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Bad teens ‘not fault of parents’

Bad behaviour among teenagers is not the fault of parenting getting worse, say researchers.

Finally some sense coming from the UK. A recent study has found – shock horror! Bad teens may not be down to bad parenting.

The study found:

70% of young people were regularly spending time with their mothers in 2009 compared to 62% in 1986 – and the time spent with fathers had risen from 47% to 52%.

Parents are also  more likely to have a tighter control on their children’s movements.

In 1986, 79% of  parents expected to know where their children were going, which had risen to  85% in 2009.

There was also an increase in parents wanting to know what their teenage children were doing – up from 47% to 66%.

However, researchers found that young people were increasingly reliant on their parents, living with them  for longer, which can make parenting more stressful.

There had been a  particular increase in depression among parents in one-parent and low-income  families – with a 50% increase in parents of the poorest families with  depression between 1986 and 2009.

“It seems  that many aspects of parenting may have improved, but parents can’t do it all on their own”, said Professor Gardner. “We now  have to consider whether external influences, such as peer pressure or wider cultural influences are playing a part, given the rising number of young people  with problem behaviour in the UK today,” he added.

However I have a word of caution here. Firstly, are the sort of families that spend quality time
with their kids the sort of families where bad behaved teens come from? Secondly, is it that we are spending more time or is it that we are hovering and not giving our children freedom to be kids?

What do you think?

Read Bad teens ‘not fault of parents’

Tips for dealing with bad behaviour in teenagers

How to get through the Teen Years.

The teenage years have become linked intrinsically to bad behaviour and appalling attitude, and the stereotypical images we see on TV do not help. But are they really that bad?

Well, the answer is yes, they can be and no, not if you don’t allow it.

1. Enough is enough !

First you have to make the decision that is enough is enough, and what you will and will not accept in the house. Many parents fear being strong as they think their teen will shout and be difficult; they just don’t want the conflict. If you want the behaviour and attitude to stop, then you have to step up and be prepared to do what you must. Make a list now of the things that you want to stop.

Read more

Not letting your children get away with it!

How do you keep the upper hand as a Parent?

What do you do as parents to make sure that your child doesn’t get one over on you?

Recently, I have been reading a great book called Brilliance Unbridled, by the wonderful Kendal Summer Hawk and there was a statement in there that got me thinking. “If you let a horse get away with something three times, you have just trained them to do it.”

This really resonated with me and I began to wonder, is it the same for children and, more especially, teenagers?

Read more