4 Child Development Theories That Can Help You Better Care for Children

Have you ever wondered what motivates thoughts and behaviors in children? Our understanding of human nature and child development is continually advancing but all children are different, and no one has all the answers. However, a few recognized theories can provide useful insights on early development that will help you better care for children.

During our early years of infancy through childhood, we develop the basis of our intelligence, personality, social behavior, and capacity to learn. Four theories are worth reviewing and include attachment, psychosocial, cognitive development, and sociocultural theory.

1. Attachment Theory (Bowlby): This theory's centers around strong emotional and physical bonds that create a sense of security in a child. Bonds are established with caregivers who are available and responsive to an infant's needs. Thus, the infant knows the caregiver is dependable, which creates a secure base for the child to explore their surroundings.

Example: Six-month-old Jordan enjoys infant toys and interacting with others. Confident that crying brings help, Jordan responds to anyone and gets upset when someone stops interacting with him.

2. PsychoSocial Development Theory (Erikson): In this theory, social development occurs in stages based on turning points in a person's life including hope (birth to age 2), will (ages 2-4), purpose (ages 4-5), competence (ages 5-12), fidelity (ages 13-19), love (ages 20-39), care (ages 40-64), and wisdom (ages 65+).

Example: Two-year-old Jennifer has recently begun squirming and saying "no" when her Nanny tries to secure her in her car seat. Jennifer has begun to develop a sense of self, separate from her caregivers. Her Nanny must consistently set limits and follow through with Jennifer, to keep her safe and secure while riding in the car. The Nanny can increase Jennifer's willingness to comply by providing specific praise along with allowing Jennifer to pick a special toy to hold whenever she gets into her car seat without resistance. Selecting her own clothers will also help Jennifer gain more independence.

3. Cognitive Developmental Theory (Piaget): This theory is based on a four-stage model describing how the mind processes new information. The stages are sensorimotor (birth to age 2), preoperational (ages 2-7), concrete operational (ages 7-11), and formal operations (ages 12+).

Example: Five-year-old Zachary is still egocentric and struggles to see the perspective of others but is starting to think symbolically and use words to represent objects. Zachary loves reading and is building a foundation of language. As this stage, caregivers should continue to read books daily, encourage pretend play, share logical thinking. By explaining that it's winter time as grandma's house and thus, a coat is needed will help Zachary, who lives in Texas, understand why a coat is being packed in the suitcase.

4. Sociocultural Theory (Vygotsky): This developmental theory evolves from children's interactions with tools and other people in their social environment. Community, culture, and interactions are key to child development and learning.

Example: Seven-year-old Alex is struggling to solve a jigsaw puzzle. By interacting with an adult, Alex learns how to separate out the edge pieces, put together the border, and sort the interior pieces by color or design. By working with an adult, Alex develops skills that can be applied to future jigsaw puzzles.

There are other childhood theories that can help parents and other caregivers by teaching them how to spend more enjoyable time with their child, reinforce positive skills, monitor behavior and set limits, and reduce the use of harsh discipline methods. These essential caregiving skills help children develop pro-social behavior, self-regulation, and other skills they need to be successful in school and at home.

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4 Child Development Theories That Can Help You Better Care for Children

Have you ever wondered what motivates thoughts and behaviors in children? Our understanding of human nature and child development is continually advancing but all children are different, and no one has all the answers. However, a few recognized theories can provide useful insights on early development that will help you better care for children.

During our early years of infancy through childhood, we develop the basis of our intelligence, personality, social behavior, and capacity to learn. Four theories are worth reviewing and include attachment, psychosocial, cognitive development, and sociocultural theory.

1. Attachment Theory (Bowlby): This theory's centers around strong emotional and physical bonds that create a sense of security in a child. Bonds are established with caregivers who are available and responsive to an infant's needs. Thus, the infant knows the caregiver is dependable, which creates a secure base for the child to explore their surroundings.

Example: Six-month-old Jordan enjoys infant toys and interacting with others. Confident that crying brings help, Jordan responds to anyone and gets upset when someone stops interacting with him.

2. PsychoSocial Development Theory (Erikson): In this theory, social development occurs in stages based on turning points in a person's life including hope (birth to age 2), will (ages 2-4), purpose (ages 4-5), competence (ages 5-12), fidelity (ages 13-19), love (ages 20-39), care (ages 40-64), and wisdom (ages 65+).

Example: Two-year-old Jennifer has recently begun squirming and saying "no" when her Nanny tries to secure her in her car seat. Jennifer has begun to develop a sense of self, separate from her caregivers. Her Nanny must consistently set limits and follow through with Jennifer, to keep her safe and secure while riding in the car. The Nanny can increase Jennifer's willingness to comply by providing specific praise along with allowing Jennifer to pick a special toy to hold whenever she gets into her car seat without resistance. Selecting her own clothers will also help Jennifer gain more independence.

3. Cognitive Developmental Theory (Piaget): This theory is based on a four-stage model describing how the mind processes new information. The stages are sensorimotor (birth to age 2), preoperational (ages 2-7), concrete operational (ages 7-11), and formal operations (ages 12+).

Example: Five-year-old Zachary is still egocentric and struggles to see the perspective of others but is starting to think symbolically and use words to represent objects. Zachary loves reading and is building a foundation of language. As this stage, caregivers should continue to read books daily, encourage pretend play, share logical thinking. By explaining that it's winter time as grandma's house and thus, a coat is needed will help Zachary, who lives in Texas, understand why a coat is being packed in the suitcase.

4. Sociocultural Theory (Vygotsky): This developmental theory evolves from children's interactions with tools and other people in their social environment. Community, culture, and interactions are key to child development and learning.

Example: Seven-year-old Alex is struggling to solve a jigsaw puzzle. By interacting with an adult, Alex learns how to separate out the edge pieces, put together the border, and sort the interior pieces by color or design. By working with an adult, Alex develops skills that can be applied to future jigsaw puzzles.

There are other childhood theories that can help parents and other caregivers by teaching them how to spend more enjoyable time with their child, reinforce positive skills, monitor behavior and set limits, and reduce the use of harsh discipline methods. These essential caregiving skills help children develop pro-social behavior, self-regulation, and other skills they need to be successful in school and at home.

