Latest Articles

• Teens' Free Time With Friends
  It’s 3 p.m. on a school day. Do you know where your teen is—and who is with him?
  
  If he is like most teens, he probably likes to spend his free time with friends.
• Back to School
  The Family Guide Web site features articles and resources about sending children back to school. Whether your children are starting second grade or senior year, you'll find information to keep them mentally healthy and drug free.
• Surf’s Up All Year Long for Young Internet Users
  Does your child spend a lot of time surfing the Net? Instead of reading books, riding their bikes, or hanging out with friends, many kids are spending their free time online.
• Preventing Kids From Breaking the Rules
  Most parents, teachers, and other authority figures deal with young people who occasionally break the rules. As kids move from childhood to their teen years, they may push limits, ignore advice, and question authority. You may wonder how to get them to stop, do as they’re told, and act right.
• Post-High School Parenting
  Now that your teen has graduated, he might think he’s all grown up and ready to take on the world. But he may still need help from you to make the right choices along the way.
• Practice What You Preach
  Whether you are an occasional user or just have a drink or two with dinner, your tobacco, alcohol, and illegal drug use affects your children.
• Combating Parental Stress
  Has your daily “to-do” list gotten so long that it no longer fits on a single piece of paper? Or do you have so much to do that you don’t even have time to make a to-do list? You’re not alone. Parents today are working longer hours and commuting greater distances to and from work. Their days don’t slow down when they get home. Kids’ after-school schedules can be jam-packed, making life busy—and often stressful—for parents.
• Gadgets and Gizmos and Games
  Children and technology have a close relationship. Video game players, cell phones, ipods, DVD players, and computers are among the hi-tech gadgets and gizmos that many kids and teens own. Tech items help young people have fun, learn new skills, and stay in touch with family and friends.
• Cheating: New Alarm About an Old Problem
  Stealing answers or copying someone else’s work—some students probably have cheated since schools started handing out grades. While cheating may be nothing new, it has become more common and often uses new technology. Parents and school officials face the hard question of what to do about dishonesty and the shortcuts to success that many students take.
• Wiggly Alcohol Tempts Teens
  Remember when your mother gave you jiggly, slippery gelatin desserts? Most of us have fond memories of those brightly colored treats. But times have changed, and a different kind of gelatin may be offered to your child. This new twist on the old classic features an ingredient that is dangerous for young people—alcohol.

* We refer to a child as "him" in some places and "her" in others. We do this for easier reading. All information applies to both boys and girls unless otherwise specified.