Parenting Teenagers

You might have often heard parents screaming frustrations, embarrassment, disappointments and sharing how they find it quite daunting to raise teenagers. While there is some shade of truth with this claim, there is always something left for you to make the task of parenting teenagers a bit easier.

The single, most important factor to consider for hassle-free parenting lies in the communication line that you have for your son/daughter. Your most important role in keeping your communication line open is to "listen". Listening encourages your teenagers to talk what is inside their heart and mind. Let them feel that you are a good listener and not a meticulous critic who always looks and pinpoints their flaws and reprimands them for even a very light offense or wrongdoing.

Aside from establishing communication lines, you ought to develop trust. If your teenagers trust you, there is a greater probability that they will be more honest with you. In return, you should always be truthful with them. Trust is one of the foundations of a lasting relationship. It is something mutual, and something you earn and develop through time. In line with this, you likewise have that responsibility of building their self-confidence. Your teenagers will be elated if you will consult them concerning certain family plans and issues. You can even include them once in a while in your family decision making process. This practice makes them feel that they belong and that they can contribute something useful and worthwhile.

You have to set a good example. This is where the art of modeling sets in. Remember that what your child sees in you would serve as the inspiration that will be stored in their piggy bank of memory. As the saying goes, you should always practice what you preach and surely this will establish credibility and that goes ideally as a sensible parenting advice.
When parenting teenagers, you have to be very keen with the words that you utter. Sometimes wrong choice of words causes misinterpretation and misunderstanding. Teenagers can be too sensitive and impulsive; they are in the very vulnerable state of being influenced easily by outside forces. If you are too harsh with your words, chances are they would prefer to listen more to outside elements whose intentions may be highly questionable.

It is also imperative that you spend quality time with your teenagers. Bonding with them helps to build open communication and trust which eventually will harness harmonious relations. Spending quality time with your son/daughter will prevent them from engaging in any useless and unhealthy activities.

Parenting Teenagers is really a tough job and should be taken seriously. However, a lot of avenues are open for parents to be successful in this moral responsibility. If you will just dig into the kennel of sensible parenting advice, you will come to realize that being parents to this brood of youngsters can be enjoyable and rewarding in the long run. All it takes is a unique strategy and little sense of humor and you are sure to go a long way that might end up rewarding yourself that you did a great job in raising your kids the right way.


See Also:

Complete Parenting Guide
Effective Parenting Tools
Help for Troubled Teens
Tips on Parenting Teenagers

There is no such thing as a perfect parent nor a perfect child. Good Parenting however, does exist but it inopportunely is not the norm. Parents in general are well-meaning and only want what is best for their children., they want to make sure that what they are doing is exactly right. However, parenting is not an exact science.

There's not just one way to raise children. There are certain techniques that may work for a particular child but it does not mean that it would be quite as effective with your child. Remember that every individual is unique, therefore it is the parents' duty to somehow "personalize" their parenting style based on what is being manifested by the child in terms of his/her physical, emotional and psychological development.

We always hear the precept that the family is the basic unit of society. As such, there is no more important job in any society than raising children, and there is no more important influence on how children develop than their parents. It is therefore essential to understand what good parenting really means. Good Parenting basically is about bringing out the best in your children through techniques that foster respect, honesty, autonomy, responsibility and kindness.

It helps promote the development of intellectual curiosity, motivation to learn and the desire to achieve. Good Parenting deters the child from exploring potential dangers in society such as prostitution, violence, drugs and alcohol. It protects the child from any potential cause of anxiety, depression and other forms of emotional and psychological distress. As a whole, Good Parenting fosters the development of a well-rounded individual.

How then can someone be a good parent?

• The first thing to remember is that raising children of character demands time and attention. Quality time is fun time.
  
• Do things together such as reading, playing, cleaning the house, and more importantly, praying.
  
• Pay attention to your children, especially what they have to say. Doing so gives them the impression that they are important and that you are interested in what they have to say. It is also important to note that a child's bad behavior is usually an attempt to get your attention.
  
