Makeup Expertise for Teens

When your teen is ready to start wearing makeup, a great way to prevent overapplication and experimentation is to have them learn from an expert. When the time comes, have your daughter visit a cosmetic expert to learn the skills that she will need for the rest of her life. Or, have an expert into your home and let your daughter invite over friends to make a party out of it. Learning the skills early will prevent many fights and arguments as your daughter will know the proper ways to apply makeup and will not abuse it. Also, many teens take advice better from a stranger than from Mom.

Open-Door Curfews

To boost a teen´s self-esteem and independence try having your teen tell YOU when he will be home (of course, within reason). Use the rule that he can set the curfews as long as they are not broken. Your teen will like being in charge and this should eliminate a lot of arguments.

Birth Control Advice

You must not be afraid, ashamed, or embarrassed to talk about birth control: In this day and age, birth control/safe sex could save their lives. It´s like when they are young and you remind them not to talk to strangers: Remind them to be safe about sex! And remember that if YOU don´t give your teen the RIGHT information, their friends may give them the wrong.

Write Letters to Resolve Differences

Writing letters to a teen is a great way to communicate, particularly during an argument. This way you can think out what you need to say, (in a loving way) without being interrupted, challenged or losing your cool. The result should be greater understanding and a peaceful conversation.

Know Their Friends

Make your house a comfortable place for your kids to bring their friends. It my cause you to have a higher grocery bill, but you will know what your kids are doing, who they are friends with, and you will be closer because of it. Be sure to treat all the kids with respect and don´t criticize, and they will enjoy hanging out at your house instead of the street corner.

Saving for Brand Name Clothing

All teens and pre-teens love brand name clothes and they are not always affordable for parents. When my teens wanted to buy brand name clothes that I could not afford I would give them the amount of money I "could" afford and they would have to supplement the rest with what they earned on their own. It taught them great responsibility.

Contact Lenses

The deciding factor for teens who want to wear contact lenses is not age, but maturity. Your teenager has to be able to follow strict instructions about wearing schedule, cleaning routine, and follow-up visits. Failing that, he or she could develop eye health problems. Ensure that your teen knows that the eye requires a rest from contacts, that they are not a replacement to glasses, and that there are times when they cannot be worn.

Getting Teenagers to the Car On Time

If you are always waiting for your teens or pre-teens to get to the car on time, tell your kids that the first one to the car gets to pick the radio station. If they are still not interested, get there first for a few mornings and tune in to Public Radio or your favorite local talk show. That may "change their tune"!

Talking to your teen

Most parents feel like they´re in a different time zone than their teens. Being fairly new to adulthood I can tell you the easiest way to talk to them is to speak to them like adults not children. I know that´s hard but it eliminates a big part of the problem which is causing that communication gap.

Driving Log

Before allowing new teen drivers the priviledge to drive alone, many experts recommend that parents require their teen to log 500 miles with a licensed driver in the car. This should dramatically lower teen accidents.

Consequences Make Great Teachers

Don´t bail your kids out of the troubles they get themselves into every time. The difficulties can be wonderful and lasting learning experiences.

Encouraging Teen Chores

As an incentive for teens to finish their required chores and to earn extra cash, design a table listing required chores with "extras" at the end. When the required chores aren´t done, deduct an amount from their allowance, and when extras are done, add on to the total. This should encourage chore completion.

Expanding Horizons

Help your adolescent or teen expand his horizons through volunteer work. It´s a great way to learn new skills, and meet people. Community or senior centers, places of worship and the Y are good places to start.