Talking with teens has always been tricky for parents. But the age of social media has changed the dynamic of communication––they may talk more with their thumbs, and less with their mouths. But that doesn’t mean they’re not interested in connecting with you. In this article, I’ll share eight tips to help you keep the conversation with your teen alive and thriving.   Tip #1––Talk For Your Teen’s Sake, Not For Yours Are you conversations with your teen centered around simply getting and giving information? Too many times we approach our conversations like a fact-seeking assignment. Instead ..read more

Student Story: Kirsten In recent years, drugs have lost much of their stigma and become much easier to obtain. So, how do we keep our teens from getting sucked into a vicious cycle of drug use? This weekend on Parenting Today’s Teens, Mark Gregston Saturday/Sunday on Parenting Today’s Teens, Mark Gregston shares five reasons why teens may turn to drugs, and the action steps parents can take to help. https://heartlightftp.com//radio/Web/PTT/ptt20240420.mp3 The post Why Your Teen Might Turn to Drugs appeared first on Parenting Today's Teens ..read more

It’s been said there are only three things a teen cares about: “me, myself, and I!” While teens naturally see the world from a self-centered perspective, parents can help redirect this tendency. In this article, I’ll offer five practical ways you can help your teen become more considerate and others-focused.   1. Acknowledge the Problem Kids are born selfish. As parents we rearrange our lives to please them. We want them to be happy and have everything. So why would your teen want this arrangement to change? If your teen feels entitled to get what he wants, when he wants it, then you need ..read more

Student Story: Knox In a culture that is often disrespectful, how do we coach our children to respect others? How can we foster respect at home among family members and help our teens show respect toward peers and authority? This weekend on Parenting Today’s Teens, Mark Gregston offers some helpful ideas to restore respect at home. https://heartlightftp.com//radio/Web/PTT/ptt20240413.mp3 The post Fostering Respect at Home appeared first on Parenting Today's Teens ..read more

You’ve given your adopted child every advantage in life and showered him with love and affection. But now that the teen years have arrived, your teen has become sullen and distant. What happened? In this article, I’ll talk about the unique struggles adopted teens face and share how parents can help overcome them.   The Timing of Struggles for Adopted Kids When kids reach adolescence, they move from concrete thinking to abstract thinking. They begin to question ideas and information they readily accepted just a few months ago. Often, this time is when adopted teens start to struggle. They ..read more

Student Story: Elliot Parents these days are on the go all day. But if you’re not making time to talk to your teen one-on-one, you may cause strain or even lose your relationship with your teen as he becomes an adult. This weekend on Parenting Today’s Teens, Mark Gregston encourages parents to schedule regular “dates” with their teens in order to build a great relationship. And he’ll show you how! https://heartlightftp.com//radio/Web/PTT/ptt20240330.mp3 The post Make the Most of One-on-One Time with Your Teen appeared first on Parenting Today's Teens ..read more

Do you wish your teen would spend more time with the family and less time on his phone? Are you wondering if your son or daughter has crossed the line from normal use to addictive abuse? In this article, I’ll answer common questions about teens and phones, and help parents set healthy boundaries.   Why Do Teens Spend So Much Time on Phones? Parents and grandparents universally agree that most teens spend too much time on phones. So what are they really doing online? Well, it’s a lot more than a phone. It’s how teens keep up with their friends, stay connected, and entertain themselves. The ..read more

Student Story: Josh Is your teen avoiding home? Does he try to wriggle out of family time? If your teen is missing in action, you might be the reason he’s staying away. This weekend on Parenting Today’s Teens, Mark Gregston identifies three common mistakes in parenting that push teens away. And you may be doing one or all of them without even knowing it. https://heartlightftp.com//radio/Web/PTT/ptt20240323.mp3 The post 3 Types of Parenting That’ll Push Teens Away appeared first on Parenting Today's Teens ..read more

Lots of teens who might be labeled as “rebellious” by the world are really lost and struggling with anger, abuse, pain, or loneliness. In this article, I’ll help parents understand why teens get lost and how to guide your teen back to a healthy life path.   What It Looks Like When a Teen is Lost When teen doesn’t know how to navigate the world he’s living in, he may turn to a wide range of inappropriate behaviors in order to figure things out. He might be defiant, disrespectful, disobedient, or depressed. A lost teen might lash out. A lost teen might try anything and everything to find ou ..read more

Student Story: Koral It seems like overnight your happy-go-lucky child is transformed into a moody, brooding teenager. So is it “normal” for teens to be angry all the time and shut themselves up in their rooms all by themselves? This weekend on Parenting Today’s Teens, Mark Gregston helps parents look past the locked door to uncover the real reason for their strange behavior and help teens find their smiles again. https://heartlightftp.com//radio/Web/PTT/ptt20240316.mp3 The post My Kid Doesn’t Smile Anymore appeared first on Parenting Today's Teens ..read more