Spending time outdoors in the warmer months requires some forethought, but spending an entire evening or more can require valuable life skills that won’t be taught on their own. If you want to ensure your kids will learn practical knowledge about basic survival, camping overnight is a great way to teach them lessons that will carry on throughout their lives, be it in the outdoors or in their careers. Learning to prepare, and strategize. Where you are going to camp,...
Teenagers are never short of drama, but learning to discern between a little normal angst and a real cause for concern can a be a lifesaver for your child, and your family. Paying attention to the warning signs, and more importantly - intervening as early as possible - might be the only way you can take control of your child when he or she thinks their lives are spiraling in the opposite direction. Look for these basic signs to see...
The summers spent during high school and college are often one’s spent interning in various workplaces or taking extra academic classes to get ahead in their studies. Many teens fail to consider one of the most fun and exciting opportunities to spend their summers growing into the adults they plan to be. A Christian summer camp provides the ideal setting to serve, lead, grow and learn. There are so many benefits to working in a teen Christian program for the...
Being a part of our nation’s military is a great way to develop inner character, physical fitness, mental fortitude and sacrificial service. For many teens, there is no better way to develop these characteristics than to enroll in a military boarding school for high school. This an option often left unexplored because many people wrongly believe signing up for a military boarding school program means automatically enrolling in a career in the military. This is not true. You can reap...
The place has been chosen, and all the forms are signed. Your teen has been pestering you to go for ages, and you’ve finally decided a fun adventure away from home in a teen summer camp is just what your kid needs. What’s the next step for your excited camper? It’s time to pack! Here’s a list to make the first trip to summer camp a success. Trust the “suggested packing list.” This list contains information from people who’ve worked...
Parenting a teenager can be a challenge, a constant power struggle over control and conformity. It’s often way easier to think of ways to punish your teenager than it is to think of ways to enjoy them. However, there is no replacement for the important parent/child bond and having these moments of love and connection are absolutely vital to your relationship. The list below details simple ways to show love to your often unlovable teenager that you love them. Write...
Adolescence is a complicated time in a parent/child relationship. Parents often go to sleep with a teenager who is happy and content and wake up to the same teenager being a cranky, angry monster. The happy-go-lucky child you spent years raising has transformed into a moody, mercurial teenager. It’s completely ordinary to wonder if you’ll survive this time with your sanity intact. Here are some new and easy tips to deal with the emotional highs and lows of your teen....
Self-harm, often referred to as cutting, is a complex series of behaviors and actions where people purposely harm themselves for emotional release. These behaviors can include cutting, burning, pinching, self-medicating, head-banging and hair pulling. It is estimated up to 2 million people in the U.S., including 8% of the teenage population, have consciously harmed their body in some way. Here is some helpful information to understand what self-injury is, what it is not, and what can be done to help....
Communication is important when raising teenagers. There is so much change that happens during these years which is why it is especially important to utilize conversation. Learning exactly what to say and what role to take as you move through your day together will provide a strong base of communication for you to build upon in your relationship. Car - This is where you spend a lot of time with your teen. Whether it’s ferrying them back and forth to...
Teenagers have strong opinions, strong emotions and strong desires they want to apply. This often comes in the form of explosive arguments which brings sadness, anger and hurt to both sides of the fight. Instead of resigning yourself to living with an emotional teenage time bomb, equip yourself with these useful tricks to handles these teenage struggles. Use nonverbal cues wisely. Give your teen all of your attention. Put down the cell phone. Turn off the television. Pull off the...