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How to Be Better Parent to Teens

This is coming from my experience as being a teen, NOT as a parent. I am a grown man, no longer a kid. But I think anyone whose been a teen(which we all have or will be obviously) it's probably the most difficult times in this persons life. They are young, rebellious, and insecure. Extremely insecure and sensitive. As a parent, it's time to try the right approach. Believe it or not, parents make quite a few mistakes when it comes to their teens. I'm not to say I'm the expert on parenting. I think I can help you communicate with yours better and even get more control.

Try not to smother them. Okay, you have to realize when your teen is going through this stage of growth. They want to be independent and more grown up. Even though they clearly aren't established with enough life experience, to be quite like this. Yes they get mouthy, and act as if everyone around them is completely wrong, dumb, or doesn't understand what they are going through. Trying to throw in your wisdom and much more experience in life will more times than not will fail with them. They can't truly grasp anything they don't know about. More importantly, they usually don't care. Nothing you says really changes this. Believe it or not, most of what they'll learn about life can't always come from telling them. I'm not saying you shouldn't speak your mind to them on the rights and wrongs. Just don't force it too much. They are going to have to find out and learn from themselves eventually. You could tell me everything about life until you were blue in the face, but what I'd actually process this info at that age, probably would very little to none at all. The only times I'd realize these things, when I started to enter adult hood. It wasn't because of the wisdom others shared that were right. It was because I had to find first hand with experience. I know parents want to smother and try to protect them from every mistake. The lesson learned, you can't in life. Sometimes they have to experience this on their own.

Listen to them. When I say listen, let them feel important enough to be able to talk to you. Don't always put down their opinions about things, or mistakes even when you know they are wrong. You got to remember they're really sensitive and under quite a bit of pressure this age. They're developing interests in boys or girls. They feel they need to look good in front of others. At the same time, don't force it on them to talk to you. At this age kids start to shut their parents out of their lives more. Don't take it personal, they still love you. Look I know, and you know that 99 times out of 100, you can see a situation with a lot more clarity than them. It's very easy for grownups to forget what it's like at that age. We know grownups were once this age, but sometimes our own experience gets a bit diluted. We tend to either remember the good, or bad in our past. We don't remember everything consistently. Listening to them and truly giving them respect will go along way in getting them to give that respect back in return. Maybe not always as much as you'd like. But hey, at least some will be gained. You can't just be perceived as an authority figure, otherwise they are going to do the opposite just for spite. Most kids want to be rebellious at this age. They don't want to listen to anyone.

Let them see the mistakes they make for themselves sometimes. Obviously if they are in a situation that is extremely dangerous, or really bad. You'll definitely have to flex some serious authority. Sometimes when they are making a mistake, you don't have to always be the one to point this out. You come across the bad guy if you always do this. The more you fight with your teens, the more they are going to want to do these things that are wrong. You can't always be the bad guy, even if you're right. You are just going to push them further away no matter what you do. Just to try to get back at you, or prove you wrong. Sometimes teens drink, get into a little trouble. As troubling as that can be, they aren't throwing their entire life down the toilet. I'm not saying parents should condone these sorts of things. Sometimes it's better to let something go, than turn into an even worse problem.

Avoid embarrassing them. Biggest mistake you can ever make as a parent, embarrassing them in front of friends. This is the easiest way to make them hate you, and refuse to ever listen to anything you do. My own mother did this to me as a kid. Didn't matter what I did, she truly could never grasp how wrong this was. Look parents are right about things most the time. I agree, but NOT all the time. To this day, I can clearly see why this was a true error in my mothers parenting. I know she meant well and just wanted to see me do better. At that age, teens and their friends mean everything to them. The way they look in front of their friends, which is wanting to be cool and accepting. So yelling at them, or acting super overprotecting in FRONT of their friends is bad news. I'd avoid this at all cost. If you want to tell them to be home at certain time, try to tell them alone. Or if they're doing something you don't like, call them up to talk to them alone. Then yell or say something that you didn't like. Your kids will at least learn to appreciate that you aren't trying to show them up in front of friends. It's about trying to earn their respect at that age, because I tell you it's very, very, very hard. Teens think that everyone else is an idiot. Which truth of it is, no offense to any of your kids, it's them that just doesn't have a clue how most things work. Hey I was just like that too. :)

Talking about drugs and drinking. I realize parents will never, ever, condone drinking or drugs. Of course you shouldn't. First few times they do it, have a serious talk to them. Maybe don't even grown them, the first time. Look kids are going to experiment at times. There's nothing you can do. I think most kids at least do, as troubling as that can be. I'd push your kids to join sports, if you're really worried about these things. The kids that develop a seriously addiction to these substances. Are either ones very rebellious, or two just flat out bored. Because majority of kids who do play a lot of sports, don't have much time for partying. They are much more focused. Tell your kids to NEVER, ever drink or drive. Big no-no, tell them if they ever are out drinking. To call you, instead of driving or getting into the car with someone else who's been drinking. I want you to flex this important detail, more than the drinking itself. Promise them you'll be much lighter and understanding, than you'd be if they drove home drunk. If they ever drive home drunk, you can rip them a new one and take away their car. Or you got into the car with someone drunk, big time punishment. Make your kids active, that's the best way to avoid the drug and drinking scene. If your kid continues to go down this path, send his or her ass to rehab or let the cops deal with it. I never said don't lay down the law. I just think tough love should be the last option.

Let them know you're reasonable but still the boss. The most important part of parenting teens is being reasonable. You have to try to compromise, not just think about what you want for them. What they want too, which is a bit of fun. If they do good, then sometimes you should be more generous. Maybe they get to stay out a little later. Now if you think the kid is taking advantage of you, toughen up a bit. You want to get to the point where the kid realizes if they DO behave, they'll actually benefit from it personally. So when they do get in trouble, they might not learn a lot about why it was wrong know. But they'll at least learn maybe I better listen. With more privileges and freedom. So that should at least help. You can't just lay down the law, and give them nothing. Never, ever works. They'll sneak behind your back and won't really care that much since you make things so tough anyways. If your kid is so wild, so bad, no reasoning or nothing can be done. Send them to military school. They need the kind of discipline that you might not be able to give them. Mothers will hate this, fathers should consider it and explain to the mother. Hey, this should be the last option. It might save their live though, and turn them into what they need to be.