• However when they do so, criticize the behavior and not the child. For instance, don't say that "you were bad", instead try to explain what the child did wrong. On the other hand, praise your children whenever thay behave well or they learn something new.
  
• Tell them you are proud of them. Show them that you love them, make it a pont to say "I love you." Give plenty of hugs and kisses. These simple gestures mean a lot on the emotional and psychological development of your children.

What I had mentioned are just simple tips, it is really up to you to take time out and learn how to bring out the best in you and your children. It is quite rewarding and satisfying to know that you have done evrything to nurture a healthy and happy family life.

See Also

Effective Parenting Tools
Complete Parenting Guide
Help for Troubled Teens
Tips on Parenting Teenagers

Helping Teens Handle Stress
How do we know a teenager is stressed?

* Chronic fatigue - exhaustion, tiredness, a sense of being physically run down
* Anger at those making demands
* Self-criticism for putting up with the demands
* Cynicism, negativity, and irritability
* A sense of being besieged
* Exploding easily at seemingly inconsequential things
* Frequent headaches and gastrointestinal disturbances
* Weight loss or gain
* Sleeplessness and depression
* Shortness of breath
* Suspiciousness
* Feelings of helplessness
* Increased degree of risk taking

But what would a parent do?

1. We must acknowledge that stress is real. We cannot sweep it under the rug and hope it will go away. It won't because it is huge in the life of a teenager. (If we are honest, we will have to admit that it is huge for us as well - think about all those folks that you know who are suffering from ulcers, heart problems, and high blood pressure). Stress is real. As parents we should know better, but teens have difficulty acknowledging that stress can be a real problem for them. Sometimes they dont even recognize stress as a problem.

2. There is hope in the midst of stress. Acknowledging that stress is real is not the end of the world. The Lord offers hope in the midst of it. This peace is not absence of conflict. Actually, it is realizing that we have a source within us to overcome anything that comes our way.

3. Stress is vital in our lives. There is some stress that is not only helpful, but healthy. Admittedly, there is some stress that is unhealthy; but we have tended to think that it is all that way, and it's not. Think of the stress that comes from exercising our bodies. Doing so causes our bodies to grow and get stronger. This is true of us as adults and it is true for teenagers as well. Helping teens to come to terms with these three principles will start them on the journey of coping with the stressors in their lives in a healthy way."

Parents Helping Their Teens Handle Stress

These are what some parents do in order to help their teenagers:

* They try to identify the stressors to recognize the signs of stress above.

* Spending time together or having a few good laughs together goes a long way in reducing stress and in building solid family relationships.

* They Provide opportunities for them to learn stress management techniques.

* They have reasonable reachable expectations and set manageable goals in academic and extra curricular fields.

* They are sensitive to changes in their teenagers' behavior.

* They encourage their children to do Physical exercise and sports are in order to prevent.

* They help and encourage them to build relationships with extended family members, friends and helpful neighbors. For they know that just knowing there is someone else to turn to share their feelings can be relieving for teenagers.

* When they are stressed, they do not pass it to their teens.

See Also

Tips on Parenting Teenagers
Effective Parenting Tools
Complete Parenting Guide
Help for Troubled Teens

Most parents are overly anxious to get the latest about parenting, trying to make sure that they are doing exactly the right thing. There is nothing wrong with that as all parents are generally well-meaning and only want what is best for their children. However, there is something that you have to understand.

There is indeed a science to Good Parenting, in fact it is one of the most researched topic in the field of social science. For decades, experts have conducted thorough studies but the findings have remained remarkably consistent. What they found out are quite simple and generic to some extent.

Below are some tips and guidelines to help parents raise children of good character:

1. Make parenting your top priority. This is easier said than done for we are living in a fast paced world. This is hard to do as there are so many competing demands such as work, peers, and even relationship issues. But as a good parent you must learn to plan, organize and devote time to parenting. As parents, you must keep in mind that developing your children's character is your top priority.
   
