Parenting Teens Untangled - Realistic, science-backed teen & tween parenting advice

Rachel Richards
undefined
Dec 7, 2022 • 33min

Parties for teens and tweens. Invitations, gatecrashers and alcohol.

Ask Rachel anythingParties can be life-enhancing, joyous, and a wonderful chance to meet new people, but when it's for a teenager it can have a touch of the wild west about it. For parents who understand the risks it can feel easier to say no, but if we think through all of the issues - and discuss them with our teens - there's far less chance things will go horribly wrong.Our website has a free checklist of things to cover when planning your party. RESOURCES USED:https://raisingchildren.net.au/teens/behaviour/peers-friends-trends/teen-partieshttps://www.whosthemummy.co.uk/teenage-house-parties-survival-tips-for-parents/Wellington College UK document 'Alcohol and Parties.'Support the showPlease hit the follow button if you like the podcast, and share it with anyone who might benefit. You can review us on Apple podcasts by going to the show page, scrolling down to the bottom where you can click on a star then you can leave your message. Please don't hesitate to seek the advice of a specialist if you're not coping. There's no shame in reaching out for support. When you look after yourself your entire family benefits.My email is teenagersuntangled@gmail.com My website has a blog, searchable episodes, and ways to contact me:www.teenagersuntangled.comFind me on Substack: https://teenagersuntangled.substack.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teenagersuntangled/Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/teenagersuntangled/You can reach Susie at www.amindful-life.co.uk
undefined
Nov 28, 2022 • 31min

Christmas presents: is your teen ungrateful?

Ask Rachel anythingChristmas is marketed as a time of magic and joy, but when it comes to your teenagers does it feel more like pressure - to deliver expensive gifts - and disappointment? One of our regular listeners has asked us to research and discuss  how to deal better with their lack of gratitude when things don't live up to their expectations. RESOURCES:https://ggsc.berkeley.edu/images/uploads/GGSC-JTF_White_Paper-Gratitude-FINAL.pdfhttps://www.parentingforbrain.com/how-to-deal-with-an-ungrateful-teenager/https://yourteenmag.com/family-life/communication/holiday-disappointment/amphttps://admin.bridesblush.com/trends/ungrateful-christmas-tb/https://www.netmums.com/coffeehouse/being-mum-794/tweens-teens-61/1596349-ungrateful-teen-tween.htmlhttps://slate.com/human-interest/2012/12/ungrateful-teens-on-christmas-it-s-time-to-stop-the-generational-internet-shaming.htmlhttps://mamamanages.com/ungrateful-child-problem-solving/https://www.blinkist.com/en/shortcasts/the-happiness-lab/309https://www.blinkist.com/en/app/books/leading-with-gratitude-enSupport the showPlease hit the follow button if you like the podcast, and share it with anyone who might benefit. You can review us on Apple podcasts by going to the show page, scrolling down to the bottom where you can click on a star then you can leave your message. Please don't hesitate to seek the advice of a specialist if you're not coping. There's no shame in reaching out for support. When you look after yourself your entire family benefits.My email is teenagersuntangled@gmail.com My website has a blog, searchable episodes, and ways to contact me:www.teenagersuntangled.comFind me on Substack: https://teenagersuntangled.substack.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teenagersuntangled/Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/teenagersuntangled/You can reach Susie at www.amindful-life.co.uk
undefined
Nov 11, 2022 • 34min

Friendships: How to support teens to build their social skills.

Ask Rachel anythingOur teens have been dubbed Generation Isolation by the UK charity OnSide. It follows a poll which showed that 77% of young people spend most of their free time at home and 73%  spend most of their free time on screens.The charity says that while online communication is important and has some benefits, its dominance means young people are missing out on the face-to-face interactions that build social skills, confidence, self-esteem, resilience and empathy.   Whilst it's normal for teens to spend a lot of time alone in their rooms there seems to have been a general change in the amount of physical time that teens are spending socialising. We'll talk another time about parties, and managing them, but this time we discuss those all-important social skills and what we, as parents, can do to hep our teens develop them.RESOURCES:https://parents.au.reachout.com/skills-to-build/wellbeing/things-to-try-friendshipshttps://news.virginia.edu/content/peers-or-parents-study-shows-strong-friendships-set-teens-success-later-lifeBOOKS:How to Win Friends and Influence People for Girls, by Donna Dale Carnegie.How to Win Friends and Influence People in the Digital Age, Dale Carnegie Training.The Social Survival Guide for Teens on the Autism Spectrum: How to Make Friends and Navigate Your Emotions by Lindsey SterlingSupport the showPlease hit the follow button if you like the podcast, and share it with anyone who might benefit. You can review us on Apple podcasts by going to the show page, scrolling down to the bottom where you can click on a star then you can leave your message. Please don't hesitate to seek the advice of a specialist if you're not coping. There's no shame in reaching out for support. When you look after yourself your entire family benefits.My email is teenagersuntangled@gmail.com My website has a blog, searchable episodes, and ways to contact me:www.teenagersuntangled.comFind me on Substack: https://teenagersuntangled.substack.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teenagersuntangled/Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/teenagersuntangled/You can reach Susie at www.amindful-life.co.uk
undefined
Nov 9, 2022 • 30min

