Aug 29 2008
Back-to-school Means Homework for Parents Too
Back-to-school Means Homework for Parents Too
As teens head back to the classroom this fall, they’ll be assigned a lot of homework in the three “Rs”: reading, writing, and arithmetic. Important to students’ success will be the homework parents do in teaching two other “Rs”: role modeling and responsibility.
“A parent’s words and actions provide powerful role modeling,” explains Lonnie Carton, PhD, director of teen and family resources for the Web-based “Warm2Kids” program and an advisory panel member of the “Family Talk About Drinking” program. “They teach teens what kind of behavior is expected of them and how to make good decisions. Responsible decisions include obeying the law and not getting involved in underage drinking.”
Although some parents think peer pressure is the major cause of underage drinking, the fact is parents, not peers, have the greatest influence on their teens’ choices related to this issue. According to the 2008 GfK Roper Youth Report(TM) , 71 percent of teenagers 13 to 17 say their parents are the No. 1 influence on their decisions about whether to drink.
“Parents who communicate with their sons and daughters regularly, openly and honestly on a variety of issues find it much easier to talk with and listen to them on sensitive subjects like alcohol,” Carton advises. “At the start of this new school year, I encourage mothers and fathers to take the time to sit down with their children. Discuss expectations, and emphasize the importance of making wise choices not only about underage drinking but about all other decisions.”
Carton offers these guidelines to parents for remaining a positive influence in the lives of teens:
Be Factual. Give teens the facts about underage drinking in a calm, clear manner. Simply say something like, “It’s against the law for anyone under 21 to use alcohol; our family obeys the law and we expect you to do the same.”
Know Your Child’s Friends and Their Parents. Being aware of other families’ values and rules will help you better understand what pressure your child’s friends may be putting on him or her.
Get Help if You Need It. Be aware of any changes in your teen’s behavior or attitude such as suddenly doing poorly in school, hanging out with a different group of friends whom you don’t know, or becoming disinterested in sports, music or other activities which once meant a lot, etc. If such changes occur, seek professional advice right away.
For more tips and information on responsible role-modeling, visit www.myspace.com/positiveparenting. For “Family Talk About Drinking” materials, visit www.familytalkonline.com or call (800) 359-TALK (1-800-359-8255). The materials are provided free-of-charge as a community service of Anheuser-Busch.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
As busy as the school year is, it’s still no time to let kids forget the importance of making a difference. There are plenty of simple ways to involve kids in the community when they’re not in class.
“School months are all about learning, socializing, sports and after-school activities,” says Liz Scott of Wynnewood, Pa. “But [...]
Enhancing the image of the United States abroad goes a long way toward improving and strengthening our relationships with other countries. People like Laurie and Martin Scott of Nevada are doing their part to create and promote a positive impression of America around the world.
The couple has joined forces with the nonprofit EF Foundation for [...]
As teens head back to the classroom this fall, they’ll be assigned a lot of homework in the three “Rs”: reading, writing, and arithmetic. Important to students’ success will be the homework parents do in teaching two other “Rs”: role modeling and responsibility.
“A parent’s words and actions provide powerful role modeling,” explains Lonnie Carton, PhD, [...]
Hannah Keeley
(ARA) - That last school bell has rung and the kids are back home, enjoying all the pleasures that summer vacation offers. But there’s got to be more to life than sleeping until noon and sipping lemonade by the pool. Here are some more ideas to make sure your kids stay happy and healthy [...]
(NC)—Spring and summer mean more than flowers, rain showers, vacation and relaxation. The warm weather also brings a little known fact and an unwelcome reality: more child-pedestrian injuries and deaths than any other time of year. Walking is a child’s first means of independent transportation and often the most accessible, yet child-pedestrian incidents are a [...]