Animal Therapy: Making a Difference in Teens

Animals help humans in more ways than we'll ever fully understand, but what we do know is that they can have an important role in a person's physical, social, educational and emotional well-being.


Animal-assisted therapy can be an effective alternative or addition to traditional therapy models, whether it's physical therapy, occupational therapy or cognitive behavior therapy. Even though animal-assisted therapy may not be able to fully heal a person or cure their disease, this life-changing interaction and companionship can improve a person's mobility, increase their self-esteem, foster learning and simply make life more enjoyable.

Here are 10 inspiring animal-assisted therapy programs:

1. Island Dolphin Care: Island Dolphin Care in Key Largo, Florida, is a truly inspiring and unique animal-assisted therapy program that uses dolphins to assist children with special needs, including physical and developmental disabilities, emotional challenges and illnesses. The unconditional support and gentle, fun-loving nature of dolphins eases children's nerves and helps increase their self-esteem. In addition to swimming with the dolphins, children will also learn a great deal about dolphins and improve their communication skills in the marine science and dolphin education program.
2. NARHA-Therapeutic Riding: NARHA (North American Riding for the Handicapped Association) is a national organization that specializes in therapeutic horseback riding for children and adults with special needs. NARHA's equine-assisted therapy programs have been shown to improve flexibility, balance and strength in people with physical disabilities, as well as increase their self-esteem and help them achieve goals they never thought were possible.
3. Breathing Space Thailand: Breathing Space Thailand, a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center in Thailand, has taken an innovative approach to helping people overcome their addiction and achieve sobriety with the help of elephants. This elephant-assisted therapy program is based on current equine and canine therapy models, but adds a different element of bonding through feeding, bathing and daily interactions within the elephant sanctuary. The gentle, fun nature and unconditional love of elephants helps clients overcome emotional issues, improve their mood and reduce anxiety as they recover.
4. Hearts in Harmony: Hearts in Harmony is a pet therapy organization located in East Texas that provides support and comfort to abused and at-risk children and adolescents using cuddly canines. This early therapeutic intervention program will help children cope with emotional issues and allow them to relax and receive unconditional love from the Hearts in Harmony dogs and volunteers, who are specialized to teach children about trust, respect, compassion and humane treatment of animals.
5. Therapet: Therapet is a non-profit animal-assisted therapy program that uses dogs, cats and miniature horses to help hospitalized patients with acute or chronic diseases feel better inside and out. Therapets serve a special purpose for patients during the rehabilitation and healing process. With the direction and supervision of therapists, these animals can help patients improve mobility, strength and balance, as well as increase self-esteem, reduce stress and anxiety and reach recovery goals.
6. Helping Hands: Helping Hands: Monkey Helpers for the Disabled is a touching program that places specially trained capuchin monkeys to assist patients suffering from severe spinal cord injuries, mobility impairments and other disabilities. These monkeys help people with daily activities that they might never be able to do otherwise. In addition to being excellent helpers around the house, capuchin monkeys also provide companionship, love and support for their owners and help them feel better inside and out.
7. Mountain Peaks Therapy Llamas: The Mountain Peaks Therapy Llamas provide a fun-filled alternative to traditional animal-assisted therapy. These easygoing and friendly llamas bring a great deal of happiness and joy to their admirers at hospitals, schools, rehab facilities, day care centers and nursing homes around Portland, OR and Vancouver, WA. Patients interact with the llamas in a number of different ways, helping individuals improve mobility, reduce stress, combat loneliness and calm their nerves.
8. HOPE Animal-Assisted Crisis Response: HOPE Animal-Assisted Crisis Response is a truly unique and inspirational program that uses dogs to provide support and compassion to people affected by disasters and traumatic events. HOPE canines and certified handlers report all of over the nation to bring joy and comfort to people during the recovery phase. Simply playing with and petting a dog during tough times can reduce stress, improve your mood and help you cope more easily.
9. Kitty Angels Foundation: Kitty Angels is a one-of-a-kind cat-assisted therapy program located in Massachusetts that assists the disabled, elderly and ill through fun-filled feline visits. Trained handlers visit hospitals, schools, rehabilitation centers and nursing homes and bring their cuddly cats along for people to pet and play with. Often, patients develop close, meaningful bonds with the kitties and they experience increased mobility, decreased blood pressure and are less lonely.
10. The Family Farm: The Family Farm, located in Twisp, Washington, provides farm-animal assisted therapy to children, adults and families who are in need of physical and emotional healing. From pigs, horses, goats and hens, The Family Farm gives clients the opportunity to work with one or all of the animals and assist with feeding, brushing, bathing and exercising. The animal-human interactions on the farm help people increase their strength, improve communication skills and motivate them to achieve goals.

If you are at your wit's end with an at-risk teen or a teen that is struggling and making bad decisions, there are excellent programs that can help through animal-assisted therapy.  Founded in Broward County, Parents' Universal Resource Experts has helped, and continues to help, thousands of families dealing with troubled teens.

Parenting Teens: Monitoring their Social Networking Sites - Find the Balance

Snooping vs monitoring: Find the balance

This has been a debate for years and the answer comes back to when safety trumps privacy...
Especially now as technology is in the hands of every teens and many tweens, parents need to be in tune with how are teens are dealing with peer pressure, friendships and most of all, school life.


Teenagers earn their trust with their parents.  Respecting each others privacy should always be priority, however if you fear your teenager is heading down a dark path, and is not willing to talk to you or a third party (therapist, guidance counselor, relative or adult friend), you may have to cross the line of trust.

What are some of the warning signs that may prompt you to cross this line?

• Is your teen becoming very secretive?  Sure, teens do like their privacy, however if you have a "gut feeling" something is deeper than a secret, you may have to cross that line.
• Is your teen becoming withdrawn? Again, teens will develop some attitudes of not wanting to be with adults, however when it becomes extreme, it may be time to cross that line.
• Is your teen changing peer groups?  And this is not into a better one, however to one that is less than desirable?  You will again attempt to talk to your teen and find out why and what happened to the other friends.
• Is your teens eating habits changing? 
• Is your teen sleeping a lot? Bloodshot eyes? Do you suspect drug use?
• Is your teen sneaking out?  Becoming extremely defiant? Not respecting your boundaries?
• Overall, is your teen slowly becoming a child you don't recognize?

