Kids and Teens Blog

Money Management For Teens

2009-02-10T21:18:00.000-08:00

Money management skill is one thing that everybody in the family needs to learn. This is because each member of the family is put into consideration when the family budget is made. The teens just like every other member of the family need money management skills because they eat food, wear clothes and get answers to other financial demands from the family income.

Every family either earns money or spends money on daily basis. But the problem is that some parents do not appreciate the fact that their kids need to know how much money that comes into the family, how much money is saved and how much money is spent on various needs of the family.

As a matter of fact, you do do not need to bother your kids about the needs of the family but they have to know that money is not easy to come by. If you tell your children how much that comes into the family, how much is saved and how much is spent they will know the value of money and be good money managers.

As early as the age of 5, your kids should start appreciating the value of money. You should start to inform them about the family budget and how much of the family income is saved or mapped out for spending.

If the teens in your family have become income earners, you should teach them how to save some percentage of their income. Teach them how to make a business plan and follow it. Teach them how to buy their own clothes and other big things such as TV.

If you do not teach your kids someone else will teach them. The person may teach them how to spend the money on drugs, alcohol, gambling and other vices.

Your kids need money management skills as much as you do. Teach them today so that they can start managing money well from childhood thus having a good financial future.

Enhance Teen Self-esteem

2009-02-10T21:03:00.000-08:00

Your teenager may go through times where their self-esteem goes up and down; especially if they’re being teased by their peers. You may want to find ways of raising your teen’s self-esteem to a higher level to help them cope with their issues. Here are some ways you can do just that.

Take the Time To Listen- You may not always be able to stop what you’re doing when your teen wants to talk. Don’t brush them away and say that you don’t have time. This shows them you don’t care even when you actually do. Tell them that you need a minute or two to finish up what you’re doing and then you will sit down and talk with them.

Listen- Your teen needs to know that you’re actually listening to what they’re saying. Let them tell you what’s on their mind. Ask questions related to what they’re saying. For example, if they’re telling you about someone at school, you can ask if that person is in their class or not. This shows them that what they have to say is valuable; no matter what it is. On the same token, don’t interrupt them by saying what they’re talking about is wrong. Let them talk through their issue first and then explain what might have been wrong about i

More Praise- Offer more praise for the good things they do and less focus on the things they do wrong. You still want to show them what their mistakes are, but don’t dwell solely on that. Tell them what they could have done right and praise them for anything they may have done correctly in that situation. This helps them see that they aren’t as bad as they might think they are.

Punish Behaviors and Not The Teen- There will be times where you will have to dole out some form of punishment for your teen. It’s important that you punish the behavior, but never tell your teen how stupid they are for doing it or that they can’t do anything right. You would only be adding to their self-esteem problem. They need to know the behavior was unacceptable, but talk to them about how they could have handled it instead, so they don’t come out of it feeling like they’re not worth anything.

Share some of their interests- You don’t need to like everything they do. Find some things that they like and learn about them. For example, if your teen likes to play golf; you can offer to take them sometime and play along with. They can even teach you how to play, so they can feel like they’re really good at something.

Be Understanding- Don’t laugh or brush off your teen’s fears or insecurities. Always be understanding of that fear and help them work through whatever it is. Confess to some fears you might have had when you were their age. This shows them that they’re not alone and they’re not dumb for what they’re feeling.

Encourage- You will want to encourage your teen to do whatever it is they want to do. If their career choice is to be an engineer, then encourage them to find out what they need to learn to become one and encourage them to do whatever they need to accomplish that goal. If they choose to become a professional sports player and not go to college; you should still encourage them to continue playing that sport, but they could do it while in college. Let them know that they can get a feel for how it could work if they get on a professional team later on.

These things give them the confidence they need to try new things and to look forward to the future. To get super-sized self-esteem for your teen, you can start offering it yourself. This will help them when they have issues outside of the home that could cause a poor self-confidence.

A guide to Teenagers looking for employment

2009-02-10T20:56:00.000-08:00

This can be put two ways, the ideal way, and the realistic way.
Ideal - work is great, you get paid lots, have fun and anything else you like!
Realistic - Work is work, it’s not always fun, up until the age of 18(Scotland), the pay is pathetic…

However, if you start working early, you’ll be prepared for later in your life and make some extra cash!