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Tips to Be Obedient

As a teenager, it can be challenging to be obedient whether it is to your parents, your religious beliefs or to some other authority such as school rules, traffic rules and so forth. While it is wise to not blindly obey, the benefits from obedience far outweigh the alternative. Besides, people around you will more likely trust you because of the good choices you make. Here are some steps to help you to be more obedient.

Decide early on that you will strive to do the right thing and commit to be obedient to reasonable, righteous and worthy rules. This is the most important step and if you truly commit yourself, you shouldn't have to make this decision again.

Listen to your parents when they tell you why they prefer you to do one thing over another. Most likely, they have been down the path you are heading and only want the best for you.

Think before you act. Societal and institutional rules and regulations are established for good reasons to maintain peace and order.

Use formal and socially acceptable methods to challenge or question rules that you disagree with rather than be a rebel and disobey to get your point across. The only thing that will result from such an action is pain and heartache for you and your loved ones.

Ask yourself why you believe the tenets of your religious faith. If they are worthwhile teachings, ask yourself whether or not it will be beneficial for you to obey or not.

Remember that every time you obey and do the right thing, you become stronger and more able. Your capability to resist the temptation to be disobedient will increase with each passing situation and you will ingrain values in yourself that will carry you through more difficult circumstances.

Put others before yourself and engage in service. You will learn to be more humble and grateful. When you are grateful and humble, you tend to be less rebellious and hence, more obedient.

Amend your ways if you make a mistake. You can be sorrowful for your disobedient actions and seek for forgiveness. Where possible, make retribution as well

Seek help if you need to. It is useful to have a support system to help remind you to make the right choices and steer you from rebellious tendencies should they arise. If you are religious, pray for help.

Take time to evaluate the benefits and blessings that you enjoy from being an obedient child, citizen or member of your faith.

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How to Discipline Runaway

Parenting a teenager is a struggle for most parents, but especially when they run away from home. The processing center in the human brain changes during puberty, moving to the frontal lobe. On top of that, their hormones are raging, and their peers influence a significant part of their lives. Add into that mix, moving in with a new family by adoption or foster care, well things can get out of hand. Remember that moving involves changing schools, losing friends, breaking significant relationships, and sometimes even learning a new language. Some teenagers handle stress by writing in a diary, others chat on the Internet or telephone, and some runaway. Should you discipline or punish the runaway?

Share the concern you felt for your runaway child's wellbeing and your relief at your child's safe return, first. Keep in mind that running away is how some teenagers deal with stress. If you just adopted your child or just began fostering remember that moving is very stressful in the best of situations.

Make an appointment for counseling right away. Also, give your child a notebook or diary to write in daily especially whenever feelings of anger, stress, and hopelessness occur. Ask the school counselor for an appointment as well the more support the better.

Remove the means of communication if you feel discipline is necessary. Confiscate the cell phone to end the means of contacting friends for rides and shelter. Remove Internet and house telephone privileges for several days or a week. Discipline is necessary for teenagers who have been in your care for years or their entire life. Especially if your child ran away to sneak out to meet significant others after you said, "No."

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How to Prevent Kids From Viewing Porn Online

The ever-growing popularity of the Internet has made it harder than ever for parents to control their children's access to inappropriate materials, including online pornography. There are several steps you can take to try to control their access. However, it is only through frank discussion and frequent monitoring that you can truly be sure of what exactly your child is viewing when spending time surfing the Internet.

Install a password-protecting program on your computer. This limits your children's ability to get online when you are not around. Most children tend to access inappropriate sites when they are home alone or when a responsible adult is not around. By password protecting your computer, they won't have access to the Internet, if you are not there to allow it.

Block all inappropriate sites with filtering software. There are specific software brands available that allow parents the opportunity to block access to inappropriate sites. When your children try to visit pornographic sites, a page will instead appear, letting them know their access has been blocked due to adult content or language. While this stops access to most porn sites, some still manage to slip through the radar, so don't count on this method alone.

Place the computer in a common area of your home. This allows you - and everyone else in the home - to monitor what is on the computer screen at all times. Moreover, since there is little to no privacy, children will not feel emboldened to try to visit sites they know they should not be viewing.

Talk to your children about the inappropriate nature of pornography. Have a frank, open discussion, appropriate for their age group, to make them understand why they should not visit these sites. You don't have to go into explicit details about what these sites contain, but be honest that the material found within them is of a sexual nature and is not viewable by children their age.

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Get Teen Out of Bed in Morning

For many teens, waking up in the morning is the hardest task of the day. Most of the time, teens rely on their parents to act as their own personal alarm clock. But when the time comes, they often refuse to wake up. There are several ways for parents to get their teens out of bed in the morning.

Get a full night's sleep. The biggest problem for most teens is that they are too tired. Parents and teens
should make it a goal to go to sleep at a decent hour, preferably before 10 p.m.

Stop hitting the snooze button. This is a common problem with teens who use an actual alarm clock instead of their parents. The alarm goes off at 6 p.m. and the teen hits the snooze alarm before going back to sleep. Either use a clock without a snooze button or set the alarm for an earlier time so the teen will have more time to sleep if they want.

Enforce the consequences of sleeping late. Let them receive a tardy notice at school or miss the bus to reinforce the need to get up on time.

Keep a routine for your teenager. Teens should go to sleep and wake up up at the same time every day.

Offer rewards for getting up on time as a last resort. For example, offer lunch money or let them use the car for the weekend if they get up on time all week.

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How Tough Love Work

Many children challenge their parents with behaviors that leave the parents feeling desperate. From toddler temper tantrums to adolescent drug abuse, fighting and disrespect for adults and rules, undesirable behaviors pose problems for parents and can lead to negative outcomes for children. In 1968, Bill Milliken’s book, Tough Love, offered help for parents. Tough love is a concept that remains popular today, but many parents wonder if it really works. Nalalia Burns, a therapist who provides intensive in-home services for parents and children, along with her teammate, Marie Anderson, shed some light on this question.

Does tough love change children's behaviors?
Burns and Anderson: Yes. Tough love can work, when it is done correctly. Many parents become interested in tough love techniques when their children exhibit negative behaviors such as being irresponsible, disrespectful, breaking the law, behaving aggressively or violating others’ rights. Other morally or socially inappropriate behaviors that respond to tough love techniques include acting out sexually, stealing, cursing, lying, fighting, hitting, bullying, talking back to parents and authority figures, drug use and noncompliance with rules.