   
2. Establish and set rules. Consistency is the key. The rules that you set must not vary from day to day nor should they be enforced intermittently. Such practice will only confuse your child and any misbehavior is your fault and not his. If both parents are raising the child then they have to use the same set of rules. Also, make sure that babysitters, older siblings and relatives are aware and follow the rules that you set. Keep in mind that the rules that your child learned from you will help him establish the rules that he will set for himself later in life.
   
   
3. Cherish your children. Consider them as your most prized possession. There are thousands of couples out there who would be more than willing to trade places with you in a heartbeat! There are couples who are willing to do anything and everything to have a child. The mere fact that you have one is a blessing in itself. Everyday strive to make it a point to tell your children how much you love them and how special they are. Give lots of hugs and kisses.
   
   
4. Be a good example. As parents you must be good role models to your children. Human beings learn primarily through modeling. What your child sees in you, whether good or bad would definitely have an impact on his behavior and character. Being a good role model is probably your most important duty as a parent.
   
   
5. Treat your child with respect. Good Parenting is based on mutual respect. Do unto your child what you want your child to do unto you. The best way to get respectful treatment from your child is to treat him with utmost respect. Treat him kindly, speak to him politely and listen to what he has to say. Your relationship with your child would be the foundation of his relationship with others.
   
   
6. Spend quality time with your children. Most parents have busy schedules because of the rigors of their jobs. This however should not be an excuse to find time for your children. Do simple things together such as reading, playing, cleaning the house and more importantly praying! Another thing to consider is to make a big deal out of the family meal. Take advantage of this time to talk to your children and listen to what they have to say.
   
   
7. Avoid harsh discipline. Punishment has a bad reputation, and the worst form is physical punishment. The result would be guilt-ridden parents and badly misbehaving children. Studies show that children who are spanked, hit or slapped are more prone to pick fights with other children. They are more likely to become bullies and settle disputes with others through aggression. Always keep in mind that the more your authority is based on wisdom rather than on power, the less likely your children will challenge them. Children must have a concrete understanding of what punishment is for and that its source is parental love.

As parents we want to give our children some level of autonomy and let them be the architects of their own personality while accepting the responsibility of providing an environment that fosters honesty, generosity and compassion to others. Parenting is indeed difficult and stressful but it is also quite fulfilling and rewarding as you watch your children grow as well rounded individuals.

See Also

Tips on Parenting Teenagers
Effective Parenting Tools
Complete Parenting Guide
Help for Troubled Teens

Teen pregnancy is a delicate yet personal family social issue. Most teen pregnancies are unintentional and the unsuspecting "young mother" is usually taken off guard and confused. Teenage pregnancy does not only entail emotional and psychological issues but it also is associated with greater rates of illness for both the mother and her infant.

There are health risks for the baby and children born to teenage mothers are more likely to suffer health, social, and emotional problems. Women who become pregnant during their teenage years have an increased risk for complications, such as premature labor and socioeconomic consequences as well.
Teen pregnancy in the United States declined steadily from 1991 to 2005-from 60 out of 1000 teenagers in 1991 to 40.5 out of 1000 in 2005. However, the teen pregnancy rate increased for two years in a row in 2006 and 2007-to more than 42 out of 1000. Approximately one-third of young women in the United States become pregnant during their teens. More than 80% of teen pregnancies are unintended and unintentional. The highest teen birth rate occurs in Hispanic women with a prevalence rate of 83 out of 1000 in 2006.

Declining Teen pregnancy rates are thought to be attributed to more effective birth control practice and decreased sexual activity among teens. The most dramatic reduction in teen pregnancy-23%-has occurred among African American teenagers.

Still, Teen pregnancy rates remain high and approximately 1 million teenage girls become pregnant each year in the United States. About 13% of U.S. births involve teen mothers and about 25% of teenage girls who give birth have another baby within 2 years. To lower teen pregnancy rates, older children must be educated about sex and about the consequences of pregnancy. Pregnant teens are at much higher risk of dying or having serious medical complications such as placenta previa, pregnancy induced hypertension, premature delivery, significant anemia or toxemia.
Infants born to teens are 2 - 6 times more likely to have low birth weights than those born to mothers age 20 or older. Prematurity plays the greatest role among low birth weight babies.

