Teens’ Actual Use of the Internet vs. Parents’ Perceptions
An article from David R. Smith at TheSource4YM.com

The Internet. It’s how teens meet friends, make plans, entertain themselves, do homework, and in some cases, attend school. It’s also where many teens view porn, illegally download media, cheat academically, and upload questionable pics/videos of themselves and friends.

The question is, do parents know all this?
Read the rest of this entry »

This is a really fantastic resource for parents who are grappling with whether or not their kids should be using Facebook.  Take some time to read the blog posts, check out the tips, and maybe even buy the book.  After that, pass it along to another parent!

http://blog.smartparentbook.com/

Click HERE for the newest findings of the Kaiser Family Foundation concerning youth media use.  Very interesting!

I am having trouble finding the sources of this data, but it seems as if it would be true… Very interesting trends>>>

http://tinyurl.com/ybpykcc

What Matters Most to Teenagers
Inside Your Teen’s Brain *EXCELLENT article*
Inside the Teenage Brain: Fact Sheet
Teenage Brain fact and tips from USA Today
Frontline’s “Inside the Teenage Brain”

FULL Published Studies:
From the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy: The Adolescent Brain:A Work in Progress (36 Pages)
From the National Council of Economic Advisers: Teens and Parents in the 21st Century (29 pages)

Personally, I enjoy Pinky’s Brain song…
check out some of the links on the right hand side… interesting stuff.
http://teenagebrain.blogspot.com/

Developmental Psychologist Says Teenagers Are Different [New York Times]
Researchers Identify Successful Weight Control Strategies for Adolescents [Journal of American Dietetic Association]
Half of Australian Parents Think Alcohol is OK for Kids Under 18 [News Limited]
Interview with Katie Douglass About Using Twilight as a Discussion Starter [Princeton's Institute for Youth Ministry]

Becoming Who They Are

Trend analysts like to point to the idea that our technology and our era are pushing kids to become their own brand. Identity formation has always been a big deal for kids—figuring out on an unconscious, unspoken level the idea of themselves they will hold on to. But now kids are being asked to describe their identity very specifically every time they fill out a profile for another social network.
Depending on the personality of the child, it can create a lot of pressure. Read the rest of this entry »