How do you explain tough love to parents?
Burns and Anderson: We explain to parents the importance of establishing and enforcing consequences for undesirable behaviors. And we stress the most essential aspect of tough love: consistency. Without consistency, a child learns that he can sometimes get by with the behavior. Inconsistency leads to patterns that are hard to break, because of the intermittent reward of not being held accountable. Just like gambling, a habit that is hard to break because a gambler sometimes wins, a child who does not receive consistent discipline may continue to break the rules. Tough love works if a parent is consistent. The "tough" part of tough love is not the child discipline, it's the self-discipline.

How do children and adolescents respond to tough love?
Burns and Anderson: Adolescents may feel as if parents are being “too hard” on them. Some children will not recognize the benefits and feel betrayed by parents or “unloved,” as if parents don’t care. Tough love works best when a parent explains “why” when implementing tough love techniques. “This is for your own good,” has to be delivered calmly and firmly, with reassurance that the new rules and consequences are because of the parent’s love for the child and concern for his or her future. When parents explain why they are using tough love, it supports the child’s understanding and increases acceptance and compliance with tough love tactics.

What are some important tough love techniques?
Burns and Anderson: Ideally, parents sit down with a child during a calm time, when the child has not behaved negatively, and they define the rules and expectations for the child's behavior. Consequences for breaking rules should be clearly defined during this conversation. Examples of disciplines include time-out, removal of privileges, extra chores or going to bed early. Tough love that works begins with the parent maintaining or regaining self-control before disciplining a child. The parent asks the child to acknowledge the broken rule or wrongdoing. Acknowledgement and acceptance of responsibility are key components of the tough love change agent. After the child acknowledges her error, a consequence is given. Ideally, the child recognizes that she chose this consequence through her behavior. Remember, tough love works when a parent is consistent. Threatening to discipline and not carrying through are not part of tough love.

Can all parents learn how to use tough love?
Burns and Anderson: All parents can learn to use tough love, but it is more difficult for some parents than for others. Many parents are ambivalent because they fear their child will no longer love them if they are tough, or if they don't give the child what she wants. The truth is, clear boundaries and expectations give children a sense of security. Indulged children – children who are not held accountable for their actions or who are always allowed to have their way – develop unrealistic expectations for themselves and for the world around them. And, they can become distrustful and resentful of their parents when they flounder in negative behaviors and get into trouble.

Are rewards used in tough love?
Burns and Anderson: Consequences are not the only reinforcer for a parent using tough love techniques. Giving rewards is also effective for extinguishing undesirable behaviors when used carefully. Rewards can be used as a small celebration of a child's success. Generally, a reward is given after a child completes or achieves a predetermined goal, such as not talking back to parents for a week, turning in homework every day for a week or not breaking curfew for a month. The criteria should be dependent upon the child's age and reasonable expectations. Rewards can include small gifts, treats, privileges, time off from a chore, special time with a parent, grandparent or friend or staying up later than usual.

About Nalalia Burns & Marie Anderson
Nalalia Burns is a mental health therapist for Integrated Family Services, PLLC. In her role with the agency, she performs individual and family therapy, as well as Intensive In-Home Services for families with children who are at risk for out-of-home placement due to child characteristics and family dynamics. Marie Anderson is a Qualifed Professional who works as Burns' teammate in intensive family services.

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17 Year Old Driving Laws in Michigan

Knowing and understanding your state's driving laws can help keep you safe while driving. According to Child Trends Data Bank, in 2004, 36 percent of all teen deaths in the United States were the result of motor vehicle crashes. Michigan has laws to help keep young drivers safe whether they're behind the wheel or just passengers.

Segment One
To obtain a Michigan intermediate license, teenagers must complete segment one of the Michigan Graduated Licensing System. A teenager can begin this segment when he or she is 14 years and eight months old. He or she must have parental consent, must pass a vision and health test and must participate in the state's driver education program. Before earning the intermediate license, a teen needs to complete 24 hours of driver education classroom instruction, six hours of driving instruction, four hours of driving observation and a written test. At the age of 14 years and nine months, a teen can apply for his or her learner's permit. With this license, he or she can drive with a licensed adult who is at least 21 years old. If the adult is not the driver's parent or legal guardian, he or she must have a written note from the youth's parents. Before beginning segment two, a teen must complete at least 30 of daytime driving and two hours of night driving.

Segment Two
Once a teenager completes segment one and has had a learner's permit for at least three months, he or she can begin can segment two. At this point, Michigan requires a young driver to complete six hours of classroom instruction, as well has logging 50 hours of supervised driving time, before taking the state road test. Once this is done, the driver will receive a certificate of completion that must be presented to the test examiner before taking the road test. After passing the road test, a teen will receive an intermediate license.

Unsupervised driving
With a Michigan intermediate license, a teenager can drive unsupervised; however, there are strict laws implemented for that first year. If a teen receives any traffic violations, parking tickets or fault accidents, it could result in a suspended license. By law, a teen cannot drive between the hours of 12 a.m. and 5 a.m.---doing so can also result in license suspension. The only exception to that law is if the teen is accompanied by a licensed driver 21 years or older or if he or she is driving to or from work. After completing a full year or driving with an intermediate license, a teenager will receive a regular Michigan driver's license at the age of 17.

Other Guidelines
According to the Michigan state government, the majority of crashes happen between 9 p.m. and midnight, so the state encourages parents to set curfews for new drivers. Teen drivers should restrict the number of passengers in the car because more passengers mean more distractions, and an inexperienced driver can easily get into an accident when there are too many distractions.

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Cell Phone Use in Teens

A good number of American teenagers own and use cell phones. These devices help parents stay in touch with their teens, aid teens in completing school work and give teens access to emergency services, but they also come with risks. An alarming number of teenage drivers admit to using their cell phones while driving. Understanding how your teen uses a phone can help you set appropriate boundaries.

Ownership Stats
In its 2013 study of 802 teens between 12 and 17, Pew Research Center found that 78 percent owned cell phones. A total of 37 percent of all teens owned smartphones, up from 23 percent two years earlier. Older teens and those living in urban and suburban areas are more likely to own phones than younger teens and those living in rural areas. Boys and girls are about equally likely to own phones.