Are you snooping or are you legitimately monitoring your teens?

Should you read your teen's diary? Scroll through their text messages or even befriend them on their social networking sites?   That is a personal question only you can answer.

Remember writing can be very healthy for teens (and adults for that matter), so if your teen isn't giving you any valid reasons to "invade their privacy" - respect it.

Be an educated parent, you will have safer teens.

Continue reading on Examiner.com: Snooping vs monitoring: Do you read your teens texts? - Fort Lauderdale Parenting Teens | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/parenting-teens-in-fort-lauderdale/snooping-vs-monitoring-do-you-read-your-teens-texts#ixzz1Ei2baSHs

Teen Part-Time Jobs: Are they beneficial to your teen?

A new study published in the journal Child Development examined the impact of getting a job among middle class teens in 10th and 11th grades. Researchers found that working more than 20 hours a week was associated with a decline in school engagement. Millions of teens juggle work and school, and many describe the stress it can cause them.

Casey P. an 11th grader of Nease High School in Ponte Vedra Beach said that she finds it very difficult to balance her school work as well as her community service hours and a weekend job at a local store.  "I know that colleges look for a variety of extra-curricular on the applications.  That is why I continue with community service hours and working.  I definitely need the extra money and feel productive at my job, but there is a part of me that wishes I didn't have to work as much."

Educators call it the fatigue factor.

“It’s a fatigue factor. The student ends up being too sleepy or too tired the next day. They’ll fall asleep in class or just simply not pay attention,” says Joe Phillips, a high school principal according to a Connect with Kids report. (Watch the video.)

As the report continues, researchers found teens working for more than 20 hours a week showed increases in behavior problems, including using drugs or alcohol. Dr. Richard Winer, a psychiatrist, says that some kids end up experimenting in ways that their income earned is not going toward beneficial outcomes.

Experts say parents need to keep a close eye on where the money is going, and how the job is affecting your children.

On the flip side there are teens like Ryan, a senior at St. Augustine High School, that feels that finding the right balance has helped him complete all he needed to get into the college of his first choice and also have the benefits of extra income from a local restaurant he works at.

As summer is approaching, many teens will be looking for a job.  This is not the same as during the school year when the pressure of studies is on them.  Having a job is about teaching our teens responsibility and accountability early - since their future will highly depend on it.

Be an educated parent, you will have successful teens!

Read more.

Teens Surviving Divorce

Communication is key. Talk, don't argue.

Talking Your Teen through Your Divorce
Divorce can be a heart-wrenching process for the whole family, and no matter how tough your teenager appears to be through the whole ordeal, he or she isn’t immune to the pain it brings. Even if your teen agrees it’s a good thing for you and your spouse to divorce, they have to endure the massive change that comes with having only one parent in the home, the possibility of moving, custody disputes and perhaps having to hear hateful things about you from the other parent.

Communicate Early and Often
Divorce can be all-consuming for the parents involved, which is why you must purpose to communicate regularly with your teen on the matters that affect him or her. Divorce isn’t something you want to spring on your teen. When you and your spouse come to the conclusion that you are really and truly filing for divorce, pull your teen aside and explain the situation as early as possible so they have time to prepare themselves emotionally for the changes that are about to occur in your family. If you can stand it, it’s best to do this together, but many parents choose to talk to their teen individually.

While talking about the divorce with your teen is important, it’s certainly not important to go into all the gory details. Your teen will likely have a lot of questions as to why the divorce is happening, but if you can’t explain the situation in a way that is fair to the other parent, be succinct and tell them that when it doesn’t hurt so much you’ll explain things better. Sometimes all you’re able to say is “We just don’t love each other anymore” or “We were fighting too much. It wasn’t healthy.” Whatever you do, don’t use these conversations as opportunities to attack or pass blame on the other parent. Doing so is extremely destructive.

Apologize for How It Will Affect Them
If you believe you’re making a good decision by going through with the divorce, there’s no need to apologize to your teen for the divorce itself. You can, however, apologize for the affect the events leading up to the divorce have had on them, and for how the divorce will affect them in the future. For example, you could say, “For the past few years, you’ve heard nothing but your parents fighting day in and day out. No teenager should have to be raised in that situation. I’m sorry you had to live in a house like that.”

Tell them you love them and It’s Not Their Fault
Divorce or no, you can never tell your teen “I love you” too often. Make it clear to them that they mean the world to you and that they had nothing to do with why you and your spouse are separating. Aside from verbally expressing your love, show it by your actions by purposing to not get so engrossed in the divorce that you miss attending important games and events in your teen’s life.

Let Them Vent
Finally, your teen may need to work through a lot of anger and sadness over the divorce. Listen to them when they express their concerns and allow them to work through it. Your teen may blame you for not doing more to keep the marriage together or shut out the whole situation by avoiding home to hang out with friends. It’s at this point that you need to reach out to your teen the most so they don’t turn to alcohol, drugs and sex for comfort in their pain.

By-line:
Kitty Holman, regularly writes on the topics of nursing colleges.  She welcomes your comments at her email Id: kitty.holman20@gmail.com.

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Getting Your Teen Motivated: Helping Those Underachievers

“My teenager is brilliant!  Highly intelligent, has the potential to make all A’s but is barely bringing home C’s!  Help!”
 
This is a common complaint we hear about from many of today’s parents.  Teens do not recognize the importance of education and what it means to their future.  As a matter of fact, we are seeing more adults going back for a higher education than ever before.  Why?  It is simple- education is the key to your financial future.  Now we need to get our teenagers to understand this.

It is up to parents to set boundaries and set the example.  We are not saying that teens are not allowed to have a social life, of course they are.  We need them to find the balance.

