, here are a few simple ways to make a big impact on the health of your teen: 1. Require consistent exercise. There is no need to be a drill sergeant or make exercise feel like a chore, but there is something to be said for requiring exercise from your children. Whether they take up a sport, enroll in a dance program, or just join the gym with you, teens need to start now with a consistent exercise program for op...

Where do you live? Many of us live in places we truly love and most of live where we can financially afford. Sometimes these are good areas, sometimes they are not, but as long as you have your family and make it your priority, the real estate location is not a priority. A misconception is that more troubled teens come from " bad" neighborhoods , maybe that is true, however that doesn't eliminate the fact there are also troubled teens in very good neighborhoods and A rated schools. Most important is that you don't become a product of your environment as much as you insure your family is kept together with good morals. Being an educated parent can help you and your kids have a better life wherever you live. Teach respect, empower your children with dignity and integrity no matter what neighborhood they come from. Teach them responsibility and accountability for their own actions. Encourage your teens to volunteer , get a job, start a group to help others o...

Find out more about this fantastic summit to help educate, inform and motivate tween girls in a positive direction! At the Summit, girls will talk about their passions, challenges, values, goals, heroes, dreams, fears, tween girl power, community activism and what they are going to do to change their world. We want the President and the First Lady to know that girls have heard their call for community activism and they’re ready to change the world! Source: Tween Summit 2009 (click here for more information) We've got an incredible day planned!We’re so thrilled you’re interested in the Tween Girl Summit. The Summit Agenda is shaping up to be an incredible day - we hope you’ll join us in Washington DC! On October 10, 2009 , hundreds of tween girls ages 9 to 14 from across the nation, as well as parents, experts, politicians and celebrities, will descend upon the historic Capital Hilton Hotel in Washington DC for the First Ever National Tween Girl Summit. The Summit will examine ...

I recently discovered this fantastic website I just listed on my Books and Websites Blog . Here is an article that I had to pass on to my readers. Source: Hand in Hand How Special Time Works with Teens by: Patti Wipfler Special Time is a simple idea that carries a lot of power. It's a highly dependable way to build and to rebuild a close connection with a child. Special Time is when the parent spends a well-defined amount of time one-on-one with his child, with no interruptions, promising to do whatever the child wants to do. During Special Time, the parent tries to remain pleased and fully attentive, and does not try to teach, advise or control his child unless safety is an issue. The power of Special Time is that it puts the parent in the "back seat" of the parent/child relationship. The child does the steering. Until you do Special Time, it's hard to detect habits of control and direction that you may have adopted in your interactions with your child. Special Time...

Dr. Michele Borba is getting ready to release her BIG BOOK of Parenting Solutions , and she is giving you a sneak peak of what you will find inside. Source: Reality Check Blog from Michele Borba By Michele Borba How to Raise a Moral Child I recently worked with PARENTS magazine to conduct an online survey of over 2400 moms. One question: “How do you hope your child turns out?” Next to health and happiness, most parents hoped their children would grow to be adults with solid character and strong morals. One thing is certain: parents who raise moral kids don’t do so by accident. We also know that home is the best school for teaching character. And the best time to teach the beliefs and habits that boost strong character are in everyday intentional moments. Here are ten tips to help you raise your child to have a strong moral intelligence from my new book, The Big Book of Parenting Solutions. 1. Commit to Raising A Moral Child How important is it for you to raise a moral child? It’s a cru...

Dr. Michele Borba , again has given us an educational and informational Blog - this time about our teens moods and how to survive them! Her new book coming out in September, The BIG Book of Parenting Solutions will offer you literally volumes of great parenting advice! By Michele Borba Last year your daughter was so sweet, suddenly she has an “attitude.” Two months ago your son was your best bud, now he treats you like you’re totally “uncool.” Welcome to the world of parenting a teenager. Throw out any of those child-rearing manuals you’ve used in the past. To survive this age group and come out sane you need a whole new parenting perspective. Mark Twain offered one of most ingenious solutions: “Put them in a barrel,” he said, then and nail it shut until they turn nineteen. Only then should you let them out.” Here are a few more realistic (and legal) tips from my book, The Big Book of Parenting Solutions: 101 Answers to Your Everyday Challenges and Wildest Worries that might help yo...

There couldn't be a better time to prepare our kids by teaching them about how to budget, save and be responsible with money. Source: Examiner Teach your kids the value of money with a joint savings account By: Lanae Paaverud It is important to teach children the value of money, starting at an early age. When your child gets money, do you let them spend it all? Do you have them put half aside? Saving and spending habits start to root as soon as your child has it in their hands. By the time they are teens you can tell which children were allowed to do what they want with their cash versus the ones who had reinforcement from home about saving and spending wisely. Sure we all goof up once in a while, but if your foundation is solid enough you won't tumble. When your child is able to understand the basics of saving and spending, open up a joint savings account for them. Many banks have special accounts where no minimum balance is needed, and having your name on the account insures ...

