Your Child, Ages 12-18

Dear Parents,

It seems as though teens spend their whole lives online, so Internet safety is paramount. Read our guide to online acronyms, if you've ever wondered what your kids are talking about while instant messaging. Be proactive by forging an online agreement with your teen, and find guidelines for using the Internet in school.

Of all the pressures kids face in high school, the most stressful may be the pressure to fit in. Help your teen define who she is by learning what teens worry about. You can help her avoid peer pressure by focusing on what's important and forgetting about what's not.

Finally, with the number of stepfamilies on the rise, it's important for new stepparents to get on the same page. Learn what steps to take for stepparenting success, as well as common mistakes to avoid. One of the most important things you can do is to define your role as a stepparent before moving in.

From the Editors at FamilyEducation.com

Internet Safety
Computers and the Internet are essential for today's teen. But do you know how to keep your kids safe online?

A Parent's Guide to Online Acronyms Protecting Teens in Online Chat Rooms Teens and Talk: The Lure of Instant Messaging Teens on the Internet: What Parents Should Know

Parent/Child Online Agreement E-mail Etiquette Safety in Cyberspace Tips for Using the Internet in School Boys and Pornography: What's Normal? More on Internet Safety

Fitting In at School
Cliques and social pressures can make the high-school years difficult.

Cliques and Fitting In From Black Leather to Blue Hair Teens: Defining Who They Are What Teens Worry About

"I Can't Go Anywhere -- I Have a Pimple!" Avoiding Peer Pressure Transitioning from Home School to Public School More on Your High-Schooler

Stepparents
Stepparenting is always a challenge, particularly when teens are involved.

Stepparenting Myths Defining Your Role as a Stepparent Slow and Steady Wins the Race Privacy for Stepparents The Nine Steps to Stepfamily Success

Twelve Mistakes to Avoid in Stepparenting A Smooth-Sailing Household Common and Unrealistic Expectations About Stepfamilies More on Stepparenting

Six Steps to Back to School
These six easy steps will help kids and parents be prepared and know what to expect for the start of a new school year.

Printables Center

		Stop by the Printables Center for skill-builders, organizational forms and charts, and other resources to help your teen succeed this school year. Forms and Charts Skill-Builders Art and Music Puzzles and Games Most Popular Printables Center Home

Your Child's Diet
Vitamins and minerals are an essential part of every child's diet. Find out if your kids are getting enough vitamins and minerals from the foods they eat.

		Join in this discussion about stepparenting on our Message Boards: "My stepdaughter has known me since she was 14, and has increasingly acted aloof, distant, and rude...and not just to me, but to her mother, other adults, and peers... Can anyone out there help me with advice?" —dpcowboy

Back to School

		The kids are settling into school. Our Back to School resources can help complete the transition. Moving from Middle to High School Getting Acquainted with Your New School Coping with Back-to-School Anxiety Cell Phones at School Back-to-School Safety Tips Back-to-School Fashions

Read for the Record on September 20!
Join hundreds of thousands of children and adults across the country on September 20 by reading The Story of Ferdinand with your kids, as part of Jumpstart's Read for the Record program. You'll be showing your support for early education opportunities for all children, and may help to break last year's record for the largest shared reading experience ever!