Entitled teens: How do I stop my teenager from being entitled?

Ask Rachel anything'Today's teenagers are far more hopeless than anything humanity has ever produced before,' according to Jeremy Clarkson, former presenter of Top Gear. He's talking about generation Z, which is the label for those born between 1997 and 2012 and the first to grow up entirely connected to the internet. His claim is that 'the offensive word today's entitled teens have never heard is 'no'. ' There are many articles about entitled teens, yet there are statistics that show they drink less, have fewer teenage pregnancies, and are more concerned about job prospects than previous generations. So what is an entitled teen, is it all bad, and how do we make sure that we're not raising one?RESOURCES: https://www.forbes.com/sites/charlestowersclark/2022/06/27/generation-y-and-zempowered-or-entitled/?sh=6d552cf67715https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/jeremy-clarkson-the-offensive-word-todays-entitled-teens-have-never-heard-no-j95kzjxhwhttps://spsp.org/news-center/character-context-blog/entitled-people-what-expect-and-how-deal-them#:~:text=The%20sources%20of%20entitlement%20are,feel%20that%20they%20are%20special.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0140197110000783https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/personality-disorders/the-psychology-behind-sense-of-entitlement/https://www.today.com/parents/avoid-raising-entitled-child-5-strategies-really-work-t44576 Amy McCready positiveparentingsolutionsSupport the showPlease hit the follow button if you like the podcast, and share it with anyone who might benefit. You can review us on Apple podcasts by going to the show page, scrolling down to the bottom where you can click on a star then you can leave your message. Please don't hesitate to seek the advice of a specialist if you're not coping. There's no shame in reaching out for support. When you look after yourself your entire family benefits.My email is teenagersuntangled@gmail.com My website has a blog, searchable episodes, and ways to contact me:www.teenagersuntangled.comFind me on Substack: https://teenagersuntangled.substack.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teenagersuntangled/Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/teenagersuntangled/You can reach Susie at www.amindful-life.co.uk
undefined
Oct 14, 2022 • 42min

Why identity is such an issue. Also, smelly teens.

Ask Rachel anythingWe've all heard about the phenomenon of a midlife crisis, but it's the teenage years when we first really become aware of our identity. For some, the sense of who we are beneath the roles we play is never a big issue. For others, the shift in perception can result in all sorts of problems. Battles at home if they're boxed into an identity they feel they don't fit, or difficulties at school where trying to fit into a social group can mean losing track of who they really are. Helping our teens to navigate the issue can be made harder by our own struggles with the concept of identity and fears of losing the child we love. We try to unpack some of the issues. For supporting material see Rachel's blog on our website:https://www.teenagersuntangled.com/blog/flirting-with-your-self/Also, any teacher of junior school kids will tell you that one of the key ways they distinguish each other's clothing is by the smell. Yes, it really is a thing. When they hit the teen years, sniffing a garment can result in an unpleasant shock. Some teens respond to their new, distinct odours, by washing diligently. Others seem oblivious, joyously marinading in their own unique perfume. We talk about the issue of smelly teens, and how to deal with a girl who rarely showers.  RESOURCES:Identityhttps://www.choosingtherapy.com/identity-crisis/https://www.harleytherapy.co.uk/counselling/who-am-i-identity-crisis.htmhttps://aspiroadventure.com/blog/why-is-teen-identity-development-important/#:~:text=Identity%20formation%20in%20teens%20is,most%20of%20their%20adult%20life.The 8 stages of development Eric Ericson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYCBdZLCDBQ&t=28sSmelly teenshttps://www.verywellhealth.com/why-teens-wont-take-a-shower-4089615#:~:text=Poor%20hygiene%20can%20lead%20to,or%20bullied%20for%20looking%20unkempt.https://www.empoweringparents.com/article/poor-hygiene-in-children-my-kid-stinks-help/#:~:text=Focus%20on%20What%20You%20Can,want%20to%20be%20around%20them.Support the showPlease hit the follow button if you like the podcast, and share it with anyone who might benefit. You can review us on Apple podcasts by going to the show page, scrolling down to the bottom where you can click on a star then you can leave your message. Please don't hesitate to seek the advice of a specialist if you're not coping. There's no shame in reaching out for support. When you look after yourself your entire family benefits.My email is teenagersuntangled@gmail.com My website has a blog, searchable episodes, and ways to contact me:www.teenagersuntangled.comFind me on Substack: https://teenagersuntangled.substack.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teenagersuntangled/Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/teenagersuntangled/You can reach Susie at www.amindful-life.co.uk
undefined
Oct 2, 2022 • 51min