Here are some great tips from Parents and Kids:

1. Start early on as possible as you can, set up reasonable goals, begin with small tasks and give them time to improve. For example, have the child state the goal, the grade on their upcoming report card for their classes, math, English, science, history, etc.
2. Tell your child that you love him/her and wish to help him/her to have a bright future, then start the conversation with patience on his/her daily school activities, homework, test, class projects, etc. Prepare to hear some “bad news”, if it did happen, do not be angry with him/her, be calm down and help your child find the problem and try to find a way to help him/her to solve the problem.
3. In order to build a strong work ethic, need to set some rules and ask your child to follow, be strict and tell him/her why. For example, finish homework before watching TV. Why? Homework is the key to understand and master what teachers taught, which leads to his/her success in school. This rule helps him/her be stronger on self-control as well.
4. Encourage and praise the child wisely, not too much, otherwise would mislead him/her to think he/she is the best. Namely, let him/her know that the best needs continuous learning, although did a good job today, need do better tomorrow.
5. Teach your child to have passion for learning new knowledge by showing fun stuff for the project and try to get his/her interest.
6. Tell your child successful stories. Help them to understand to get a good education and succeed in school is one of the most important things for his/her life.
7. Tell your child to make friends with those who are successful in school. Do your best to get your child into a good school, because a healthy competition environment challenges the kid and help him/her to develop better.
8. Introduce some real role models to your kids, who fighting hard with difficulties and succeeded at last, gained people’s respect. Help him/her to learn that if we suffer a set back, we don’t give up. Instead, we try harder.
9. Just like parenting, motivating your children is a life-long job. Keep investing your time, efforts to motivate your kids no matter how busy you are, because it is the most important investments in your life. Kids are our future!

If you feel your teen has reached a level that is not productive and they are going down a very negative path, contact www.helpyourteens.com to find resources that could help you and your family.

Struggling Teens and Residential Treatment Centers

You have resolved yourself to the fact that you can no longer control your teen’s behavior as they are spiraling out-of-control.  Where did that cute little child go?


Actually, they are still there, but deeply buried under the layers of peer pressure, society, technology, divorces, and life in general.  Life is not perfect, however with teens (although they believe they are nearly adults) they are not mature enough to understand that divorce isn’t their fault, a parent losing a job isn’t their fault, a death is not their fault, being bullied isn’t their fault – and before you know it, they have baggage that would outweigh even adults.

Now you get online – where can I find help!  I am at my wit’s end!!!!

You start to see all these websites, clearing houses, marketing arms, toll free numbers etc… Then just when you think you found a program that can help, you find some very harsh website of disgruntled parents and other kids that attended that program.

Don’t panic. Look at the sources -is it a reliable source?  Is it a legal case?  Or simply people that have too much time on their hands, have a vengeance after a school  or program and can’t move on with life.  Unless you see some legal cases to substantiate these claims – chances are very good that their sole motive is to prevent others from getting help and slam programs.

It is a fact – just about every school or program in our country (and probably others) have the “good, bad and ugly” about them. You are not in business for years and won’t have clients that are not happy with your services.  This is why it is so critical parents do their research.

As a victim of this myself, I have won two jury trials – I have proved that my issues as being a disgruntled parent were justified in a court of law -and that these malicious websites are nothing but a way to deter parents from believing my story or getting my help.  I always tell parents, I am either famous or infamous – depending on the website you find – but in  reality – I have taken it to the justice system and proved that I was being stalked, harassed and worse because the program my daughter was abused at simply wants me gone.

Order today!

Want to know more – visit www.helpyourteens.com and read Wit’s End! Advice and Resources for Saving Your Out of Control Teen.

40 Brilliant Negotiation Tricks Every ‘B’ School Student Should Know

While some people are born with great negotiation skills, most of us have to put forth a lot of effort and learn through trial, error and practice what works and what doesn’t. Whether you’re in business school right now or have just graduated, these negotiation tactics are good to know when you’re in the heat of things and can help you get the better end of a deal– no matter what it is.


Business Basics
These negotiation tactics and tricks will help you lead in business no matter what you’re trying to get, whether it’s a raise or a better deal on a new refrigerator.

1. Patience. You might want to pounce on any opportunity, but sometimes patience can truly be a virtue. Wait for just the right time to play your cards and you could see a much better payoff.
2. Persistence. While sometimes being overly persistent can do you in, finding the right balance between drive and stalking can be a great way to get what you want. Showing whomever you’re negotiating with that you’re serious about what you want can really help your case.
3. Research. The more you know, the greater advantage you’ll have in a negotiation situation. Whether you’re buying a car, trying to get a job, asking for a raise or just about anything else, knowledge is power.
4. Split the Difference. No matter whom it favors more, this negotiation tactic appears fair and may help to seal the deal. It works best when used in conjunction with other methods, like anchoring or legitimacy.
5. Be in demand. Letting it slip that you’re considering other offers can help make businesses more eager to hire you or to bump up your salary.
6. The Innocent Question. No questions in a negotiation are innocent. All can be used to glean information that can help tip the negotiation in favor of one party over another. So, ask away. It’ll make you seem friendlier, keep things running smoothly and make you smarter.
7. Never Make the First Offer. In most situations, you don’t want to be the one making the first offer – it could garner you less than you might have gotten otherwise. Stick it out until you’re forced to ask.
8. Ask for More. Want to get the best deal? Always ask for more than you actually want or are willing to settle for.
9. Accentuate the Positive. One great way to approach a negotiation is by knowing both the strong and weak points of your side. Accentuate the good stuff while putting little emphasis on the bad. For instance, if you’re selling a house, focus on the big pool in the backyard, not the proximity to the airport.
10. Strong and silent. It might seem counterintuitive, but sometimes the best thing you can do for your negotiations is to sit down and shut up. Silence can make people nervous and uneasy and much more willing to please.
11. The Trade Off. Here you’ll find a tactic that works because it appears to be very fair and even-handed. In it, both parties agree to make concessions– but each without really knowing the true value of what they’re conceding.
12. Ignoring No. In most cases, ignoring it when someone says “no” can get you in big trouble, but in negotiations it’s sometimes understood that no really means maybe, under the right circumstances. To counter no, you’ll need to react by asking the other party to tell you about it and lay out just where they stand. It forces them to play their hand and could let you actually negotiate a better deal.
13. Stalling. Delaying and stalling negotiations can work if you’re trying to wear down the other side and get them to give in just to be done with the whole affair.
14. Aristotle’s Appeals. Your powers of persuasion will be much stronger when you employ these three: ethos, pathos and logos. In English, that means appeal to ethics and reputation, emotion, or logic.