As a mother and grandmother, I am very fortunate my kids are not hooked online - maybe it is because the horrible ordeal I went through or maybe it is because they have other activities that doesn't give them extra time to surf online. Either way, I am silently grateful. I know the Internet can be an educational tool, but at the same time it can be a harmful, hurtful and potentially dangerous space - what is lurking online? Most everyone from every walk of life. Be an educated parent. Mothers Against Predators: Every time our children log on to the world wide web, they expose themselves to a world of strangers. Hidden among those strangers are predators who navigate the cyber world with ease. They exploit social networking sites to find our kids. They have even formed their own online networks, trading tips on how to reach our children. We must respond. Together we can reduce the odds that another child is hurt. Please join our fight against those who prey on our children. ...

Tangerine Times is a great website of articles and insights on parenting! It is definitely one of my favorites. What do teens want???? Can we as parents ever win? Since my kids are young adults now I can say, yes, eventually it does get easier. Patience..... Source: Tangerine Times For parents of teens, it’s an everyday experience to see the rapidly evolving use of technology by teenagers. The shifting can happen whether there is a new, hot product out our not. Many times it is simply teens finding a new application or use for an existing product or service. Marketing firms are scrambling to pin-down this potentially huge market but it’s like hitting a moving target. Well… now you know how it feels to PARENT a teenager!! Tina Wells, chief executive of Buzz Marketing Group, says: “Technology is starting to define what’s cool in a way that fashion used to define what’s cool.” For teens, “as long as it’s technology, it’s what’s hot”. Translation: the geek is not necessarily the un -coo...

By Joe Bruzzese Author of "A Parents' Guide to the Middle School Years" I personally read this book and found it to offer some great information for parents that have kids entering middle school for the first time - or even helpful tips if they are already there. Purchase today - click here . Joe Bruzzese also offer fantastic parenting tips on his website, here is his Lesson #178.... "Coaches, teachers, mentors and their impact during the middle school years" Coaches, teachers, mentors and their impact during the middle school years. According the US Census Bureau, kids age 10-14 spend the majority of their waking hours in the care of someone other than their parents. Consider carefully who these people are and the long term impact they will have on your child's development. Watch the Video here: http://thinking-forward.typepad.com/ Does your middle schooler have you completely confused, frustrated or confused and frustrated? I would love to hear fro...

This article definitely reminds me of when I was raising my teenagers and struggled with their sleeping patterns. I think many parents will gain some valuable information from Sue Blaney (Author and Parenting Expert) as summer is here and schedules become more flexible, read more about the importance of sleep and your teen. June 10th, 2009 by Sue Blaney If your teenager is one of the few who actually gets the required nine hours of sleep, you can stop reading this now. For the rest of you, new research has highlighted some facts you need to know about. Lack of enough sleep in teens has been linked to an increase in signs of depression and thoughts about suicide as reported in a research study on 15,000 teenagers conducted through Columbia University. The study looked specifically at the bedtime parents impose on their teens… those who allow teens to stay up until midnight on a school night, vs parents who impose a 9pm or 10pm bedtime. The later bedtime is linked to teens with 25% more ...

Source: KidsHealth.org Connecting with your Pre-Teen Staying connected as kids approach the teen years and become more independent may become a challenge for parents, but it's as important as ever — if not more so now. While activities at school, new interests, and a growing social life become more important to growing kids, parents are still the anchors, providing love, guidance, and support. And that connection provides a sense of security and helps build the resilience kids needs to roll with life's ups and downs. What to Expect Your preteen may act as if your guidance isn't welcome or needed, and even seem embarrassed by you at times. This is when kids start to confide more in peers and request their space and privacy — expect the bedroom door to be shut more often. As difficult as it may be to swallow these changes, try not to take them personally. They're all signs of growing independence. You're going to have to loosen the ties and allow some growing room. Bu...

What a cool website and Blog to help educate parents with the latest news and tips on parenting! Of course, the inviting colors and feeling of this site makes it easy reading and understanding. The following is a great article that I know many of us will be able to relate to. Enjoy! Parenting Teens Tip Six – What to do when your teen says, “It’s not fair!” By Sarah Newton Doesn’t this one just drive you mad! I can tell you what though, a “life isn’t fair” answer will certainly not tame these outbursts. What you have to do here is call their bluff. Generally their claims of, “It’s not fair” really means, “you are not giving me what I want! I am not getting what I want and I am angry and cross about it. I think you are not listening to me or understanding my point of view. That frustrates me and makes me think you are not being fair.” So now you know what they really mean, you can do something about it. The first option is to get it before it even raises its ugly head. Here is the commo...

7 Ways Parents Can Help Kids With Job Searches Source: Radical Parenting by Vanessa Van Petten Parents often walk a fine line between wanting to help their kids find a job and making their child feel nagged and overwhelmed. There are few things to keep in mind when helping your child with the job search: 1) Know they are feeling scared too I often hear parents complain that the reason they are helping their kids with the search is because they do not think their kid’s are taking any initiative. This may or may not be true, but if you are feeling nervous and scared about them finding a job, then they are probably feeling it even worse. Be sensitive to the fact that they might not be showing you how vulnerable they really feel. 2) Approach Carefully You can ask once or twice in a few day period if your child needs help. If they say no, back off, they might need their space, otherwise they might feel you are nagging them. This is also a rather sensitive subject and can be packed with al...