How Teens Use Phones
A number of Pew studies reveal information about just how teenagers use their cell phones. Research done in 2011 found that 75 percent of teens texted, and sent an average of 60 texts per day. Older teen girls sent the most texts, averaging about 100 per day. At that time, 39 percent of teens reported making or receiving cell phone calls each day. Research done in 2012 found that 58 percent of teens had apps downloaded on their cell phones or tablet computers, including social media sites.

In a 2009 study, Pew found that 86 percent of cell phone-owning teens age 14 and older had slept with their phones next to or in bed with them.

In a 2010 study, 64 percent of teens with cell phones reported having texted in class, and 25 percent reported having made or received phone calls during class.

Cell Phones and Teen Drivers
When teens are asked to report their own risky driving behavior, the results are murky. What is clear is that teenage drivers are distracted by their phones behind the wheel.

In the 2013 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance, a service of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, teen drivers were asked whether they had texted or emailed while driving at any time during the previous 30 days. Just over 41 percent of those drivers said they had used their phones at least once while behind the wheel.

But in a study by Liberty Mutual and Students Against Destructive Decisions, also done in 2013, 86 percent of teen drivers admitted to using a phone while driving, and 68 percent admitted to reading or replying to texts while driving.

Tips for Parents
Make a family media usage plan, suggests HealthyChildren.org. Meet with your teen and lay out the times and places in which cell phone use is allowed and forbidden. Ask that her phone be left in a central area overnight, not in her bedroom. Brush up on her school's cell phone policies and go over the rules with her. If you're paying for her phone plan, you should have access to records of her received calls and texts. Let her know you'll monitor them to see whether she's using her phone when you know she's in class or driving, and explain what the punishment will be if she does.

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Youth Driving Laws Ohio

Ohio has youth driving laws designed to protect motorists and teen drivers. Legislation revising certain restrictions on the operation of vehicles by license holders under 18 years of age, was signed into Ohio law on January 4, 2007, and went into effect on April 6, 2007.

Curfew
Ohio has a curfew for teen drivers. Probationary drivers 16 years of age are prohibited from driving between midnight and 6:00 a.m., unless accompanied by a parent with a valid driver's license. Probationary drivers who are 16, cannot drive with more than one person in the vehicle, who is not a member of their own family. According to the Insurance Institute For Highway Safety, the risk of accidents rises among teens who have multiple passengers in the vehicle. Drivers holding a probationary license and are 17 years old, are prohibited from driving between 1:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m., unless accompanied by a parent. Exceptions are made for emergencies, work, and travel to and from school activities. All permit holders under the age of 18, are prohibited from driving between midnight and 6:00 a.m. unless accompanied by a licensed parent.

Graduated Licensing Law
Ohio has a graduated licensing law, which delays issuance of an operator's license to teens. This law is designed to provide teenage drivers with proper driving skills while restricting driving at night. The graduated licensing process begins with teens obtaining a learner's permit, which requires the teen to pass tests in knowledge and vision. Teens with a learner's permit drive with an adult 21 years of age or older and the minimum age for holding a learner's permit is 16. Teen drivers hold this license for at least six months and there is zero tolerance for alcohol use while driving. The blood alcohol content (BAC) level for driver's with a learner's permit is zero. The next stage in the graduated licensing law process is a probationary license. Once teen drivers complete the learner's permit requirements, they are required to pass a road test and have a licensed adult to ride with them during late night hours. Full driving privileges in Ohio are offered at age 18, with the completion of the learner's and probationary licensing periods.

Documentation
Proper documentation is required for all teens wishing to obtain a driver's license. According to the Ohio Department Of Public Safety, Bureau Of Motor Vehicles the documents must be submitted at the time of application and include a birth certificate, state issued learner's permit,social security card, passport or United States Citizenship And Immigration Service documents. Secondary documents include health insurance cards, certified copy of school transcripts,student I.D. card or medical records.

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Utah Tween Curfew Laws

Teenagers in Utah can face much more than being grounded if they are caught out after hours. While exact public curfew times differ depending on the age of the teen and the specific city, Utah state law defines curfew as between midnight and 6 a.m. If teens younger than 18 violate these laws, they can face community service and fines, and they may be ordered to enroll in counseling.

State Curfew Law
Utah's state curfew law says that teenagers 18 and younger cannot be in a public or semipublic place between the hours of midnight and 6 a.m. any day of the week. A semipublic place includes the area that a teen travels between two private places, such as driving from home to a friend's home. The curfew laws do not apply to a teen's presence in a private place, such as a friend's home. The laws do apply to teenagers whether they are driving or walking.

Local Curfew Laws
Local city or county curfew laws take precedence over state curfew laws in Utah. For example, Salt Lake City has a law banning children younger than 16 from being out between the hours of 11 p.m. and 5 a.m., meaning teenagers in this age group in Salt Lake City can be penalized for being out at 11 p.m., even though the state law says they can be out until midnight. Salt Lake City moves the curfew hours to midnight to 5 a.m. for 16- and 17-year-olds. Therefore, teenagers in this age group who are out at 5 a.m. will not be penalized, even though state laws would penalize them in other cities.

Curfew Exceptions
State and city curfew laws provide exceptions for some teenagers. Teenagers who are married, accompanied by a parent or guardian, traveling to work, working, responding to an emergency or participating in a First Amendment activity such as protest are exempt from the curfew laws. Teenagers participating in a school or religious activity, such as a field trip, are also exempt. Local exemptions are very similar. For example, in Layton, the exemptions are the same except for the allowance for First Amendment activities.

Curfew Enforcement
Police will escort teenagers home if they are found violating curfew. If a parent cannot be found, teenagers may be kept at a government facility -- though not a detention facility. Violations of curfew are considered Class C misdemeanors, and teenagers or their parents who are found guilty may be sentenced with up to 10 hours of community service. They may also be ordered to attend counseling. Some courts may also charge a small fee.

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State-Funded Boot Camp Military Schools

Military boot camps are expensive. Therefore, parents dealing with teenagers involved in risky behaviors, such as substance abuse, don't receive help until their child ends up in the legal system. According to bootcampsforteens.com, the only free boot camps are state-funded and can only be used if a teen is in the juvenile system. State run prison boot camps as a substitute for youth incarceration have been on the rise since 1975. The state of Kentucky, however, has only one boot camp because of limited resources and the complexities of providing services to out-of-control teenagers.