Buying
If you’re looking to buy, no matter if it’s a big or small purchase, consider these methods of negotiation.

1. Take up their time. The more time you take up when someone is trying to sell you something, the more they’ll want to ensure that you don’t walk away.
2. Be reluctant. Always make it seem as if you’re just looking and you’re not ready to buy yet. If you let on you’re ready to make a purchase, prices may go up.
3. Bracket. When you’re negotiating, you likely have a place where you want to end up. To use this method, make a counteroffer that averages out with the initial offer right at where you want to be.
4. Walk Away. Sometimes all it takes to seal the deal is to walk away. Once the seller knows you’re willing to give it up, they may be more willing to negotiate.
5. The Wince. A wince or flinch will physically show your displeasure with a particular deal– just don’t overdo it. Follow it up with a bit of silence and things could be uncomfortable– and that’s just what you want. This method works with both ends of the deal, so watch out.
6. Nibbling. When trying to get the best deal, sometimes you can still negotiate even after the main part is settled. These small nibbles seem like little concessions, but can really add up.
7. Big Favor, Little Favor. In this situation, you’ll make an outrageous request for a concession. It will, of course, be denied. Then you’ll make a much smaller request, which was your intention all along, which will seem much fairer, and is more likely to be accepted in comparison with your previous request.
8. The Calculated Blow-Up. While it won’t work in all situations where you’ll be negotiating, sometimes a fake blow-up can get you what you want. Whether that’s a refund from a store or a better deal with a seller, that’s up to you.
9. Do Better. This tactic involves simply asking the other party to do better than what they’re offering. If they can’t, you’ll have to walk away.
10. Low Key. It can be helpful not to appear too enthusiastic during business negotiations. You want to have something to hold back and not let on how much you really want to make the deal.
11. The Red Herring. In a red herring situation, you’ll make a miniscule point of contention into something huge. This will distract from the concessions you’re really trying to get the other side to make, which will seem small now, in comparison to this huge other, actually unimportant issue that you’ve raised.
12. Low-Balling. When you’re buying, make an offer so low you know it’ll never be accepted. Then, any other offer you make will seem much more reasonable.

Selling
If you’re on the selling end, then these negotiation tactics may suit your needs better and help you make the most from any deal.

1. Pre-conditioning. You can start using this tactic before you even meet with the other party by laying out your terms before he or she even has a chance to think about a counter-move.
2. Anchoring. Studies have shown that when people are torn when making an uncertain decision, they tend to anchor on certain information. You can use this to your advantage in your negotiations and set the tone of what will take place.
3. Hot Potato. In this tactic, someone can take their problem and make it yours, or vice versa. If there’s a hitch in a deal, this tactic involves using it as a negotiation point, asking the other party to move in your direction to solve the problem.
4. Higher Authority. To use this tactic, you’ll have to act as though you don’t have the final approval on whether or not to make a deal and will have to check with your partner, boss, etc. Of course, this higher authority won’t like the deal and will return with a counteroffer.
5. Legitimacy. Find some outside sources to support your side of the negotiation, and whomever you’re negotiation with is bound to believe it. This bias can gain you a big advantage in any negotiation.
6. The Withdrawn Offer. Want to trick the other party into thinking they’ve gotten an amazing deal? Use this ruse. Pretend to withdraw your offer because it’s too low or won’t work for you, and the other side is likely to pounce on it.
7. The Other Buyer. Your buyer will be a little more motivated to negotiate if he or she is alerted to the presence of another buyer. If they really want what you’re selling, this tactic can score you a better deal and close it faster.
8. Decoys. In this tactic, you’ll create something that you do not care about, but which you treat as if is very important. Then you’ll offer to give it up. It can help you get something you want without having to give up much of anything.
9. Give it a human face. One way to get the better end of a deal is to make the other party feel connected to you. If they don’t want to hurt you, your business partners or your family then it’ll be a lot more difficult for them to play hardball with you.
10. Good Guy, Bad Guy. If you’ve got a negotiation partner, you can try out this method. One of you will play the nice guy; the other will be a bit of a pill. The nice guy will close the deal after the not-so-nice guy blows up.
11. Funny Money. You can help make big amounts of money seem piddling by dividing them out into costs per day. This tactic works because buyers will things the amount is small, but it will add up to a hefty sum in your pocket.
12. The Trial Balloon. This tactic can work wonders when selling, because it lets you get clues about the other party’s plans without compromising your position or having to make a real commitment.
13. The Presumptive Close. Asking a question that implies that a deal has already been made can help to push negotiations along. Dealing with issues like how payments will be made and trades completed can change the mindset of the other party.
14. Puppy Dog Close. This sale is named after a technique used by pet store salespeople. It offers to let the other side try out the deal (or new pet) for a trial period. If they’re not happy, they can renege. It works because not only is the sale made by the negotiator but by the mechanics of the deal (or the pet) itself.

Special guest post by Rose King

Parent Involvement in Schools Can Make a Difference

PTO and PTA: Join today!

Are there issues about your child's school that you are fed-up with?  Tired of hearing your child complain or even tired of the same lack of communication month after month?  This is not about any school specifically, however it is about parents finding the time to get involved in their schools and communities.

Does your school have a Parent Teacher Association (PTA) or a Parent Teacher Organization (PTO)?

Have you thought about joining it and can't find the time?

It is sort of like voting, if you don't vote, you really can't complain.

It is a fact, many parents have limited time to volunteer or get involved, however with the increase in teen issues, bullying, cyberbullying, substance abuse, texting, truancy and  more, our communities need the support and help from the parents.  As a team, changes can be made.

Duval County Council PTA is a group of local PTAs orangized under the authority of the Florida PTA. Local PTAs join the Council as a unit, not as individual members, and pay dues according to the Council bylaws. The Council president is a member of the Florida PTA Board of Directors. A County Council is the direct line of support and resource to the PTAs within its boundaries.

Whether you join or create a PTA or PTO here are 26 great tips for you to review and consider to build more involvement in your schools and communities.

Be an educated parent, be an involved parent - you will have safer and healthier kids!

