Besides the drunk driving dangers there are many other dangers associated with drinking. Your inhibitions are lowered. After many drinks you suddenly have the courage to ask the cute football player out or to tell the class bully what you really think of him. Teens may do something under the influence of alcohol that they wouldn’t have dreamed of doing while sober. They may experiment with sex or drugs. They may puff away on a cigarette. They may leave the party with somebody they wouldn’t think of trusting normally. They may pass out. They may end up with alcohol poisoning. While it’s fantastic that teens aren’t getting behind the wheel of a car after drinking, they also need to understand the other risks involved with alcohol.

Lynda Steverman, whose son disappeared after a keg party and was later found dead in a swamp, created “Choices,” a documentary warn teenagers of the potentially life changing effect of alcohol. She says, “This is about accepting responsibility for your actions and watching out for your friends and yourself.”

Some parents are resorting to more than just more education. They are forcing their kids to take a breathalyzer test when they come home from school events or friends houses.

My husband and I have some friends who regularly give their son a drug test. You can now purchase simple drug tests at convenience stores or local grocery stores. And they are fairly inexpensive. You can stop at Wal-Mart to pick up toothbrushes, socks, and a drug test.

However, I wouldn’t suggest regularly subjecting your teen to a breathalyzer or drug test unless you have reason to. Our friends test their son because he has a problem with drugs and has been in rehab several times. The woman in the article tested her daughter because she had a strong suspicion her daughter was lying to her about her drinking.

There is a fine line between trusting your teens to make their own decisions (and mistakes) and protecting them. Be on the lookout for signs that your teen may be using drugs and alcohol. If you suspect a problem you may need to resort to testing to help them control the problem before it gets out of hand.

Post from: Blisstree

Drug Testing Teens

Vanessa Van Petten give us 7 facts about teen dating abuse that all parents should know.

Kids who talk on cell phones may be more likely to walk in to traffic.

ADHD drugs may cause kids to hallucinate even when taken correctly.

Business Week’s Working Parents has some information on keeping your kids off drugs.

Can you catch obesity like the common cold?

The new Road Safety Campaign has been created to show parents how to help teen drivers stay safe on the road.

A university in the U.K. is doing away with textbooks and instead downloaded lessons on to ipods.

With an “obesity epidemic” going on in the U.S. why are we still criticizing thin actresses for putting on a few pounds. When I first saw the photos of Jessica Simpson I thought we were making fun of her “mom jeans” and horrible choice of belt (or belts as the case may be). I was disgusting to find out the controversy is that she is now fat. Fat? Give me a break.

When it comes to sex the majority of today’s teens are more conservative than teens in the past.

A California school expelled two students for being lesbians. And the courts say the school has that right.

Teens who watch a lot of TV also eat a lot of crap foods.

Post from: Blisstree

Sunday Reading

You get in to a discussion with somebody about teen sex or teen drinking or teen drug use and inevitably you’ll hear “they’re going to do it anyway, if they really want to.” I’ve never really understood how this little tidbit is supposed to be helpful. What’s your point? Teens are going to do it anyway, so what? Teens are going to have sex anyway so why not give them some alone time to do it? Teens are going to drink anyway so why not buy them alcohol? Teens are going to do drugs anyway so why not find them the best dealer?

I realize that’s not what most people (except teenagers) mean when they say “they’re going to do it anyway.” They don’t usually mean “…so give them free reign.” But it almost comes off that way. It sounds like an excuse. It comes off as “they’re going to do it anyway so why make an effort to stop them.”

I believe our teenagers are worth the effort, even if they then decide to go ahead and do it (whatever that “it” might be) anyway. Even though there are teens out there who will still do “it” anyway, there are also many teens who decide not to do “it.” They decide to say no either because they understand the consequences or they don’t want to disappoint their parents. They make that decision because we’ve educated them. We’ve harped on the issues. We’ve even (dare I say) nagged a little.

But just because there is a chance (maybe even a good chance) my teen may experiment with alcohol when he’s at a party with friends doesn’t mean I should accept it. It doesn’t mean I should let my teen drink with me. And it definitely doesn’t mean there won’t be stiff punishments when I find out he was drinking.

So don’t tell me, “they’re going to do it anyway, if they want to.” Instead tell me, “they might do it even though you’ve preached at them, but don’t stop trying.”