Do Manners Still Matter? And Why Empty Nest Syndrome Hits So Hard

Ask Rachel anythingJust under half a million teenagers will start university this autumn in the UK alone. Whilst it might be an exciting time for the teenager, the family left behind can be left reeling with a sense of grief and loss.  We talk about what you might be feeling and how best to deal with it.  Also, Alex has asked us to take a look at what we should be saying to our teens about manners. We talk about what they are and what they say about you as a person.   RESEARCH SOURCES:  EMPTY NEST: https://www.netdoctor.co.uk/parenting/a11692/empty-nest-syndrome/#:~:text=Don't%20make%20them%20feel,OK%20and%20coping%20without%20them. https://www.theguardian.com/education/2013/sep/18/parents-coping-when-children-leave-home https://psychcentral.com/health/empty-nest-syndrome https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2020/09/04/a-majority-of-young-adults-in-the-u-s-live-with-their-parents-for-the-first-time-since-the-great-depression/  MANNERS: https://gt20.org/life-resources/etiquette-manners/rules-of-etiquette/ https://www.wisebread.com/12-lessons-in-manners-from-around-the-world https://mannersadvisor.com/whats-the-difference-between-etiquette-and-manners/ https://www.verywellfamily.com/manners-your-teen-should-use-and-how-to-teach-them-2608864 https://harappa.education/harappa-diaries/etiquette-and-manners/ https://www.familyeducation.com/life/manners/how-rude-age-age-guide-teaching-kids-mannersSupport the showPlease hit the follow button if you like the podcast, and share it with anyone who might benefit. You can review us on Apple podcasts by going to the show page, scrolling down to the bottom where you can click on a star then you can leave your message. Please don't hesitate to seek the advice of a specialist if you're not coping. There's no shame in reaching out for support. When you look after yourself your entire family benefits.My email is teenagersuntangled@gmail.com My website has a blog, searchable episodes, and ways to contact me:www.teenagersuntangled.comFind me on Substack: https://teenagersuntangled.substack.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teenagersuntangled/Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/teenagersuntangled/You can reach Susie at www.amindful-life.co.uk
undefined
Sep 22, 2022 • 48min

Parents’ Guide to Teen Girls’ Clothing Choices, Plus How to Handle Changing Finances