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Teen Failing in School - Bad Choices - Great Kids: Parent Help

The first semester of school is over, now we are on to the final few months - and your teen is debating whether they "want" to finish school?  Excuse me - you mean teens have options?

Believe it or not, yes they do!  In Florida, at the age of 16 your teen can sign themselves out of school - of course they need your consent, however if you don't, truancy charges will linger.

Now what?  Virtual school? Homeschooling? GED?  Who would have thought - generations prior graduating high school was  never an option.  Today is a new world.

Who is in control?

Let's compound this and you suspect or know your teen is using drugs, drinking and seriously mom, it's no big deal?!  Really?

Now they develop an attitude of defiance, start sneaking out, completely disrespectful to your home and your boundaries.....

You find this is getting out-of-control and you realize that you have a limited time to get them help since at the age of 18 you no longer have control.

After exhausting all your local resources, therapy, outpatient programs, support groups - and some even send their teen to a relatives to live, you soon realize you need to take that big step - residential therapy.

You jump online after the sticker shock you find all these disturbing websites about all these so-called teen help programs, you find former students, disgruntled parents (which I was one at one time), as well as enough negative information you stop in your tracks.

I get it - I have been there -I fell for the fraud online - I won a major jury trial proving our experiences were true - even with our horrific experiences,  I still believe parents need  options.

Some of the wealthier ones will  hire an Educational Consultant, believing they are safe with these professionals.  Well, chances are good - you are safe, but are you being spun in the EC Shuffle?  Yes, that is a name some of us call it - they seem to have a cookie-cutter program design - Most clients start in Wilderness (and I can name the top 3 most EC's give out) then they go on to a longer term program.

Hmmm.... why not start and finish at the same place?  Why not find a solid 6-9-12 month program that offers consistency?

Most EC's or programs associated with Wilderness Programs will tell you that the time in the wilderness will break your child down?  Really, I am sure it will - but isn't our teen already broken if we are seeking this help?  Isn't  it time to start working towards building them back up by working through their issues?

Great advice, read today

My best advice to parents is to know this decision to find residential therapy is one of the most difficult many parents need to make.  You should take it lightly or make the decision when you are in crisis.  If you see the road getting bumpy - do your  homework early - so when that urgency hits, you are ready.

Also know this is not about "shipping off" your teen - it is about giving them a second opportunity at a bright future - after all, if you let things continue to escalate - what will be the ending?

My next post will have some hints to finding safe and quality programs.  My experiences and sound opinions - they may be criticized by some - but at the end of the day, I am a parent that has been right where you are, at your wit's end.

For more information visit www.helpyourteens.com and checkout the hints and tips there!

Need to learn more about transport services (yes, another step you will hear about) - click here.

More to come....

Overweight Teens, Teen Obesity and Teen Help

Girls and boys enjoy feeling better by healthy eating

Over the past 20 years, clinical obesity among children and adolescents (defined as 95+ percentile body mass index on a growth chart) has skyrocketed from 6% to 15%. This makes overweight teens and teen obesity the most common chronic illness in pediatrics. To provide a sense of the magnitude of the opportunity, the prevalence of eating disorders is only 0.3%.

Although pediatric and adolescent obesity is most common in lower socio-economic groups, it is prevalent at all income levels, including in upper-income families. In 1995, 2.9% of households in the top 5% of income had obese children or adolescents. The number has certainly risen over the past 8 years.
The cause of this epidemic is entirely behavioral: high-calorie diets and insufficient exercise.

The direct effects of pediatric and adolescent obesity are clear and well established:

• Type 2 diabetes mellitus (formerly adult onset diabetes)
• Hypertension and predisposition for cardiac disease
• Sleep apnea
• Asthma
• Gallbladder disease
• Kidney disease
• Pancreatitis
• Eye diseases
• Nerve damage
• Various gastrointestinal disorders
• Various skeletal and orthopedic problems
• 80% increase in incidence of obesity in adulthood
• Obesity in adulthood likely to be more severe with earlier onset of co-morbidities

Source:  Overweight Teen

Wellspring Florida

Wellspring Florida is the first and only scientifically-based summer fitness and weight loss camp in St. Petersburg Florida, and one of the most effective weight loss programs in the world.
MTV just launched their new show, "I Used to Be Fat". The show will follow teens during the summer after high school as they work to lose weight and transform themselves before entering college.  As with many of today's reality shows, this is a topic that can be sensitive, difficult, however extremely necessary to talk about and address.

Be an educated parent, you will have healthier teens.


Watch the video on to learn more about Wellspring summer for your overweight teens.

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Teen Dating Abuse - Teen Dating Violence: Tornado Warning!

Raising teenagers may feel as if you are going through a tornado and hurricane combined.  However on a very serious note, teens need guidance, assurance, security and most of all - trust from their parents.

That may sound like a lot, however with today's society of peer pressure and technology, it is important we talk to our kids about a variety of sensitive subjects. 

One of them is dating.

When your teen has become of age that you permit them to date, are they aware of what is acceptable and what isn't?

Teen dating violence is very real and happens more than parents know about.  Saying that it would never happen to your child is being completely niave.  Being educated and prepared can prevent teen dating abuse.
Newly released is Tornado Warning: A Memoir of Teen Dating Violence by Elin Stebbins Waldal.  This powerful true story not only can help parents and teens to better understand the effects of teen dating abuse, it also allows the readers to understand that if you are a victim of it, you can rise above it.

Warning Signs 

While the following non-specific warning signs could indicate other concerning things such as depression or drug use, these should also raise a red flag for parents and adult caregivers about the possibility of an unhealthy relationship:

•no longer hanging out with his/her circle of friends
•wearing the same clothing
•distracted when spoken to
•constantly checking cell phone, gets extremely upset when asked to turn phone off
•withdrawn, quieter than usual
•angry, irritable when asked how they are doing
•making excuses for their boyfriend/girlfriend
•showering immediately after getting home
•unexplained scratches or bruises

How do you know if your teen is ready to date?
Pre-order your copy of Tornado Warning today.

Learn more at Love is Not Abuse.  In St. Johns County, The Betty Griffin House is for victims of domestic abuse and violence.