Post from: Blisstree

They’re Going To Do It Anyway

Speaking of gift ideas, the National Institute on Media and the Family has a 2008 MediaWise Video Game Buying Guide including a list of great games for kids.

Melisa’s son experienced his first lockdown at his high school. How scary!

Teens prefer Gmail for their email needs, but texting is still their favorite form of communication.

Kids are actually learning life lessons by sending all those text messages.

But there are definitely some downsides of texting, including swollen thumbs, big bills, and sexting.

Flirting has gone high tech with about 20% of teens sending naked or semi-naked pictures of themselves via text message or posting them on the internet.

Expert says teens shouldn’t have cameras on their cell phones to curb sexting. Do they still make cell phones without cameras?

Dating 2.0 where cell phones play a big part in today’s relationships (aside from sexting).

There’s a new device to help protect our teen drivers; a car key that prevents them from being able to make a call or text while driving.

Too much TV can cause behavioral problems.

Teen smoking and alcohol use is declining, but the recent decrease in marijuana use has halted and prescription drug abuse is still a big concern.

Teens have gone past cutting and our now inserting objects in to their bodies.

Nearly 1 in 5 young American adults has a personality disorder. How do you know if it’s regular teen attitude or something more?

Teens are starting to feel the recession crunch.

Some college students are coming home for winter break to find their parents can’t afford to send them back for the spring term.

Is the recession a good thing for Gen Y?

Today’s teens are lying, stealing, and cheating. And they aren’t even ashamed of it.

Here’s 10 tips for your teen test taker.

Warner Bros is pushing a music tax to universities to allow file sharing without prosecution.

College students are choosing Time over Cosmo and want to be more informed.

Is Gen Y Too Soft to Be Entrepreneurs?

Schools are curbing teasing, but there are benefits to a little harmless teasing.

Pro-skater isn’t pushing her kids in to sports. Instead she wants them to enjoy many activities during their youth.

Char created a template for a printable training journal for girls. Very cool!

Exercise may help obese kids control their anger.

Is obesity genetic?

Post from: Blisstree

Sunday Reading

Convince underage girls not to drink by letting them know their drunken antics will be the butt of many jokes. Humiliation goes a long way with a teenage girl. Watch the videos on ALot2Lose.com with your daughter and see what she thinks.

Speaking of underage drinking, Vanessa Van Petten gives us the facts about teen drinking.

And Liz at This Full House points us to another great site called Grltlk.org website as she starts talking to her teens about drinking.

According to The Teen Drug Abuse Blogs, communication is the best way to fight drug abuse among teens. Are you communicated with your teens? Not just lecturing, but actually communicating and listening?

So how do you become and active listener? You use your whole body.

Paris Hilton is searching for her new best friend on MTV. Oh help us.

Is your teen the next Steven Spielberg? Or a comedian like Dane Cook? Or quirky like Jim Carrey? Then they might interested in MTV’s movie spoof contest. They could win a trip to the 2008 MTV Movie Awards.

Movie spoofs not their thing? Are they more of the Alex P. Keaton variety? [On a sidenote, I called my son Alex P. Keaton the other day and he didn't know what I was talking about. Oh the humanity.] Well he/she can post a video about what the new president should do on his/her very first day in office.

Or is your teen an aspiring journalist who wants to cover the election? Wiretap is looking for Millennials (age 18 to 28) to blog about the election.

Get in to the election spirit with a Declare Yourself Vote t-shirt from American Eagle.

Did you know eating disorder may be contagious?

Philly schools cut snacks and it helped kids lose weight. I’m still trying to figure out why schools ever introduced soda and candy machines in the first place.

But then again, with junk food bans kids are selling candy in the black market…or at least at school in secret. And they are making a profit. They are quite the entrepreneurs.

Teen dating violence is on the rise. We need to take notice and put a stop to this. Keep track of your teens.

Have you heard about this new children’s book, My Beautiful Mommy? It explains plastic surgery to kids. Thoughts?

Vanessa Van Petten tells us what to do if our teen wants to wear clothes we don’t find appropriate.

YPulse has some interesting tidbits about teen credit card debt, female athletes and catholic youths.

Over at Adventures in Parenting there is an interesting (and scary) prom story. Good thing her daughter was cautious and checked out the stoned limo driver before she got in the car.

A U.K. store was criticized for selling a plunging, padded bra for kids as young as seven. I recently had this same issue with a bathing suit I bought at Old Navy for my eight-year-old.

Post from: Blisstree

Sunday Reading