Teen mothers are more likely to have unhealthy habits that place the infant at greater risk for inadequate growth, infection, or chemical dependence. The younger a mother is, below age 20, the greater the risk of her infant dying during the first year of life. It is therefore essential for pregnant teens to have early and adequate prenatal care.

There are many different kinds of Teen pregnancy prevention programs. Abstinence education programs encourage young people to postpone sexual activity until marriage, or until they are mature enough to handle sexual activity, and a potential pregnancy, in a responsible manner. Knowledge-based programs focus on teaching adolescents about their bodies and their normal functions as well as provide detailed information about contraceptives.
Clinic-focused programs provide easier access to information, counseling by health care providers, and contraceptive services. Many of these programs are offered through school-based clinics.

There are also peer counseling programs which typically involve older teens, who encourage other adolescents to resist peer and social pressures to become sexually involved. These programs tend to take a personal approach, helping teens understand their own risks. For teens who are already sexually active, peer counseling programs also provide negotiation skills for relationships and the information they need to get and successfully use contraceptives.

See Also

Help My Teen
At Risk Youth
Wilderness Programs for Troubled Teens

This Video shows something new circulating among teenagers as a way for a quick "High" or "Fun" activity.

Here is the Video

Let's assume you are reading this as the parent of a 5-year-old. When your child brings home papers from school, express interest and delight in them. Ask about what happened in school. Make sure your child knows his job is his education, and that his experiences each day are just as worthy of discussion as yours are. When children begin to have homework, develop a homework routine.

There might be a homework hour for your youngest children in which papers from that day are discussed and any genuine homework is done. When there is no homework, there should be reading or playing educational games of some kind. The key is that the hour is devoted to learning, not television, video games, or playing outside. That way, children are less likely to forget that they have homework because they know the hour will be spent in an educational pursuit of some kind.

They eventually realize its a pretty good time to do homework! This study hour paradigm can continue for years with parents making the time-frame longer as their children get older. But let's say that your family has not established a study time habit, and you are now faced with a 13 or 14-year old child who really does not know how to study. All is not lost. First, realize that people really do have different learning styles.

Many of us grew up believing that all studying should be done seated at a desk, alone, in a quiet room with good light. This is actually not the case, as hard as that may be to accept. Some people are kinesthetic learners. That is, movement or some physical act truly enhances their learning experience. For these children, sitting in a quiet, well-lit room alone is actually going to impede learning.

Others are visual learners.Reading the geography book will be a start, but working with maps and globes may be necessary for them to get it. Still other people are primarily auditory learners. These are the people who do best with books on tape---really! Do yourself and your student a favor and contact your school's guidance office to see if they can test your child for learning style. No guidance office? Check the local high school or even a local college.

Most educators would be delighted to assist a parent in identifying the best way for their child to learn. If you strike out here, too, go on line. Spend some time researching learning styles and learn about them with your child. In addition to identifying the appropriate learning style, your child is getting the clear message that this whole learning thing is very, very, important.

Once you have identified your child's learning style, find creative ways to honor it. Even if you and he are well-versed in how he learns best, there may from time to time be assignments which don't fit well into his learning style. Explain to him that life will be like this, too! He will have a preferred learning style all his life, but he needs to learn to adapt when he has to switch gears. Explain that you, a wonderful chef, have to do your taxes every year. Or that you can create a wonderful garden spot in your yard, but have a heck of a time understanding and reacting to local politics.

Make sure your child understands that learning is life-long, no matter how you do it. And that the skills he learns today are only half of what he needs to be an adult. The other half is learning how to learn, whatever it takes.

See Also

Tips on Parenting Teenagers
Effective Parenting Tools
Complete Parenting Guide
Help for Troubled Teens

Now let's fast-forward 10 or 12 years. Your adored daughter has turned into a stranger. You don't recognize the hair color, the black finger-nails or the attitude. One day, she comes home and tells you she's dropping out of high school. She's reached the age at which she can do this without your consent. And you are crying again.

