Teen Angst

Throughout my career I have been asked my thoughts on “social hosting.” Specifically, I’ve been asked, “If my teen has friends over and I collect the keys, isn’t it safer to let them drink in my home than to risk being out there on the road?” You know teens are going to drink anyway, “So why not teach them responsibility?” Read More

It was approximately 7:30am on February 27, and like every other morning, students hung out in the cafeteria waiting to go to class. Little did the students know that what seemed like a typical morning would quickly turn deadly. Read More

While most educators behave appropriately online, there are a few who don't. And as the saying goes, one bad apple spoils the whole bunch. Read More

Any parent of a teen knows that the adolescent years can be bumpy, to say the least. They are filled with mood swings, hormone changes and oftentimes a lot of arguing. But don't be discouraged, it's not all bad. The good thing about arguing is that it provides teachable moments. And that's what the teen years are all about. Read More

Twas the night before school and all through the house not a creature was stirring except for Jamie who'd just got a text from her BFF Liz on her cell. She reached under the pillow to see what was the matter and texted right back something with a whole lot of characters. Without even knowing what she was doing, she nodded back off until the next morning. Read More

Anonymity is the concealing of one's identity online. It can be done in the form of aliases or pseudonyms (creating a false name online). It's a dangerous form of cyberbullying because the perpetrator feels powerful and free to say and do whatever they want. Read More

Have our teens become more sedentary than in the past? According to childhood obesity research, one would assume so. Where have we failed our kids? In looking at obesity statistics, our teens are unhealthier today than ever before. Read More

Each day they congregate in the hall before school, they sit in the cafeteria at lunch, and they chill out in the parking lot before going home.  Who are they?  They are your teen and their friends, and they like to hang out.  Read More

The top do's and don'ts when it comes to creating a good online reputation. Read More

Ever stop to look and see what your teen is drinking? Sure, it may look like a juice box, but it could be an individual serving of wine. How about that energy drink that's really an alcopop? The alcohol industry has done a magnificent job of making their drinks highly appealing to their consumers. Unfortunately, they've caught the attention of teens as well. Read More

Hearts pounding, excitement at its fullest, fear gripping, tears streaming, euphoria sweeping... Where can you find such a mixed bag of emotions? Well, at a high school graduation of course! As high schools across the nation hold commencement ceremonies, many things are flying through the minds of graduates and their guests. Read More

Ever wonder what kids are saying when they're online, texting, or using some sort of e-communication with their friends?  If you feel clueless, join the club.  Teens are notorious for creating a coded unique language and electronic slang (aka chat lingo) is no different.  Chat lingo is a language that teens use to communicate with via electronic devices.   As soon Read More

Are high school relationships a thing of the past?  According to the research it would seem so.  Today's teens now prefer "hooking up", "no strings attached" and even "friends with benefits" relationships to a "Steady Relationship."  In fact, the modern day Cinderella story may go something like this:  Read More

Are Teens TXTNG 2 Much? Read More