Ask Rachel anythingCan you imagine a TV presenter wearing the same blue suit on-screen for 12 months and nobody noticing, or commenting?  Well in Australia, Karl Stefanovic did exactly this to make a point about the different standards men and women are held to.  He says whilst his female colleagues were often messaged about what they were wearing, in his case nobody even mentioned his clothing. All the messages were about how he did his job. This is the difficult world our teenage girls have to navigate. So they soon realise that what they wear has immense power, but also marks them out and exposes them to criticism. It's a tricky path to tread even for an adult woman. Given that our teen girls are growing up in a world in which many of their icons dress in a very provocative manner, the question of how we talk to our own daughters about the clothes they chose has never been more important. So how do we tread the line between making sure that they feel confident about themselves, without triggering our own fears and prejudices?Also, a housing crisis in Sarah's area has meant their family have had to downsize their home. She's concerned about how she should talk with her teenagers about the situation. We look at how she can handle it in a way that stops the situation from having more of an impact than it needs to. RESOURCES USED:Girls clothinghttps://www.parents.com/parenting/better-parenting/teenagers/teen-talk/why-you-should-let-your-teen-wear-what-they-want/https://bellamag.co/dress-code-conversation-teen/https://www.lifehack.org/articles/communication/what-youre-wearing-too-revealing.htmlhttps://www.choosingtherapy.com/how-to-talk-to-your-daughter-about-clothes/Change of circumstancehttps://hbr.org/2016/09/how-to-get-better-at-dealing-with-changehttps://thebounceblog.com/articles/bouncing-back-from-financial-grief-and-loss/https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2022/aug/03/sacrifice-your-civility-and-make-a-start-how-to-talk-to-teenagers-about-moneyhttps://adc.bmj.com/content/101/10/917 Family income and young adolescents’ perceived social position: associations with self-esteem and life satisfaction in the UK Millennium Cohort Study https://parents.au.reachout.com/common-concerns/coping-with-the-drought/talking-to-a-teenager-about-money-issuesSupport the showPlease hit the follow button if you like the podcast, and share it with anyone who might benefit. You can review us on Apple podcasts by going to the show page, scrolling down to the bottom where you can click on a star then you can leave your message. Please don't hesitate to seek the advice of a specialist if you're not coping. There's no shame in reaching out for support. When you look after yourself your entire family benefits.My email is teenagersuntangled@gmail.com My website has a blog, searchable episodes, and ways to contact me:www.teenagersuntangled.comFind me on Substack: https://teenagersuntangled.substack.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teenagersuntangled/Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/teenagersuntangled/You can reach Susie at www.amindful-life.co.uk
undefined
Sep 9, 2022 • 54min

Disagreements over parenting styles, and future careers.

Ask Rachel anythingIn all honesty, very few of us thought about our partner's possible parenting style when we began dating them. I know that I didn't. It's mostly romance and blind hope at that stage. By the time the subject really comes into focus we're already in the thick of parenting. Louise has asked us to talk about this, and we loved the topic because so many of us lack the skills to successfully navigate a happy path with a partner who sees things differently. We talk about why consensus is so important in parenting, but also when disagreement can actually benefit your teenager. Finally, we give some top tips on how to go about finding a path to agreement that works for everyone. Also, as the world shifts in the direction of a knowledge economy - and increasing automation of jobs - our need for new skills has made a college education seem vital. But is that the right path for our teens? Gaelle asked to discuss how we talk to our teens about their future careers in a way that supports them.BOOKS MENTIONED:Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel KahnemanWEBSITE LINKS:*https://www.positiveparentingsolutions.com/discipline/parents-disagree-on-disciplinehttp://teentherapycentersv.org/2015/03/24/consistency-the-toughest-and-most-important-part-of-parenting-2/https://childmind.org/article/conflicts-over-parenting-styles/BOOKS MENTIONED:Thank You for Being Late: An Optimist's Guide to Thriving in the Age of Accelerations by Thomas Friedman WEBSITE LINKS:https://parents.au.reachout.com/common-concerns/everyday-issues/things-to-try-exam-stress/what-to-do-if-your-teen-is-stressed-about-the-futurehttps://www.allthingscareers.co.uk/blog/how-to-talk-to-your-teen-about-careers-without-causing-tensionhttps://www.talkspace.com/blog/teen-pressure-school-career/https://magazine.lifology.com/career/career-anxieties-among-teenagers/https://www.joyfulmindmentor.com/blog/stressed-teens-and-career-developmentSupport the showPlease hit the follow button if you like the podcast, and share it with anyone who might benefit. You can review us on Apple podcasts by going to the show page, scrolling down to the bottom where you can click on a star then you can leave your message. Please don't hesitate to seek the advice of a specialist if you're not coping. There's no shame in reaching out for support. When you look after yourself your entire family benefits.My email is teenagersuntangled@gmail.com My website has a blog, searchable episodes, and ways to contact me:www.teenagersuntangled.comFind me on Substack: https://teenagersuntangled.substack.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teenagersuntangled/Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/teenagersuntangled/You can reach Susie at www.amindful-life.co.uk
undefined
Aug 27, 2022 • 53min

Drugs: How to talk to my teenager, and divorce and kids staying over.