Cadet Leadership and Education Program (CLEP)
The Cadet Leadership and Education Program is a medium security detention center operated by the Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice. It has a capacity for 40 boys ages 14 to 17. Youthful offenders spend a minimum of eight months in the program, with four months of incarceration and four months of community placement. There are four platoons consisting of 10 youth and one youth counselor. The objective of the program is to promote discipline through physical conditioning and teamwork. The military-style program attempts to instill values of respect and a healthy work ethic as well as academic achievement. Offenders are held accountable for their behavior, and there is a focus on eliminating drug and alcohol involvement.

Alternatives to Secure Detention
The Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice lists a "wide range of alternatives to secure detention programs and services." There is a custody continuum based on a screening for the level of risk to the community posed by the teenager's behavior. Teens can move up and down the custody continuum at any time. The continuum includes: intensive community supervision, home detention, home incarceration, staff secure shelters and/or foster homes. Offenders at this level of care may attend one of the two boot camp alternative educational programs offered by public schools.

The first is the Cadet Leadership and Education Alternative Program operated for students in grades 9-12 by the Breathitt County Public Schools.

Breathitt County Public Schools

2665 Highway 30 W

Jackson, Breathitt CO

KY 41339

And second is the Woodsbend Alternative Program. Although it is technically called a boys camp, it has a five percent female enrollment.

Woodsbend Boys Camp

P.O. Box 765

West Liberty, KY 41472-9010

606-743-3177

Specialty Boarding Schools
Military Schools Options does not recommend military schools for defiant teens or those with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), depression or other mental health disorders. The Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice concurs. The state of Kentucky provides a link to a website that lists specialized mental health services for individuals (including teenagers) in the South Central Region of the State. For information contact the South Central Region Mental Health Services in Kentucky by visiting their site at llifeskills.com.

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Boot Camps for Teens in Kentucky

Unruly teenagers occasionally need additional guidance and discipline to develop a sense of responsibility and social grace. Boot camps introduce teens to a military style of discipline and respect with the long-term goal of altering teen behavior. Traditional military boot camps can be too harsh for adolescents, so youths should be sent to a boot camp geared toward teenagers. There are a few boot camp options for teens near Louisville, Kentucky.

U.S. Army Cadet Corps
The U.S. Army Cadet Corps is located in Millersburg, Kentucky. Funded to be the premier cadet training program for young adults, the U.S. Army Cadet Corps states that its mission is "to instill in young Americans, through a multi-faceted Army Cadet program which is physically and mentally challenging and rewarding, the importance of national pride, service to others and maintaining a drug-free and gang-free lifestyle." Enrollment age is 11 to 18. Enrollees first complete the 16-day Basic Cadet Training, which is created as a realistic military boot camp experience.

Youth Development Centers
The Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice runs 10 Youth Development Centers throughout the state. Only available for juveniles already within the juvenile justice system in Kentucky, these facilities are secured and generally serve youth from the age of 14 to 18. When possible, youths are placed in facilities as close to home as possible, according to the Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice. Participants attend school six hours a day and are able to take GED and vocational courses. Counseling and behavior management are services provided by the centers.

The Cadet Leadership and Education Program
The Cadet Leadership and Education Program is for teens ranging in age from 14 to 17. All teens at the Cadet Leadership and Education Program have already been entered into the juvenile justice system in Kentucky and are now being detained in the medium-security boot camp. According to the Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice, the goal of the boot camp is rehabilitation by combining military-style discipline with therapeutic treatment options for the teen offenders. Teens are a part of the Cadet Leadership and Education Program for a minimum of eight months, four of which are on site and four of which are supervised in the community.

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Chore Checklist for Teenager

The sooner your teen learns there's no fairy who loads and unloads the dishwasher, the better. Part of preparing your child to be a responsible adult is instilling a solid work ethic now, and pitching in teaches your teen about responsibility and teamwork. Necessary chores and the frequency with which they need to be done varies by household, so while some chores are appropriate for all teenagers, every family's chore list will be unique.

Everyday Chores
Your teenager can handle all the duties necessary to get herself up and ready for school each day, including preparing her own breakfast and cleaning up after she's done. You may also put her in charge of preparing her own school lunch. A teen can set the table, help prepare dinner and clear her own dishes after the meal. She might also be in charge of emptying the dishwasher each day. If you have pets, you might put your teen in charge of feeding, walking or cleaning up after them.

Occasional Chores
Some chores need to be done only on a weekly or as-needed basis. You may put your teen in charge of cleaning the bathroom each weekend as well as doing touchups, such as cleaning the sink, every few days. He can handle vacuuming, dusting and straightening up living areas. You may ask him to do all his own laundry, but if not, he can at least separate his laundry before it's washed and fold it and put it away once clean. If your teenager can drive, you might make running errands or grocery shopping one of his chores.

Outdoor Chores
If you have a yard, put your teen to work in it. She can shovel snow, rake leaves and help with weeding and watering plants. She can also wash cars and, under the tutelage of an experienced adult, may be able to handle simple car-care tasks such as changing the oil and washer fluid. In a rural setting, the majority of your teen's tasks may be outdoors if you need daily help caring for animals and land. Whether you live in a single-family home or an apartment, taking out the garbage and recycling is a manageable task for a teenager.

The Bedroom
If your teenager has his own bedroom, you may want to dictate how clean it is, or you may opt to let this be one of those battles you choose not to fight. To keep the peace between siblings who share a room, you may require a few daily bedroom tasks, such as making the bed and putting dirty clothes into a hamper. But if your teen bunks alone, consider the compromise proposed by HealthyChildren.org. Insist that he keep the door closed when he's not home, that he do a thorough cleaning once a month and that he accept that you won't participate in keeping his room clean.

Setting Chore Rules
Set reasonable expectations and help your teen meet them. Post a chore list or chart on the refrigerator or help your child set up chore reminders on her phone. Your child needs enough time in the day for extracurriculars and school work, but she should still be held accountable for completing her chores. As an adult she'll have to work full-time and still have to take care of her home, so letting a busy teen out of chores does her a disservice, writes Fred Provenzano, Ph.D, of the National Association of School Psychologists.

If you and your child's other parent live separately, communicate with one another to ensure you're giving your teen an equivalent amount of chores. This way she won't come to resent one parent for giving her more work than the other.