Be an educated parent, you will have safer teens!

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Teen Drinking and New Year's Eve

Did you know?

Most teens report that alcohol is easy to get - including 64 percent of eighth graders, 81 percent of sophomores, and 92 percent of seniors.

Did you know?

Since laws established 21 as the minimum drinking age, the likelihood that a 15 - to 20-year-old driver will be involved in a fatal crash has dropped by more than half.

Take part in We Don't Serve Teens and be a part of the solution - safety matters.  You could not only be potentially saving a life, it could be your own child's life.

We Don't Serve Teens is about educating you (parents and adults) with real life stories of what can happen when adults permit teens to drink alcohol.  The legal drinking age is 21 years old, there are no exceptions.
Most teens who drink get alcohol from "social sources" - at parties, from older friends, from their parents' cabinets. Teen drinking is linked to injury and risky behavior. We can reduce teen drinking by stopping teens' easy access to alcohol. Help us achieve this goal. - Source: We Don't Serve Teens

As New Year's Eve is fast approaching, be an educated parent - don't allow teenage drinking!

Underage drinking is linked to injury and risky behavior.

According to the U.S. Surgeon General, about 5,000 kids under 21 die every year as a result of underage drinking – from crashes, homicides, and suicides. Teens that drink also are at risk for a long list of other injuries and potential life-long alcohol abuse. Reducing underage drinking can reduce drinking-related harm.

Power of Parents is a program by MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) which helps parents learn more about how to talk to your teens about the dangers of drinking, especially drinking and driving.

In Broward County Zingo Designated Drivers can be hired for a small fee.  Learn more about Drinking and Driving Prevention as well as finding designated drivers - click here.

AAA Auto Club South and Anheuser-Busch, Inc. are joining hands to provide “Tow to Go” to provide a confidential ride home and tow, free of charge, to anyone who may have had too much to drink by calling 1-800-AAA-HELP (4357) in Florida and Georgia.

Happy 2011 and end 2010 safely!

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Shocking Stats on Academic Cheating

Every student will face down the temptation to cheat on an assignment in his or her lifetime. By this point, turning in fake papers, copying the work of others and outright plagiarism has sadly grown inescapably woven into the education sector. Unsurprisingly, statistics abound regarding the whats, hows and whys behind academic dishonesty — and many will surprise those who find such actions deplorable.


8 Astonishing Stats on Academic Cheating:

1. 60.8% of polled college students admitted to cheating. An admittedly informal 2007 poll conducted by the popular website CollegeHumor revealed that 60.8% of 30,000 respondents — most of them within its core demographic — confessed to cheating on their assignments and tests. This lines up closely with a questionnaire sent out to Rutgers students as well, to which 68% of students confessed that they had broken the university’s explicit anti-cheating rules. And the number only seems to swell as the years progress, with freshmen the most likely to fudge their way through class.
2. The same poll revealed that 16.5% of them didn’t regret it. Probably the most disconcerting find that the very same CollegeHumor poll unearthed is the fact that 16.5% of those who admitted to cheating felt no guilt whatsoever for their breach of ethics. It did not go into any details regarding why, of course, but one wonders if today’s culture of entitlement and success without regard to the well-being of others plays a major role in such callous attitudes. With so many scholarships, awards, internships and other incentives at stake, it’s entirely possible that those reporting no regrets considered their actions justified when rewarded for their “success.”
3. Cheaters have higher GPAs. Perhaps unsurprisingly, a poll conducted at Fordham University noted a significant gap between the GPAs of cheating students and their honest counterparts. Cheaters, on average, boast a 3.41 average. Non-cheaters average at 2.85. As mentioned with the previous statistic, many probably feel compelled to compromise their school’s ethics policies in their own self-interest — especially considering the significant number of academic rewards hinging on one’s GPA. What makes this statistic so upsetting is the amount of opportunities being robbed from honest students whose averages may not measure up, but at least they came about them without resorting to plagiarism, copying and other cheating strategies.
4. The public is more concerned with cheating than college officials. The Ad Council and Educational Testing Service discovered that 41% of Americans and 34% of college officials considered academic cheating a serious issue. They attribute the surprisingly low numbers to a decreased stigma surrounding the actions and an increase in emphasizing a stockpile of rewards and honors over hard work and dedication. Though their fact sheet does not offer any specific numbers, they noted that men and women are equally likely to cheat in an academic setting; math and science classes inspire the most incidents. Engineering and business majors, fraternity and sorority members, students on the extreme ends of the GPA scale, freshmen and sophomores are all more likely to cheat, and there exists no real difference along gender lines. However, men seem to admit to it slightly more than women.
5. Cheating college students likely start in high school. If not before. According to the very same Ad Council and ETS study, between 75% and 98% of college students who confessed to cheating reported that they set such a personal standard in high school. The organizations conducting the poll, however, believe that the motivation to cheat can start as early elementary and middle school. After kindergarten, teachers, parents and administrators place much heavier emphasis on grades and awards, placing considerable pressure on students to do anything necessary to stay ahead of their contemporaries.
6. In fact, 85% of them think cheating is essential. Even college students that don’t cheat still think it a valuable strategy to scoring the best grades, internships, scholarships and awards possible. A U.S. News and World Report survey noted the phenomenon, revealing that 90% of those polled didn’t believe that they or others would get caught — and subsequently punished — for their actions. In his study of 1,800 college students, Professor Donald McCabe noted that 15% turned in a fake term paper (either from a mill or a website), 84% cheated on written assignments and 52% plagiarized one or more sentences for a paper.
7. 95% of cheaters don’t get caught. As another study conducted by Ad Council and ETS confirmed, many of the suspicions that college students held about getting caught for their crimes. This gives them even more incentive to lie their way through classes rather than actually put forth the effort and learn something. Websites such as Turnitin.com allow professors to check whether or not their students have handed over a fake paper, but it cannot help cheating on tests, quizzes and non-written assignments.
8. Top-tier paper mill website average about 8,000 hits a day. ETS and Ad Council’s research quotes SchoolSucks.com founder Kenneth Sahr as stating that his website receives around 8,000 hits a day. Even accounting for innocent, curious onlookers and suspicious educators and parents double-checking a student’s work, this does illustrate the prevalence and high demand for pre-written term papers, homework and other projects. SchoolSucks.com and its ilk often post disclaimers citing their services as “for critique” or “research” purposes only – yet their copy almost always tends to suggest otherwise. Some schools have launched campaigns against their services, though such measures put little to no damper on the overarching popularity.

