It’s natural to want to protect your child from danger and negative influence. But many parents tend to go overboard—and in the process, stunt their child’s emotional and social development. In this article, I’ll identify the downsides of overprotecting your teen while offering ways to give them room to grow.   The Downsides of Overprotecting Your Teen (1) Social skills. Teens naturally wants to connect with their peers. As an overprotective parent, you may want to choose your teen’s friends, but eventually they need figure out how to size someone up on their own. If you limit your teen ..read more

Student Story: Tiller The underaged drinking statistics are frightening, with an almost guarantee that your teen will be offered alcohol by their peers. This weekend on Parenting Today’s Teens, Mark Gregston addresses two dangerous parenting mistakes when it comes to alcohol and teaches parents how to help their teens say no to it. https://heartlightftp.com//radio/Web/PTT/ptt20240504.mp3 The post Underaged Drinking appeared first on Parenting Today's Teens ..read more

Drug use is gaining momentum and popularity, especially among teenagers. Even “good” kids from Christian homes can have a hard time resisting their glamorized allure! In this article, I’ll explain why teens turn to drugs and how parents can help steer them away.   Drugs Are: (1) Prevalent. Drug use has increased dramatically among young people. A recent study shows drug use among middle school students has increased 61% between 2016 and 2020. By the 12th grade, 50% of teenagers have misused a drug at least once. 43% of college students have used illicit drugs. These are shocking and trou ..read more

Student Story: Gabe What’s the secret to setting rules and consequences in your home while also fostering freedom, responsibility, and respect in your teen? This weekend on Parenting Today’s Teens, Mark Gregston gives parents the tools to set appropriate boundaries … and get positive responses from their teens. https://heartlightftp.com//radio/Web/PTT/ptt20240427.mp3 The post 4 Ways to Foster Growth and Respect in Your Teen appeared first on Parenting Today's Teens ..read more

Talking with teens has always been tricky for parents. But the age of social media has changed the dynamic of communication––they may talk more with their thumbs, and less with their mouths. But that doesn’t mean they’re not interested in connecting with you. In this article, I’ll share eight tips to help you keep the conversation with your teen alive and thriving.   Tip #1––Talk For Your Teen’s Sake, Not For Yours Are you conversations with your teen centered around simply getting and giving information? Too many times we approach our conversations like a fact-seeking assignment. Instead ..read more

Student Story: Kirsten In recent years, drugs have lost much of their stigma and become much easier to obtain. So, how do we keep our teens from getting sucked into a vicious cycle of drug use? This weekend on Parenting Today’s Teens, Mark Gregston Saturday/Sunday on Parenting Today’s Teens, Mark Gregston shares five reasons why teens may turn to drugs, and the action steps parents can take to help. https://heartlightftp.com//radio/Web/PTT/ptt20240420.mp3 The post Why Your Teen Might Turn to Drugs appeared first on Parenting Today's Teens ..read more

It’s been said there are only three things a teen cares about: “me, myself, and I!” While teens naturally see the world from a self-centered perspective, parents can help redirect this tendency. In this article, I’ll offer five practical ways you can help your teen become more considerate and others-focused.   1. Acknowledge the Problem Kids are born selfish. As parents we rearrange our lives to please them. We want them to be happy and have everything. So why would your teen want this arrangement to change? If your teen feels entitled to get what he wants, when he wants it, then you need ..read more

Student Story: Knox In a culture that is often disrespectful, how do we coach our children to respect others? How can we foster respect at home among family members and help our teens show respect toward peers and authority? This weekend on Parenting Today’s Teens, Mark Gregston offers some helpful ideas to restore respect at home. https://heartlightftp.com//radio/Web/PTT/ptt20240413.mp3 The post Fostering Respect at Home appeared first on Parenting Today's Teens ..read more

You’ve given your adopted child every advantage in life and showered him with love and affection. But now that the teen years have arrived, your teen has become sullen and distant. What happened? In this article, I’ll talk about the unique struggles adopted teens face and share how parents can help overcome them.   The Timing of Struggles for Adopted Kids When kids reach adolescence, they move from concrete thinking to abstract thinking. They begin to question ideas and information they readily accepted just a few months ago. Often, this time is when adopted teens start to struggle. They ..read more

Student Story: Elliot Parents these days are on the go all day. But if you’re not making time to talk to your teen one-on-one, you may cause strain or even lose your relationship with your teen as he becomes an adult. This weekend on Parenting Today’s Teens, Mark Gregston encourages parents to schedule regular “dates” with their teens in order to build a great relationship. And he’ll show you how! https://heartlightftp.com//radio/Web/PTT/ptt20240330.mp3 The post Make the Most of One-on-One Time with Your Teen appeared first on Parenting Today's Teens ..read more