Fortunately, you still love your child! And your actions now need to focus on your love, not your anger and sorrow. Believe me, the love lasts. The other feelings don't. Your job in the next year or even two years is to think and act for her in her best interest. As with most undertakings, your best weapon is your own knowledge. Give yourself some homework. Your state has rules and laws relating to education, and your county may as well.

Go online. If you aren't a person who knows how to go online, learn. In the meantime, go to your local library if you aren't comfortable online. Educate yourself and find out what the options are.

In one case, I know a mom who withdrew her daughter from school in order to save a so-far excellent Grade Point Average (GPA). The daughter wasn't attending school, and her grades were really in jeopardy. When mother and daughter were able to re-connect and work together several months later, the daughter was enrolled in an alternative high school---from which she graduated first in her class and went on to an excellent college.

If the mother had not quickly educated herself about the options, she would not have known to withdraw her daughter from public high school. And her daughter's future could have been significantly different. Frankly, it also made a tremendous impression on the daughter to find she had been withdrawn from school. What a wake-up call!

In another case, parents did have to come to terms with a life-style and values which were not their own. Their son dropped out of school and married at 17 to his pregnant girlfriend. His parents were professional people with advanced degrees. This young man was a hands-on craftsman who knew what he wanted, and it wasn't his parents' lifestyle. He wanted an artisan's career and a family.

His parents wisely learned about apprentice programs in their area and assisted their son in entering a school which seemed relevant to him, if not to them. They were able to preserve the relationship and are today enjoying their grandson. And they had no idea Journeymen made that much money!

It is a Saturday afternoon and the usual argument is going on. Your teenager wants to stay home and hide in his or her room and you want them to join the real world and do something with the family. What an adult considers as issues is totally different then what a teenage considers as issues. Often teens feel like no one understands or takes their problems seriously.

It is very helpful to know what issues your teen has to deal with on a day-to-day basis and remember that these are very real problems for your teenager and you need to take these issues seriously.

Some of the daily issues your teen encounters may be: Gangs, peer pressure, fitting in, drugs, alcohol and sex, just to name a few. They may also be going through their parents getting divorced and having to learn to get along with step siblings. All of these issues must be handled carefully. If your child feels he or she will be in trouble for telling you there were kids drinking at a party they were at, chances are afraid to open up for fear of not being trusted.

Let your teen know that you are there to listen with an open mind and will help them deal with what ever the issue is and that if the issue is something you cant resolve then you will help them find the right help. Watch your teen for signs of depression, rapid weight changes, and cutting or burn marks on their body, changes in grades or isolation. Changes such as these may require the attention of a professional. Keep the lines of communication open with your teenager, let them know you believe in them and your there to help.

See Also

Help My Teen
At Risk Youth
Wilderness Programs for Troubled Teens
Parenting Tools

It seems that the most important factor in your being able to influence your teenager is the strength of your relationship with him or her. When there is a good parent/child relationship, a teen is more apt to have a healthy view of life and will be easier to motivate than others.

If a parent who has a superficial relationship with his or her teenager tries to motivate the teen toward some type of academic or life skills goal, chances are slim that the methods will be effective. Simply lecturing a kid, or telling him or her what to do, will actually undermine any effort that you have made to spur your teenager on toward loftier goals. Another way to undermine your efforts is to condescend to your teenager.

Teens need to be treated as whole people, not just as students, children or delinquents. They also need to be shown how to be successful. If you can help your teenager to develop a positive attitude about life in general, they're more likely to develop a higher degree of motivation.

Stress to them the value of their education. You also should spend some time asking your teen questions so that you can better understand their motivation or lack thereof. Ask your son or daughter what their goals are. Ask how you can help and then make yourself available when they come to you. If you put them off time and time again, chances are that they will stop asking for help altogether.

As you set goals together, also discuss consequences for not meeting those goals, i.e. not completing homework, not doing physical exercises, etc. Teens need all the help that they can get. If you don't offer it to them, they will seek it out elsewhere. In order to ensure that the help they get is help that will motivate them toward higher goals, it is best that you, as a parent, are the source of most of their help and encouragement.