Source: Online Education Database
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Troubled Teens: It's Not Too Late

Parenting is probably one of the hardest jobs there is.

During the holidays the added stress can cause contention as well as family disputes.

However if you are dealing with an at-risk teenager, a teen that was already struggling down a negative path - maybe experimenting with drugs or hanging with a less than desirable peer group or has failed their first semester of school, holiday times can be more strenuous.

Dealing with troubled teens at any time of the year is not easy, it is a challenge.  Dealing with troubled teens during the holidays can be double the trouble.  With time off from school, many families have both parents working with limited supervision at home which leaves many teens on their own.  Have you checked your medicine cabinets lately?

Parents' Universal Resource Experts, founded in Broward County, has been helping families with teens in trouble for almost a decade.  One of the common threads is during the holidays when teens start to escalate with their issues, and parents will go deep into denial hoping to get through the holidays.

What they don't seem to understand is that teenager is crying out for help and prolonging this help can only make things worse - whether it ends up in a legal battle or otherwise, if you are debating an intervention with your teens, don't hestitate because it is the holiday.  There will be many more holidays in the future and the sooner you get your teen help, the sooner your family will be on the road to healing.

Being a parent in denial is also being selfish.  This is not about the parent - it is about the teen.  There will be plenty of time for blame and/or shame later, the immediate issue is getting your teen help.

Ask yourself:

• Is your teen escalating out of control?
• Is your teen becoming more and more defiant and disrespectful?
• Is your teen manipulative? Running your household?
• Are you hostage in your own home by your teen's negative behavior?
• Is your teen angry, violent or rage outbursts?
• Is your teen verbally abusive?
• Is your teen rebellious, destructive and withdrawn?
• Is your teen aggressive towards others or animals?
• Is your teen using drugs and/or alcohol?
• Does your teen belong to a gang?
• Do they frequently runaway or leave home for extended periods of time?
• Has their appearance changed - piercing, tattoo's, inappropriate clothing?
• Has your teen stopped participating in sports, clubs, church and family functions?  Have they become withdrawn from society?

Be an educated parent - don't let the holidays prolong you from getting your teen the help they may need.


Need parent choices?  Click here.

Helpful hints when looking for residential therapy: Click here.

Visit www.helpyourteens.com for more information.

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Texting Wars: Girls verses Boys - Who Texts More?

One in three teens sends more than 100 text messages a day, or 3000 texts a month.
Daily text messaging by teens to friends has increased rapidly since early 2008. Some 38% of teens were daily texters in February 2008, and that has risen to 54% of teens who use text daily in September 2009. Of the 75% of teens who own cell phones, 87% use text messaging at least occasionally.  

Among those teen texters:

• Half of teens send 50 or more text messages a day, or 1,500 texts a month, and one in three send more than 100 texts a day, or more than 3,000 texts a month.
• 15% of teens who are texters send more than 200 texts a day, or more than 6,000 texts a month.
• Boys typically send and receive 30 texts a day; girls typically send and receive 80 messages per day.
• Teen texters ages 12-13 typically send and receive 20 texts a day.
• 14-17 year-old texters typically send and receive 60 text messages a day.
• Older girls who text are the most active, with 14-17 year-old girls typically sending 100 or more messages a day or more than 3,000 texts a month.
• However, while many teens are avid texters, a substantial minority are not. One-fifth of teen texters (22%) send and receive just one to 10 texts a day or 30 to 300 texts a month.

Girls more fully embrace most aspects of cell phone-based communication.
As we see with other communicative technologies and applications, girls are more likely than boys to use both text messaging and voice calling and are likely to do each more frequently.

• Girls typically send and receive 80 texts a day; boys send and receive 30.
• 86% of girls text message friends several times a day; 64% of boys do the same.
• 59% of girls call friends on their cell phone every day; 42% of boys call friends daily on their cell phone daily.

Girls are also more likely than boys to text for social reasons, to text privately and to text about school work.

• 59% of girls text several times a day to "just say hello and chat"; 42% of boys do so.
• 84% of girls have long text exchanges on personal matters; 67% of boys have similar exchanges.
• 76% of girls text about school work, while 64% of boys text about school.

Source: PEW Research

Duval, Clay and St. Johns County, as well as the entire First Coast of Florida is part of The Great Hang-Up.  Distracted driving kills.  There is no text worth losing your life over.  During this holiday season and all year round, talk to your young teen drivers about the dangers of texting and driving.

Florida teens have put together a group of PSA (Public Service Announcements) to spread the word about the dangers of texting and driving.  Watch and vote today. Click here.  Definitely worth watching and encourage your teens to watch too.

Be an educated parent, you will have safer teens.

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Teen Driving: When is your teen able to drive?

Many teens will count the days until they take their first step into adulthood -- driving!  However it is a parent's responsibility to determine if their teen is mature enough to take on this major responsibility.

Each state has their own laws on the age your teen can start driving.  In Florida, at age 15, teens can apply for a learner’s license. The teen must have completed a Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Course; pass the written, vision and hearing tests; and have a signed parent consent form.

With a learner’s license, teens may only drive with a licensed driver age 21 or older supervising and sitting in the front seat. For the first three months, teens may only practice during daylight hours; then, teens may practice no later than 10 p.m. Teens are required to practice driving for at least 50 hours, including 10 hours at night, with a parent or a legal guardian, before they’re allowed an intermediate permit.

DMV Practice Questions - Take this sample test to determine if you’re ready to take the state driving test.
When teens turn 16, have had a learner’s license for at least 1 year without any traffic violations and have completed 50 hours of practice driving, 10 of which must be at night, they can apply for the intermediate license. They also must pass a behind-the-wheel driving test, complete a vision test and provide proof of practice driving time. Legal guardians must accompany their teens to the DMV to sign the application form, or their signature must be notarized on the form.

