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Category: School Age and Teen Related Issues
Age range: ages 12-18
Adolescence is a wonderful and interesting time that can be challenging for parents as well as a source of delight. It is a time of tremendous physical, emotional and cognitive growth that is both exciting and scary for teens exploring who they are, who their parents are and how they will fit into the world. Testing beliefs, questioning established rules and taking risks are common practices of adolescents. This two session workshop helps parents understand the differences between normal adolescent risk taking and risky behavior that should be of concern. Parents learn ways of communicating expectations to adolescents and responding to specific situations. They also discuss and practice answering tough questions teens ask.
Risky Behaviors consists of 2 sessions:
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Risk Taking: Healthy or Unhealthy
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When to Tell It Like It Was
Note: Risky Behaviors can be scheduled as a 1 or 2 session workshop.
1. Risk Taking: Healthy or Unhealthy
Adolescence is a time when children are more likely to experiment with new behaviors and activities. This is a normal part of their development and another move toward independence. This session helps parents understand the difference between normal, healthy risk taking behavior and risky behavior which may be dangerous to the health and well being of their children. Parents also learn strategies for communicating with their children and helping them identify and take healthy risks.
2. When to Tell It Like It Was
As children get older, it is common for them to wonder about what their own parents may have been like in the pre-teen and teen years. It is helpful for parents to share stories with their kids as a way of assuring them that some of their experiences are a normal part of growing up. While some questions are easier to answer, others, such as questions about smoking, drug and alcohol use, or early sexual experiences may be difficult. Parents often wonder whether being truthful is always the best way to respond to these questions. This session helps parents think about and practice how they might respond to such questions. It also gives parents strategies and practice for helping teens make good decisions for themselves.
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