Motivating Your Teen

Many parents feel that all they ever do is nag, lecture, ground, and yell at their teens without ever receiving any results. Whether you want them to do homework, chores, or follow household rules, motivating a teen can be a challenge. Many teens fail to be self motivated for a number of reasons. However, there are several things a parent can do to effectively gain cooperation.

When a teen struggles in school or becomes resistant to parental instruction, it is important to consider the source of the problem. While a certain degree of noncompliance may be expected from a teenager, some may have underlying issues that exacerbate this problem. Sometimes the issue may be with the teen. Low self-esteem and depression can cause a teen to be unmotivated. In this case, you may want to seek professional help for solutions.

In addition, many teens lose motivation because their parents have enabled them to do so. Adults need to hold teens accountable for their actions. Allowing them to make some of their own decisions and experience failure is part of the process of growing up. Responsibility and motivation go hand in hand. If a teen is constantly under the “control” of their parent, they may not be learning to take care of things on their own. They need to be allowed to make decisions and experience the consequences accordingly.

Often, teens are unmotivated because they simply do not care about the task at hand. Although you would like to see your teen complete their chores, your teen might not be as worried about the garbage being taken out. People in general are motivated by self interests. With teens this is especially true. Motivate teens by rewarding positive behavior with privileges and other incentives. The days of hand outs are over. Give your teen the opportunity to get what they want by earning it. Whether your teen desires to borrow the car, have extra money for school clothes, or get a new cell phone, motivating them by their self interests will help you gain their cooperation and teach them responsibility for their own actions.

Teen Salvia Use

The rise of teen salvia use may be cause for alarm. The herb salvia divinorum produces a hallucinogenic effect and a cheap high. Crushed leaves are usually smoked to result in a short 5-20 minute mind altering state. In some states, salvia is legal and easy to obtain. Therefore, it is rising in popularity among teens and is now more popular than LSD or PCP as a hallucinogenic drug.

The concern for teen salvia use stems from several factors. Primarily the safety of using the drug is being questioned, as there are no conclusive studies of its long term effects. Plus, salvia may become dangerous as a result of its hallucinogenic properties. The fear with teen salvia use is that it may result in impaired driving, and reckless behaviors, endangering the life of the teen and those around them.

In addition to the hallucinogenic effect, salvia use may result in dizziness, nausea, slurred speech, loss of coordination, chills, and a decreased heart rate, for a short period of time. With regards to long term effects, no evidence has been generated to prove that there are any medical implications caused by salvia use. Salvia has been smoked for centuries as a healing agent and divining tool, while no cases of salvia related death or injury have been reported. However, the long term effects of salvia have yet to be studied thoroughly.

According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, more than 1.8 million people ages 12 and up have used salvia at least once in their lifetime. The majority of salvia use occurs in teens and young adults. However, many medical professionals strongly advise against salvia use, due to the limited knowledge and research that exists about the drug.

Teen Morals and Values

Teaching teens morals and values keeps them from making poor decisions. Within the United States, 1/3 of all teen girls will become pregnant, 1 in 4 will contract a sexually transmitted disease, millions will turn to drugs and alcohol, and more and more are becoming violent. These alarming statistics don't only suggest that more emphasis needs to be placed on teaching teens morals and values, but demands it for the safety of our children and our nation. Additionally, teaching morals and values to teens instills in them the desirable principles in character that society considers worthwhile. Without strong character and moral conviction, teens cannot build self-esteem, experience social and emotional growth, or learn to take responsibility for their actions.

The most effective way to teach teens morals and values is by example. Teens need a structured family environment, where they learn to be honest, healthy, moral, and safe by watching others. One study shows that only 2% of teens who smoke come from parents who do not. This suggests that while teens may not always listen to their parents, they are paying close attention to the examples that are being set. Eliminating harmful examples to your teens is important. It is recommended to restrict the types of movies they are permitted to watch, and discourage them from making friends who have values that are questionable.

In addition to setting a powerful example, creating and using teachable moments can have a large impact on the way teens develop their character. Know your beliefs and share them. Family time can include a structured lesson plan that opens the floor to discuss important moral issues. Plus, as things come up in daily life, they should be used as teaching opportunities. For example, if a young girl in your teens school has become pregnant, talk about the issue and consequences of teen pregnancy with your teen. Discuss the struggle that the girl must go through and how it will affect her life and the babies. Some of the best teaching moments aren't planned, but happen unexpectedly. If you commit to teaching values and morals to your teens, you will make and find opportunities to do so on a regular basis.