Whether to tie allowance to chore completion is a decision for each family to make, agree Provenzano and KidsHealth.

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Teach Teenagers Assertiveness Skills

Teenagers are growing and changing rapidly. They face many challenges. This transition from childhood to adolescents can be difficult for teens. Parents can help teens develop the skills and knowledge they need as they begin asserting their independence. While teens need your support, they also need to learn how to make their own decisions and begin making meaningful relationships outside of the family. This is a normal part of development. By giving your child the communication skills and knowledge she needs to assert herself, you can prepare her to successfully and responsibly deal with these new challenges.

Teach your teen to say no to things that could harm him. One of the major challenges that many teenagers face is peer pressure. This is likely the first time your teen will have to make these types of decisions. Discuss specific scenarios. Ask your teen if he would know what to say, for instance, if he were offered drugs.
Role-play ways that your teen can say no without feeling embarrassed. Encourage him to assert himself confidently. Help him to see alternatives to things he does not want to do, and help him know how to express these to his friends. Explain to him that it's OK to say, "I'm not comfortable doing that" and to offer alternative activities to his friends.

Encourage and discuss respect as a core value of relationships. Show respect to teens by including them in important decisions, particularly those that involve their lives. For instance, when making rules and curfews, make sure that your teens are able to assert their desires about these rules to you and have a say in the consequences involved in breaking them. By modeling respect in your relationships, your teens will learn what a respectful relationship looks like.

Teach your teen how to handle aggressive behavior and bullying. Explain that it is not OK for people to take advantage of anyone and that verbal put-downs are a form of aggression. Give her strategies for dealing with conflict and aggressive behavior constructively. For instance, she can be polite and nonabrasive but direct. Make it clear that if someone is taking advantage of her, she can come to you or another adult for help and that the situation does not need to continue. Compliment your teen when she asserts herself in a constructive manner.

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Teen Road Rage Drive

Just like adults, some teenagers are guilty of road rage. Road rage occurs when a driver operates a vehicle aggressively and irresponsibly out of anger or frustration at other drivers, passengers or pedestrians. Teens who are emotionally outraged might accelerate rapidly, tailgate, refuse to brake, yell, swear, flash their lights, throw items out of the car or chase other vehicles. This type of dangerous driving behavior can lead to car crashes and physical assaults. In some states, teen and adult road rage can be prosecuted as assault and battery or vehicular homicide if a driver, passenger or pedestrian is killed, according to AlertID, a neighborhood social network.

Immaturity and Lack of Self-Control
Teenagers don't always handle tense driving situations responsibly. "Immaturity and the adolescent propensity for risk-taking, such as speeding, tailgating, text messaging while driving and cutting off other drivers, puts other motorists in danger," says Dr. Richard Schieber, a child-injury specialist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. Teenagers don't always have the self-control or self-discipline to focus on responsible driving habits when they're agitated or emotionally engaged in aggressive driving situations. Teenage mood swings can lead to automobile crashes, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. For example, in May 2014, the California Highway Patrol reported that a 17-year-old girl ran over a 13-year-old boy because he threw a water bottle at her SUV, according to an article at KCRA.com in Sacramento, California.

Disengaged or Uninvolved Parents
Parents often neglect to set a good example for their teenage children by driving recklessly themselves and engaging in road rage. Some teens grow up thinking that being angry and aggressive behind the wheel is the norm. Other parents neglect to set and enforce ground rules, such as taking away teen driving privileges when their children drive irresponsibly and respond to driving situations with anger or refuse to follow the laws of the road. Parents should discourage their children from driving when they are tired or upset, or at any time they are more likely to engage in destructive driving behavior, according to Healthychildren.org.

Physical Altercations Outside Vehicles
Teenagers who experience road rage might engage in fights, physical altercations, assaults, and even shootings, outside of their vehicles. Road rage can lead to dangerous, even lethal, activity once teen motorists pull over and get out of their cars. For example, according to Fox 8 in Cleveland, an 18-year-old was shot to death after engaging in road rage with another young motorist. After stopping their vehicles and engaging in verbal assaults, a driver of one vehicle shot the driver of the other.

Negative Affects of Peer Pressure
Teenagers, especially boys, participate in road rage to show off for their peers, attempting to prove that they're skilled, confident drivers who won't let other motorists take advantage of them. Even though peer pressure is a normal part of adolescence, some teens overestimate their driving abilities and allow peer pressure to dictate their driving habits, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Some teens engage in aggressive, angry, conflict-ridden driving behavior to fit in with peers who exhibit the same destructive behavior.

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Driving at the Age of 15

Getting a driver's license at age 16 is considered to be a right of passage for American teenagers in many states. Each state has different laws regarding minimum age for driving unsupervised. The majority of states require drivers to be 16 or 16 and a half. States like New Jersey require drivers to be 17, while drivers in Montana or Idaho need only be 15. There are several pros & cons of driving at the age of 16 or for any young age.

Pro: Increased Independence
Prior to getting their driver's license, teenagers must rely on their parents or older siblings to drive them to school, work, sporting events or social activities. While most parents don't mind driving their kids around from time to time, constantly chauffeuring teens and coordinating rides can become a hassle for busy parents. When teens get their driver's license, they can be more independent from their parents and take care of their own rides.

Cons: Lack of Experience
For young drivers, one of the greatest dangers facing them on the road is their lack of experience. Because they have only been driving for a short time, teen drivers could be faced with challenging or dangerous situations on a daily basis that they may not know how to respond to safely. According to an article by the New York Daily News in 2008, the leading cause of death of teenagers is car crashes.

Pro: More Time to Gain Experience
While it is dangerous to put young drivers on the road who lack experience, the only way they'll gain experience is to be out driving. The International Debate Education Association website argues that even if the driving age were raised to 17 or 18, teens may still be dangerous drivers because they would still be inexperienced. To counter this, many states have long probationary periods where teen drivers must drive with an adult for a certain amount of hours to practice driving before they receive their full license. Some states also have a curfew where teens under 18 cannot be out past a certain time of night, usually midnight.