At the intermediate stage, driving privileges are based on age. For a 16-year old, driving is allowed between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. For a 17-year old, driving is allowed between 5 a.m. and 1 a.m. Outside of these time frames, teen drivers must be accompanied by a licensed driver at least 21 years old in the front passenger seat, or must be traveling to or from work.

At age 18, teens are eligible for a full unrestricted license. The state does not place night or passenger limits on those with unrestricted licenses.

All first time drivers in Florida must take a Traffic Law and Substance Abuse course and a written exam to receive a learner’s license. The tests below are approved by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles and are offered online through AAA:

• Drug Alcohol Traffic Awareness (DATA)
  
• Written Exam for Learner’s License

Source:  AAA

Be an educated parent, you will have safer teens.

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Teens and Brain Games

Are Brain Games Addictive or Healthy?
 
Today, technology is being used not just for work, but for entertainment purposes as well. People not only surf the net and do other things online to while away their time, most of them also play games with virtual strangers (friends?) too. Most of these games are so addictive that people end up playing them all day long. You may ask, if the games are mentally stimulating and improve your coordination and response time, why are they considered detrimental? If something is good for you, why should it not be addictive? Are all addictions unhealthy?

Now I’m not addicted to Facebook by any length; what I am addicted to is the game of Scrabble that you can play with other online gamers. To me, it’s not a waste of time if I spend a few hours a day playing this word game, simply because I’m using my brains and playing with letters, something that is right up my alley because of the nature of my job. Even so, there are others who would consider my addiction unhealthy, simply because they feel that I could be more productive at work if I did not waste so much time on Scrabble. It may help sharpen my mind no doubt, but the addiction is also taking me away from my job and lowering my efficiency and dedication to my job.

Therefore, if we’re analyzing whether brain games are healthy or addictive, we must draw a line that demarcates the boundary between the point where it’s healthy and the instant that it crosses over to becoming an addiction. Remember, an addiction is something you have no control over, and even if it’s a good thing, when you cannot control it, it stands to reason that it controls you.

Look how addictive technology has become today – we can see how children, teens and adults are becoming addicted to Facebook and other social networking sites. It’s true that we spend more time in our virtual space than in the real world; we interact more with people who are online than with people who we can see and touch; and we’re so addicted to technology that it’s impossible to imagine our world without it today. But if we look at technology through different eyes, we see that it is highly advantageous too – information is available in an instant, we’re able to keep in touch with loved ones who live afar, and we’re able to boost our knowledge and widen our experiences even if we’re constrained by location and other factors.

So how then do we classify technology? Is it healthy or addictive? Again, it’s the crossover from healthy to addictive that we must be aware of and enforce self restraint. It’s the same with brain games too – no doubt they’re good for you, but when they cross that line and start to become addictive, they’re more detrimental than advantageous.

By-line:
This guest post is contributed by Patricia Duggan, who has completed her Bachelors in Psychology and now pursuing her Masters of Science in Psychology.  She is the co-founder of the website PsychologyDegree.com and she like to write on the topic of Psychology Degree . She welcomes your comments and suggestions at her email id: patricia.duggan70<@>gmail<.>com.

Teen Depression: When it returns, be ready

Teen depression is a serious concern that can lead to tragic results if not treated.  According to a new study from Duke/John Hopkins University, nearly half of teens who suffer a severe episode are back in depression within a few years of their initial recovery.  Also noted in this new study finds that depression affects an estimated 6 percent of U.S. teen girls and nearly as many teen boys.

Nearly all (96 percent) of the 196 teenagers in the study either improved or fully recovered after an initial depressive episode, but 47 percent had one or more subsequent depressive episodes in an average of two years.

As the holidays approach, it is a time that suicides among adults and teens will increase.

It is critical to be aware of your teenagers feelings and activities. 


For reasons that are not clearly understood, girls were more likely to have repeated bouts of depression, with nearly 60 percent of them suffering subsequent depressive episodes after recovery, compared to 33 percent of the boys.

Some common warning signs of teen depression:

• Changes in eating and sleeping habits (eating and sleeping too much or too little)
• Significant change in weight (loss or gain)
• Often misses school and/or shows bad school performance
• Reclusive, withdrawing from friends or family members
• Quick to show anger/rage
• General restlessness or anxiety
• Overreacts to criticism, even constructive
• Seems very self conscious, guilty
• Unusual problems with authority
• No longer partakes in or enjoys activities and events they once loved
• Indecision, lack of concentration, or forgetfulness
• Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
• Frequent health complaints despite being healthy
• Lack of motivation and enthusiasm for every day life
• Drug/alcohol abuse
• Mentions or thoughts of suicide

Some common causes of teen depression:

• Significant life events like the death of a family member or close friend, parents divorce or split, breaking up with a boyfriend or girlfriend, or moving to a new school/area.
• Emotional/Physical neglect, being separated from a nurturer, abuse, damage to self esteem.
• Many changes happening too quickly can cause depression. For some teens, any major change at one time can trigger symptoms.
• Stress, especially in cases where the teen has little or no emotional support from parents, other family members, or friends.
• Past traumatic events or experiences like sexual abuse, general abuse, or other major experiences often harbor deep within a child and emerge in the teen years. Most children are unable to process these types of events when they happen, but of course, they remember them. As they age, the events/experiences become clearer and they gain new understanding.
• Changes associated with puberty often cause emotions labeled as depression.
• Abuse of drugs or other substances can cause changes in the brainÕs chemistry, in many cases, causing some types of depression.
• Some medical conditions such as hypothyroidism are believed to affect hormone and mood balance. Physical pain that is chronic can also trigger depression. In many cases, depression caused by medical conditions disappears when medical attention is sought and treatment occurs.
• Depression is a genetic disorder, and teens with family members who have suffered from depression have a higher chance of developing it themselves.

If you suspect your teen is suffering with saddness and depression, reach out and get help.  Don't ignore the signs or just brush it off as typical teenage phase, which it could be, but your teens safety and health come first.  Broward Prevention offers a vast amount of resources to assist you further.  If your teens has escalated to a point that their life or your family is at-risk, you may need to consider residential therapy.  Visit www.helpyourteens.com for more information.

Be an educated parent, you will have safer and healthier teens.

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