Does “Do as I say, not as I do” rule in your household?

Published on September 24, 2013November 20, 2013 by Anne Clarkson

By goXunuReviews on Flickr

If it does, maybe it’s time to put your words into action. When your child was younger, your role was to lay the foundation for his behavior. Even though your teen is now starting to take responsibility for his or her behavior, it is still important for you to model good lifestyle habits.

Be an eParent®! Use technology in front of your teen in a positive way. Let them see you reading an eBook. Show your teen how you get useful information online. Ask your teen about their use of technology.

Recent research shows that teenagers generally stay close to their parents, and that they value and respond to their parents’ good opinion, advice and support. Your child’s peers and friends will also be important in the teenage years, but parents and peers influence different things. Parents influence values and morals while peers will influence specific behavior like choice of fashion or music. So, it is important to be a good role model for your teen.

Read this article about how Active Video Games Can Help Your Family Get Fit.

To learn more contact UW-Extension Family Living Programs or like Family Living on Facebook.

Categorized: Gaming, Model & Teach, Physical, Social & Emotional, Web

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Speak no, see no, hear no evil.

The hear, see or speak no evil approach might be humorous, but not effective with pre-teens. Your role as a parent requires you to use as many senses as possible to pick up on the concerns of your child. Digital media has opened up new ways you can use to listen and learn about your child’s feelings and concerns. Be an eParent®! Text a question rather than a critical message when you are concerned about your child. Instead of texting: “So U didn’t get invited to Sarah’s party. Get ove

Has your teen ever given you a hard time when you opted out of a family tradition because you were too tired or busy?

Maintaining or establishing family, cultural or religious rituals and traditions is one key to building strong families. One teen “lost it” when her mother decided not to host the annual family holiday cookie baking day. Of course, it wasn’t about the cookies, but the time she got to spend laughing and bantering with her mom and siblings. Be an eParent®! Create video messages for your child at special life moments such as birthdays, school transitions or holidays. Or put together a di