Pro: Increased Responsibility
While many feel that 16 is too young for teenagers to be driving due to immaturity or lack of experience, driving at a young age can increase responsibility. Teens with a driver's license must learn quickly to look out for their own safety, as well as the safety of those around them. Whether they have their own car or borrow the family car, teens must also learn to be responsible for its care or face the consequences. While driving at age 16 is considered a right of passage, teens must know that their privilege to drive can easily be taken away by parents or law enforcement for unsafe driving.

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Changing Driving Age to 18

Watching your child get behind the wheel when you don't yet trust him to do his own laundry is a daunting moment. Driver's licensing ages vary between states. While many states require drivers to be 16 or 17, some states allow 14- or 15-year-olds to drive alone. Safety experts and politicians have proposed raising the driving age to 18. High schoolers craving independence aren't the only ones who question the wisdom of such a change.

Pros: Safety
Keeping teens safe is the primary argument for raising the driving age. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the fatal crash rate per mile driven is nearly twice as high for 16-17 year-olds as it is for 18-19 year-olds. Keeping minors from getting behind the wheel unsupervised could prevent injury and death not only to these teen drivers but for their passengers and drivers in other cars.

Many high schoolers don't have cars or even driver's licenses but do have a friend with wheels. Teens are most likely to have fatal crashes when they're driving with passengers, according to the IIHS, and the risk of a fatal crash increases with each passenger. (SEE REF. 2) So if your child's lab partner or crush can't load the gang into his car for a fast-food run because he's not old enough to drive, you don't have to worry about her safety as a passenger in the car with him.

Pros: Health and Development
Health concerns factor into driving age debates. Even if a teen can safely walk to a friend's house or school, it's unlikely he'll choose that option if he can hop in the car instead. With more than one-third of teenagers classified as overweight or obese, eliminating an opportunity for exercise is a negative.

The brain isn't fully developed at 18; that doesn't happen until a person's mid-20s, typically. However, emotional maturity increases with age and experience. While a 16-year-old may drive faster than is safe because her friends tease her for being slow, at 18, that same teen may have the maturity to consider consequences and resist peer pressure. And if a younger teen's friends can't drive, she's not at as much risk of making the poor judgment of getting into a car with a peer who's impaired.

Cons: Getting Where They Need to Be
Many teens are busy with extracurricular activities, jobs, volunteer work and socializing. When teens younger than 18 can't drive themselves to and from these activities, those responsibilities fall onto their parents, who may not have the freedom or willingness to shuttle their teens from place to place.

In rural areas or areas that lack adequate, safe public transportation, high schoolers who can't get rides from their parents aren't able to get around. If a teen can't get to the job he needs to earn money for college or to get to an SAT prep course, that can limit his options after high school.

Cons: Education and Experience
While in high school, teenagers can receive driving lessons from experienced relatives and take driver's education classes, which are offered at some schools. If a teen can't start driving until he's close to leaving home or has already left, he may not have anyone nearby to teach him to drive safely. It's careful and extensive training, more than age, that prepares teenagers to be safe drivers, argues Kate Willette of Seattle's SWERVE Driving School.

And raising the driving age won't necessarily prevent teen driver crashes -- it could just delay some of them. An 18-year-old who is a new driver has just as little experience behind the wheel as a 16-year-old new driver. The IIHS offers an example using Connecticut, where drivers can be licensed at 16, and New Jersey, where the minimum licensing age is 17. The death rate is higher among 16-year-olds in Connecticut, but higher among 17-year-olds in New Jersey. No matter the driving age, inexperience always leads to some accidents.

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Parental Responsibility for 19 Year Olds

When your child turns 19, it doesn't mean that you quit providing the love, instruction and guidance that she still needs. However, in the eyes of the law, you no longer have the same legal responsibilities or legal privileges that you once had. At age 19, your child becomes a legal adult -- known as "the age of majority" -- even if she's still in high school or lives at home. Each state has its own list of rights and privileges for 19-year-olds, but most follow the same general guidelines.

Legal Responsibility
One of the biggest changes in parental responsibility for an 19-year-old is your legal responsibility. You are no longer held accountable for your teenager's legal conduct, and if she is arrested, she appears in an adult court, rather than a juvenile court. The law no longer holds you accountable for your teen's high school attendance, and if she's found truant, she must address and make restitution for any truancy charges. Your teen is responsible for traffic violations, any type of criminal behavior and cheating or lying on legal documents, such as tax returns.

Limited Access to Your Child's Records
Parents can no longer access their 19-year-old's personal records, such as medical records or financial records, including bank statements and credit card statements, without the teen's consent. However, the U.S. Department of Education has some exceptions that allow parents to obtain education records. According to the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act colleges can disclose education records to parents without the student's consent, if the parent has claimed the student as a dependent on his most recent tax return. If your 19-year-old is on your medical insurance plan or your car insurance plan, you may also receive documentation about traffic violations or medical claims on your policies. However, if your child wants her doctor to provide information to you, she needs to sign a release of information form with your name on it.

Financial Independence
You are no longer legally responsible to support your child financially. In other words, you are not legally required to provide shelter, food, clothing and health care for your child. College expenses are your child's responsibility, such as tuition, fees and student loans, unless you agree to take out parent loans in your name. However, you may choose to support your 19-year-old by continuing to pay for her housing, food, car insurance, car payments, clothing, medical expenses, education expenses, personal hygiene and entertainment. This is especially important if she's still in high school and doesn't have a job to pay for her living expenses or needs help while attending college or getting started in the real world.

Important Steps for Your Teen
Discuss with your 19-year-old what privileges she now has, so she can make informed decisions and hopefully act responsibly. She can vote, make a will, serve as a juror, be an organ donor, sign contracts, receive medical treatments, apply for credit and enlist in the armed forces -- all without parental consent. On the flip side, she can also be sued for breaching contracts. Male 19-year-olds must register with the Selective Service.

Conversations with Your 19-Year-Old
Talk to your teen about any new guidelines that you're establishing as a parent, now that she's 19. Describe the conditions under which you are still willing to help out financially and let her know what you expect. For example, if your teen has a job, explain what she must pay for now. For example, you might ask her to pay her portion of the family's car insurance premiums or start buying her own clothes. Discuss whether you plan to help with college expenses and if you have any conditions, such as your teen must keep her grades above a 2.5 to keep your financial assistance. Let her know how much you plan to help with the college admissions process, including financial aid applications. Cover any household rules that may have changed now that she's an adult, such as later curfews or no curfews at all.

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