When your kids plug into the internet or the cellular networks, they instantly become full-fledged members of a worldwide community. They have instant access to every other person who is also wandering around in that world. And, of course, someone coined a cute name for it: Netizens. (Well, I refuse to refer to them by that stupid name.) But it …
Sexting Part 7: What To DO If Your Kid has Sexted (part 2)
This article is the seventh and final column in the series on how parents can address the issue of sexting with their teenage children. It is the continuation of suggestions begun in Part 6 on what to do if you discover your kid has sexted. Inform the parents of the co-sextee. While you are not responsible for determining what is …
Sexting Part 6: What to DO if your kid has sexted (part 1)
This article is the sixth in a series on how parents can address the issue of sexting with their teenage children (because, apparently, there is never enough to say about this topic). The first part of this series emphasized the importance of educating yourself as a parent and talking to your kids about sexting as well as internet and social …
When Your Teen Tells You They Are Ready To Have Sex
Kids begin to be sexually active in significant numbers beginning at 15 (Guttmacher Institute). The average age American adolescents lose their virginity is 17. By 18, 61% of kids have had sex. Where are kids getting information about when, where and how to have sex? Unfortunately, it is from the internet, advertisements, performers, celebutants, pornography and the music they listen …
Sexting Part 5-What to Say If Your Kid Has Been Sexting (continued)
Talk about the risks. Here’s the list. Sending pictures of yourself when you are younger than 18 is distributing pornography. Having a picture of yourself stored on a phone, computer, etc. (or recoverable from the secret, undeleted areas of things you have deleted on your device) is possession of child pornography. Having pictures of your sext buddy who is under …
Sexting Part 4-What To Say If Your Kid Has Been Sexting
This article is the fourth in a series on how parents can address the issue of sexting with their teenage children. The first part of this series emphasized the importance of educating yourself as a parent and talking to your kids about sexting as well as internet and social media issues. Part 2 reviewed some of the ground rules to …
Sexting Part 3-Warning Signs
This article is the third in a series on how parents can address the issue of sexting with their teenage children. The first part of this series emphasized the importance of educating yourself as a parent and talking to your kids about sexting as well as internet and social media issues. Part 2 reviewed some of the ground rules to …
Sexting Part 2-Setting the Ground Rules
This article is the second in a series on how parents can address the issue of sexting with their teenage children. The first part of this series emphasized the importance of educating yourself as a parent and talking to your kids about sexting as well as internet and social media issues. Set the ground rules. Once you have talked to …
Raising Independent Kids
One goal of parenting is to raise independent and self-sufficient kids. When parents talk about having independent kids it really means having their kids be able to support themselves, make good decisions and deal with challenges. You can’t be independent if you have to rely on others for money, get yourself arrested (or thrown out of your apartment) or are …
Back to School: What’s different for boys about school?
Another school year is getting underway and parents are thinking ahead about how to make this year a success for their kids. Parents of boys should be particularly attentive. Boys are not doing so well academically these days compared to girls. School age boys represent 71% of suspensions and drop out of school at 4 times the rate of girls. …