Here are some general tips for finding your job;
Apply everywhere, the more applications you put in, the more chance you have right?
There’s a recession, so don’t be picky, it’s unlikely you’ll be working in a great job
If you’re at school, it’s best to get a Saturday job, leaving you Saturday night for parties and what not - after school is also an option, but it’ll be tiring
College? Depending on the hours you attend your college, it’s advisable to go for a few days a week, I have a friend who is doing an NHC is Computing Studies at college, he works in McDonalds 3 days a week
Determination… if you can’t accept low pay, annoying hours and a busy life, don’t bother with a job
If possible, try to relate your job to what you want to do later in life - if you don’t know yet, base it around what you enjoy

Here are some ‘job ideas’;

Like cars? I do, so I work as a valet at an Arnold Clark branch.
Like horses? Work in a stables or at your local race track.
Like sport? Work in JJB or a sports centre.
Seeing the pattern?
Till jobs are great, not bad hours (can be done after school) and in general, the pay is decent, just be aware that it’s hard to get the job just now.
Being a car washer at a garage is a great Saturday job, as long as you don’t mind getting wet and cold.
Be a caddy! Being a caddy is great, you can watch golf, get paid well and most likely get a tip.
Chip shops are always taking on young people for work, behind the tills or in the kitchen, or even just washing up!
Paper boy/girl - small hours, low pay, cold mornings, early mornings…. Great yep? No - that’s why it’s easy to get this job!
If you live near a football stadium and like football, apply as a ball boy! You see free football and it’s not a bad job… just be prepared for a long waiting list and the likelihood that you’ll never get that job.

There are several reasons for getting a job so young, here’s a few;
Experience for later in life, where I work, I get free driving lessons in the car lot from some of the younger and more adventurous salesman! It can give you vital experience of what life is like as an adult. Money, come on… who doesn’t like some extra Queen Heads? If you want regular new CDs, you need a job!
Work experience - most schools do work experience with pupils once they reach 4th year, adding to this is a very valuable asset. I have my Saturday job at Arnold Clark, the article writing I do, and experience in my local primary school.

Teen Protector

2008-08-05T07:42:00.000-07:00

Young, wild, and free ... isn't that what it's supposed to feel like to be a teenager? While it's normal for teens to push and discover their limits, it's also dangerous. Due in large part to the fact that parenting decisions are only as sound as the information on which they're based, more parents are choosing to rely on tools and technology than gut instinct.

Here are three strategies for parents concerned about their children's safety:

1.Install a GPS system in your teen's car.

In the old days, parents would check their cars for new scratches, dents, or overly fast tire wear and ask other parents if they had seen their kids driving recklessly or beyond their geographic limits.

Parents who utilize GPS technology know where their car is, where it has been, and how fast it has been driven. When continued driving privileges are tied to responsible use, safer driving results. More importantly, teens know that their parents have access to this information, which makes them feel safer if they get lost or into trouble. It's like having a parent in the car at all times.

2.Install software for monitoring email and chat room conversations.

Sexual predators target teens in Internet chat rooms. Parents should obviously urge their kids not to give out personal information or agree to meet someone they "met" on the Internet. However, since teens know their online activities are a privilege and can be monitored, they've got a constant reminder. Parents urge teens to resist talking or behaving online any differently than they would if their parents were in the room because, in a way, they are.

3.Initiate a parent - child contract and home drug testing program.

Peer pressure often increases when kids "just say no" to drugs, alcohol, or tobacco. Kids need a "socially acceptable" excuse, and the words "My parents test me" stop pushy peers in their tracks. Parent and Child Contract Software (PACCS), developed by Dr. Michael Reznicek, helps facilitate conversations and establish expectations (including both rewards and consequences) between parents and teens regarding drug use. Home drug testing kits can be administered at home and provide instant results for a fraction of the cost of a lab, without sacrificing accuracy or privacy.

The Daring Adventures of Teen's Life

2008-08-05T04:47:00.000-07:00

Having been a teacher and raising three children I have seen just about everything a child can throw at you good and bad and I have loved my journey with them. When you are involved with children 24-7 you certainly get to see the different personalities and you can usually visualize what each child could be like in the future with the right guidance. And let me tell you, taking on the responsibility of raising children is something I definitely consider a daring adventure.

Most animals have their young for a year or two before they grow to adulthood and leave to make their own way, but for us, it is a commitment of 18 to 22 years!!! (Some even longer). Still, we love them even though they can behave badly sometimes. There is a motivational poster that I love called “Purpose-Boy (and also Purpose- Girl), and it states: A century from now it will not matter what kind of car I drove, what kind of house I lived in or how much money I had in the bank, but one hundred years from now the world may be a better place because I was Important in the life of a child”.

We as parents really do shape their lives even though they have their own personalities; we instill in them the family values, morals and ethics. “Give the children roots but also give them wings”. This is another saying on one of our motivational prints. I love these pictures and sayings because it reminds me of my grandmother and her needlepoint with her favorite quotes of wisdom, which she would pass down from daughter or son to grandchild to great grandchildren.