Help my Teen

One of the questions we often hear is, "Does my teen need an intervention option?"
In our experience, if you have a struggling teen, we see you have the following three options:

1. You can tighten up family rules and be consistent with your monitoring and follow through. Sometimes this can have a positive effect but typically, at this point, it can also have a negative effect if your teen already isn't receptive or willing to listen to you.

2. If you feel you need a foundation to work with, we recommend a positive short term boarding school or wilderness program to give you that base to build on.

3. Intervention, at some level, is usually necessary in order to see the positive changes in behavior. We strongly recommend finding a secure facility to aggressively work with your teen to allow true healing to take place. Intervention allows the individual to change their environment from a negative one that created the behaviors to a positive one. This has proven to be one of the fastest and most successful paths to normality!

If any of these behaviors describes your teen, you need to highly consider an intervention option ASAP!

• Problems at home and school
  
• Lack of discipline, respect for self and others
  
• Defiant toward rules, parents and those in authority
  
• Problems with the opposite sex
  
• Running away
  
• Hanging around the wrong crowd
  
• Getting involved in drugs or gangs
  
• ADD, ODD, Bi Polar, and other behavior related diagnoses
  
• Lying/deceptive
  
• Minor legal issues, however most of our parents are being proactive by enrolling their child into one of these programs before their child becomes entangled in the legal system.
  
• Low self esteem
  
• Hurt and Anger
  
• Divorce, adoption, loss of loved one and other issues revolving around these kinds of issues.

See Also:

Boot Camps For Troubled Teens
Help My Teen
At Risk Youth
Wilderness Programs for Troubled Teens
Parenting Tools

If you are suspicious your child may be using drugs, don't ignore the warning signs. Children seldom grasp the concept of addiction. Most view themselves as impervious to peril. For some teens, the stress of adolescence and pressure from their peers is overwhelming, and drugs become an enticing escape from their real world.

Here are some of the signs to look for. If you see these behaviors in your teen, ACT NOW! Don't wait until it's too late.

WARNING: Don't ignore these warning signs in your teen:

• Neglected appearance/hygiene
  
• Poor self image
  
• Grades dropping
  
• Violent outbursts at home
  
• Unexplained weight drop
  
• Slurred speech
  
• Curfew violations
  
• Drug paraphernalia
  
• Glassy eyes
  
• Red eyes
  
• Stealing/borrowing money
  
• Depression
  
• Withdrawal
  
• Change in friends
  
• Running away
  
• Disrespect to parents/authorities
  
• Lying/deceptive
  
• Sneaky behavior
  
• Manipulative/self-centered
  
• Truancy

Source

Teen Drug Abuse - Prevention and Tips
Teen Drug Use Statistics and Warning Signs

Help My Teen is an organization with over 20 years experience in counseling and connecting families with appropriate situations for their troubled teen. Through a network of associates and programs available we have been able to direct many besieged and divided families towards healing and unification to a common goal - that of appropriate and positive relationships with self and within the family and structure of society.

We offer:

• 20 years of academic and professional experience. Consulting with and assisting families of adolescents for over 12 years.
  
• Continuing and ongoing communication and relationship with many past clients. 96% parent satisfaction rate.
  
• 100% attention given to the needs of the family and the child. Small office with confidential and attentive staff.
  
• 24-hours, 7 days a week availability.
  
• Cost effective and immediate solutions. Funding Available.
  
• Assists in the fulfilling of parental responsibility to the adolescent who is noncompliant.
  
• Network of families and students who are willing to communicate with others regarding their experience with Help My Teen.
  
• Close association with several specialty boarding schools and behavior programs.

Specialty Boarding Schools: ages 13-18. Nevada, South Carolina, Western Montana, Up State New York, Georgia, Louisiana, and Iowa.

Therapeutic Boarding School: ages 13-18. Southern Utah, Jamaica.

Young Adult Specialty Boarding Program: ages 18 and over. Western Montana, Costa Rico.

Pre-teen Specialty Boarding School: ages 7-13. Northern Utah.

