We have a problem raising young people today.
The norms and values that most families practise are not reflected in the broader community.
Take the use of alcohol for example.
Undoubtedly we have a problem with youth binge drinking in the
Most families understand there is a problem with young people drinking yet alcohol continues to be created, packaged and marketed to young drinkers. Alcopops are remarkably cheap, easy to attain and mightily attractive to young people.
Alcohol use is just one battlefield for parents. The changing nature of the Internet with social networking sites means young people have access to vast, unknown audiences audience in an instant. It is little wonder many parents feel they are fighting an uphill battle when raising and supporting teens.
One of the biggest threats to young people’s wellbeing is when parents feel they are powerless or ineffective. Young people rightfully want to exercise greater power and control over their own lives. It is at this time when parents need to feel confident enough to guide, influence and hand over control when young people are ready.
http://www.parentingideas.com.au/
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2 comments:
Hi Michael
I am Principal of a School from the conference last week. We are running our own social networking site inside our school site on a programme called ELGG. The premise is that we can teach our students safe social networking use. I would be interested in your views.
As a mother of a 2 year old and a 6 year old, I cant help but worry about their future and how to guide them and teach them now to prevent drug/alcohol abuse in the future. I grew up in Mexico. In my family, sunday lunch always included a glass of red wine mixed with lemonade for the children for as long as I can remember. BBqs where beer was free flowing we were allowed a sip or 10, nobody made an issue. When I became a teenager and started going out, my friends would buy alcohol and binge drink and they did not get I was not interested any more than I could understand their desperation for booze, anything! Even now I dont get people who need to drink every day. I enjoy a drink on special occasions, I love margaritas and anything with tequila ( yes, we were allowed a sip of that too, always). Here the advise is NO alcohol until they are 18. And we all know what happens with the forbidden fruit.
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