Parenting in a Challenging and Technological World

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Parenting in a Challenging and Technological World

• Dr. Scott Poland
• Professor, Center for Psychological Studies
• Nova Southeastern University

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Lets take off the rose colored glasses and
examine todays youth

• Todays message is about youth in America
• Todays message is meant to give you tips on how
  to guide your child through the all too common
  obstacles in their adolescent and teen years.
• Make no mistakeproviding your child a protected
  environment and support makes a difference!

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Some children are leading secret lives that
include sex, drugs and reckless behavior!
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Recommendations for Parents

• Bring back the family meal
• Support the school and let your child experience
  consequences
• Dont let technology steal your child
• Avoid setting their room up to be a kingdom
• Limit teen drivingsafe driving tips
• Know where your child is and know their friends
  and their parents--Network

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Driving and Riding in Cars

• Most dangerous thing your child does
• Approximately 4000 teens die in car accidents
  every year and most were not wearing seatbelts
• Graduated driving laws when enforced save lives
• Dont let your teen be INTEXTICATED
• Contract for life www.sadd.org
• Irony is you thought the phone was for safety!

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More Recommendations

• Avoid putting children in the middle of divorce
• Importance of modelingGandhi quote
• Enjoy your children and let them know they are
  the sons and daughters you always wanted
• Make family the priority
• Read The Overscheduled Child by Rosenfeld and
  Wise (2000)
• Dont try to be best friends with your child

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Technology a Curse or a Blessing? It Is here To
Stay

• There is something dangerous and largely
  unguarded in almost every home!
• Children today view being connected as a
  birthright but it is a privilege
• What are sexting and cyber-bullying all about?
  It is not just stranger danger anymore.

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Tips for Parents

• Online activities are not just your childs
  business
• Discuss online behavior with them and what
  information is appropriate to share
• Know the online communities and your childs
  password
• Be up front that you will investigate their
  postings, profiles, website etc. because you
  care! Take Charge!

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Fathers Need To Be Involved

• Reality is that parent is still a code word for
  Mom in most families
• The supreme test of a society iscan it teach men
  to be good fathers? Margaret Mead
• There is a positive association between father
  involvement and child well being and academic
  success.

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PROTECTIVE FACTORS

• Good relationships with other youth
• Seeks adult help when needed
• Lack of access to suicidal means
• Access to mental health care
• Religiosity
• School environment that encourages help seeking
  and promotes health

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PROTECTIVE FACTORS

• Family cohesion and stability
• Coping and problem solving skills
• Positive self worth and impulse control
• Positive connections to school and
  extracurricular participation
• Academic Success

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Helping Children

• Recognize developmental levels and that children
  are being exposed to many things too early.
• Reach do not preach.
• Teach restitution.
• Protect them from horrific violence on
  television, movies and video games.

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• Recognize that all children need
• three or more significant adults in their lives
  in addition to parents.
• a sense of safety and belonging in the home,
  school, and community.
• three or more hours of organized activities
  weekly.
• adolescents need volunteer work

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• Smaller schools are better in every way!
• New York Bank Street College

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spoland_at_nova.eduwww.scottpoland.com