Through these facilities we have been able to assist many families in need of services for their children with many of the following issues:

• Drug and Alcohol Use
  
• ADD/ADHD
  
• Depression
  
• Bipolar
  
• Behavioral Problems
  
• Divorce and Family Conflict Issues
  
• Adoption Issues
  
• School Problems
  
• Poor Peer Choices
  
• Runaway and Curfew
  
• Minimal Legal Issues
  
• Accountability and Responsibility Issues
  
• Integrity
  
• Self Esteem and Emotional Issues

What enables the recommended programs to be successful is:

• Active Involvement of parents in support meetings and Seminars, locally and at the facilities.
  
• Programs based on results- not time
  
• Monthly News Letter that provides a connection between parents, teens and program.
  
• Parent Coordinators and Support Staff to assist in answering questions.
  
• Internet Bulletin Board to provide information and support.
  
• Home Visits to test the teens readiness to return home.
  
• Home Contract that identifies boundaries to assist in long-term success.
  
• Family After Care to successfully move family forward after graduation.
  
• Warranty that will assure child's internalization of program points and objectives.

Behavior modification is the use of basic learning techniques, such as conditioning, biofeedback, reinforcement, or aversion therapy, to alter human behavior. It is the use rewards or punishments to reduce or discard problematic behavior, and can teach new responses to an individual in response to environmental stimuli.

It is also defined as a therapy that aims to inhibit abnormal or maladaptive behavior by reinforcing desired behavior and eliminating undesired behavior.
Behavior Modification is part of a behavioral tradition developed by Ivan Pavlov in the early part of the twentieth century.

This therapy was adapted by John Watson in 1920 and eventually translated into behavior therapy by researchers and clinicians such as B.F. Skinner and Hans Eysenck in the 1950s. However, the first use of the term behavior modification appears to have been by Edward Thorndike in 1911.

His article Provisional Laws of Acquired Behavior or Learning makes frequent use of the term "modifying behavior". Today, there are several branches and schools of thought with varying terminology as regards behavior modification therapy.

The primary goal of behavior modification is to adjust behavior patterns that are inappropriate and undesirable in some aspects. When conducting this technique, it is crucial that the undesirable behavior be isolated and observed. Eventually, this is followed by a certain degree of awareness of the behavior on the part of the parents and the therapist, and also on the part of the child whose behavior is being modified.

Subsequently, with the awareness comes the goal of further understanding the cause and effect of the behavior, thus assisting to affect change. This step of understanding behavior in context is called functional behavior assessment. This means that you have to know what comes before the behavior, what the behavior looks like, and what comes right after the behavior.

Once sufficient observation are made, they are then analyzed and specific patterns are identified. Once there are established antecedents and/or consequences, only then can an intervention be implemented to target them in order reinforce and strengthen or diminish the target behavior. This technique has become the foundation of positive behavior support for children in school whether from traditional education or special education.

In several cases, behavior modification together with cognitive therapy and medication therapy are the preferred methods of treatment for disorders such as ADD, ADHD and Conduct Disorders. Behavior modification and cognitive therapy are also commonly used in the treatment for disorders such as Eating Disorders and Substance Abuse, Mood, and Anxiety Disorders.

There are two types of reinforcers used to strengthen positive behavior. The use of rewards to reinforce a positive behavior to help affect change is called positive reinforcement. Negative Reinforcement strengthens a behavior because a negative condition is stopped or avoided as a consequence of the behavior.

To stop an inappropriate behavior, it's important to first focus on just one or two offending behavior patterns. Once a behavior pattern is recognized and its pattern charted and understood, a system of reinforcements and consequences can then be constructed.

The key to a successful program of behavior modification is consistency. Stick to one technique as much as possible, this is the reason why you should be careful from the very beginning of the tratment program. It would be risky to shift from one technique to another as this nay only confuse the patient. Lastly, it is imperative that parents present their own behavior and reactions in a positive way, so that their children can learn and model appropriate behavior.

See Also:

Boot Camps For Troubled Teens
At Risk Youth
Wilderness Programs for Troubled Teens