ONLINE PARENTING COACH

Dropping out of school has become a serious problem for many teenagers today. Your son or daughter may think of dropping out for various reasons. If your teenager drops out, he/she is likely to be under-employed -- or unemployed -- in the future. Here are some helpful pointers to prevent your adolescent from dropping out before it is too late: 1. Concentrate on your teen's goals instead of focusing on why he/she is unsuccessful in school. Have your teen (a) identify goals, (b) develop a list of school, home, and personal barriers to reaching those goals, and (c) devise strategies to overcome the barriers. 2. Consider alternative school settings. Options include magnet schools, alternative schools, charter schools, work-based learning programs, career academies, and general educational development (GED) programs. Include your adolescent in all discussions with school personnel. 3. Encourage your adolescent to seek out extracurricular activities or employment to ...

A good portion of your daughter’s behavior during adolescence is part of a normal developmental process called “separation and individuation.”  A teenager’s need to identify with her peer group starts to take precedence over her sense of identification with parents and family. This usually concludes with complete separation and independence by age 18 or 20. You can make your daughter’s transition to adulthood smoother and more navigable if you keep the following suggestions in mind: 1. Though easier said than done, parents need to reassess their own motives. For example: Are you afraid of letting go and seeing her make mistakes on her own? Do you have a hidden emotional need that you’re expecting her to fulfill? Is it possible that you have selfish motives for wanting your daughter to stay close to you? If so, you need to realize that these are your problems, not hers. ==> My Out-of-Control Teen: Help for Parents 2. Find a way to embrace and affirm the shi...