Ask Rachel anythingDrugs are everywhere; whether they are being peddled by pharmaceutical companies to fix medical problems, used as performance enhancers, or just for kicks, there's a really high chance that our teens will be offered them by someone. The big question is how can we talk to our teens about them in a way that discourages dangerous habits or situations whilst letting them know that they can come to us for help and advice about what they're seeing and doing?We discuss what drugs are, how to think through the subject as a parent, and how to talk with your teens to keep them safe.Top tips from Sharon Levy MD:1: Make your values and rules very clear, don’t be vague.2: Ask and listen, but  resist the urge to lecture. 3: If your teen has used substances explore the reasons.4: Intervene earlier rather than later. It’s hard to spot when it’s becoming a real problem.5: Be mindful of any history of substance abuse in the family. It increases the risk. To show your teen: https://www.kctv5.com/video/2022/09/21/mom-talks-about-son-fentanyl-overdose/Also, divorce can be incredibly painful but one of the big problems parents can hit in the teen years is the teenager who decides they don't want to see the other parent. We talk about why this happens and how you can support your teen through it. Resources: Starting with our favouritesWebsite for finding out about drugs being used by teens, and their possible side-effects: https://www.talktofrank.com/https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/teens-and-drugs-5-tips-for-talking-with-your-kids-201808161456https://childmind.org/article/mental-health-disorders-and-substance-use/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=pub_ed_nl_2022-07-26&utm_content=mental-health-disorders-and-substance-usehttps://www.familylives.org.uk/advice/teenagers/drugs-alcohol/drugs-what-are-the-signs?referer=/advice/teenagers/drugs-alcoholhttps://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/news/20220726/potent-weed-marijuana-addiction-studyhttps://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/substance-use/index.htmhttps://www.hazeldenbettyford.org/articles/warning-signs-teen-substance-usehttps://www.unodc.org/unodc/press/releases/2021/June/unodc-world-drug-report-2021_-pandemic-effects-ramp-up-drug-risks--as-youth-underestimate-cannabis-dangers.htmlhttps://eu.indystar.com/story/news/health/2019/07/23/telltale-signs-drug-use-can-found-teens-bedroom/1779092001/https://www.nature.com/articles/npp201467Support the showPlease hit the follow button if you like the podcast, and share it with anyone who might benefit. You can review us on Apple podcasts by going to the show page, scrolling down to the bottom where you can click on a star then you can leave your message. Please don't hesitate to seek the advice of a specialist if you're not coping. There's no shame in reaching out for support. When you look after yourself your entire family benefits.My email is teenagersuntangled@gmail.com My website has a blog, searchable episodes, and ways to contact me:www.teenagersuntangled.comFind me on Substack: https://teenagersuntangled.substack.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teenagersuntangled/Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/teenagersuntangled/You can reach Susie at www.amindful-life.co.uk
undefined
Jul 25, 2022 • 47min

Mom guilt, and parenting teens & tweens when you don't like their friends

Ask Rachel anythingAs a parent, have you ever felt overwhelmed by the sheer size of your job and the range of the responsibilities it involves? Do you ever feel like you've done enough, or are you always suffering with the nagging feeling that you are falling short and it's your fault that things aren't perfect? Well Clare certainly has, so she asked us to talk about Mom guilt. What we discovered has blown our minds. Also, have you ever had that horrible feeling that your teenager is getting too friendly with the wrong kind of people? What do you do if you don't like their new friends? We researched what the experts say about it and talk about things that you can consider before wading in. References: Helena Morrissey, Good Time to be a Girlhttps://www.todaysparent.com/family/parenting/why-mom-guilt-is-the-biggest-lie-of-all/https://www.choosingtherapy.com/mom-guilt/https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/the-teen-doctor/201605/10-tips-when-you-dont-your-teens-friendshttps://grownandflown.com/what-not-say-dont-like-teens-friends/https://www.empoweringparents.com/article/does-your-child-have-toxic-friends-6-ways-to-deal-with-the-wrong-crowd/Support the showPlease hit the follow button if you like the podcast, and share it with anyone who might benefit. You can review us on Apple podcasts by going to the show page, scrolling down to the bottom where you can click on a star then you can leave your message. Please don't hesitate to seek the advice of a specialist if you're not coping. There's no shame in reaching out for support. When you look after yourself your entire family benefits.My email is teenagersuntangled@gmail.com My website has a blog, searchable episodes, and ways to contact me:www.teenagersuntangled.comFind me on Substack: https://teenagersuntangled.substack.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teenagersuntangled/Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/teenagersuntangled/You can reach Susie at www.amindful-life.co.uk

The AI-powered Podcast Player

Save insights by tapping your headphones, chat with episodes, discover the best highlights - and more!
App store bannerPlay store banner
Get the app