Vanessa Van Petten has been such an inspiration to so many people and many parents! As a young adult she has given us the inside scoop on our teens and the way they are wired today! Her first fantastic book, You’re Grounded , How to Stop Fighting and Make the Teenage Years Easier, was written when she was 17 years old - helping parents see life through a teens eyes. Vanessa Van Petten is one of the nation’s youngest experts on parenting and youth. Her new website - Radical Parenting is becoming very busy! Here is one of her most recent articles and I am confident many parents will enjoy reading it. WHAT DO KIDS DO WHEN PARENTS ARE OUT Last week I went over to a client’s house and was working with her on the time management lesson of my program. We were looking at her school planner and slotting in her homework and project schedule. I noticed that for Tuesday night she had highlighted, added stickers and highlighter smiley faces. “Is it your birthday?” I asked. “No, it’s the night of t...

What an interesting topic and in today economy many parents have to make cut-backs. However when it comes to our kids allowance, what are the limits? More important, what lessons can be learned? Our kids need to be aware that being responsible with money should be a priority. Source: Tangerine Times I AM NOT YOUR PIGGY BANK During the week-end wrestling tournament I sat with two other parents for the better part of 12 hours. It was an endurance test. I’m glad I went but it was a long time. You really get to know others when you spend that many hours talking. The talk turned to money. Specifically, how much allowance to pay a teen. One said they give their 17 year old son $150/month to be used for dates, extras and such. Frankly, given the financial position of this family, I was pleasantly surprised at their restraint. Additionally, their son is completely re-building a ‘66 Mustang for his car. Until it runs, he doesn ’t have a car. Good way to learn something don’t you think?? ...

Debra Beck is an author and mentor to parents, teens and families. Her Blog offers sound and real advice with today’s teens. As always, I enjoy sharing these informational articles, thoughts and ideas on parenting. Check out Debra’s book, My Feet Aren’t Ugly . By Debra Beck This is such a tough time for parents, even if you understand what is going on, it can be heartbreaking. Usually around 12-15 years old depending on the teen, he or she will start pulling away from parents, this is a normal, healthy stage in adolescent development. The teen will pull away from parents as he or she attempts to develop their own identity. It is a natural process for the preparation of leaving the nest. I remember my oldest daughter and I were very close, we spend a lot of time together, and we talked about everything. When she was 13 years old, she started spending more time in her bedroom on the phone, more time with friends and most all communication was off with me. I used to go open her bedroom do...

Source: Connect with Kids “Academics was hard, and trying to fit in was harder.” – Brendon, 14, talking about his experience in a new middle school When Brendon Yag entered middle school, his grades began to drop and so did his attitude. “Academics was hard and trying to fit in was harder,” says Brendon, 14. His mom says she met with the principal, and didn’t like what she heard. “He felt I needed to let my child fail,” says Meg Yag, “to understand the consequences of what he was or was not doing.” Meg lost confidence in the school’s approach, but experts warn when dissatisfaction with a school turns into outward disrespect voiced by the parent, the child may feel it’s okay to misbehave. “The child is in between, like a custody case between the school and parents, and will take an opportunity not to respect the rules of the school,” says psychologist Dr. June Kaufman. Brendon’s mom was careful to not criticize the school in front of her son. “The school is a fabulous school for the ri...

Oh, I love getting introduced to new websites, books and more that help parents today with their wonderful children that have reached teen-hood. Debra Beck is an author and mentor helping parents understand peer pressure , bullying , self body image and other issues that our kids face today. The following article, written by Debra Beck , is an example of the vital information she has to share with others. Are We Training Teenage Girls to be Great Deceivers? by Debra Beck I read all these articles about keeping a close eye on our teens, to make sure they aren’t making any bad decisions and they are safe. I listen to parents discussing the same issues. How close is too close and what are we teaching our teens, without even knowing it? We read her journal, get on to her My Space account, and listen in on her private telephone calls. Are we sending a message that we care or are we sending a message that we don’t trust our kids? There’s a fine line between trusting your teenage girls and s...

Source: TeensHealth What Is a Body Piercing and What Can You Expect? A body piercing is exactly that — a piercing or puncture made in your body by a needle. After that, a piece of jewelry is inserted into the puncture. The most popular pierced body parts seem to be the ears, the nostrils, and the belly button. If the person performing the piercing provides a safe, clean, and professional environment, this is what you should expect from getting a body part pierced: The area you've chosen to be pierced (except for the tongue) is cleaned with a germicidal soap (a soap that kills disease-causing bacteria and microorganisms). Your skin is then punctured with a very sharp, clean needle. The piece of jewelry, which has already been sterilized, is attached to the area. The person performing the piercing disposes of the needle in a special container so that there is no risk of the needle or blood touching someone else. The pierced area is cleaned. The person performing the piercing checks ...