Employers

Teen Tales: Stories About Parenting Teens

This is the place to share stories and discuss issues about raising teens. Please tell us your issues and stories, including some of the good times you have had with your teen.

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Parenting Tip of the Week

Talking to Parents - Drugs/Drinking

Looking for a way to initiate a conversation with another parent about teen drug or alcohol use? Try this: Last weekend my son was at a party where kids were drinking. He didn't drink any, but I was really upset that this happened at another friend's home. Do you think I should I talk to the friend's parents?

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REACH PARENTS WHERE THEY WORK

Parents love to swap stories about their children at work, yet how often do they take the opportunity to swap expertise? When raising a teen, parents may "second guess" themselves and question if they are "doing the right thing". Tapping into the workplace is a perfect avenue to stimulate discussion among colleagues and turn stories into real advice.

A human resource contact may serve as the point of entry for workplace outreach, or an employee can serve as the workplace organizer. Suggested activities for the workplace include:

E-MAIL
Start an e-mail "buzz" about the new resources available to parents through the Shoulder to Shoulder campaign. Send tips (select from list on the this site) on parenting to 10 colleagues and ask them to pass along to 10 other friends with teens. Include the campaign Web site in the body of the e-mail (www.shouldertoshoulderminnesota.org).

"THRIVING WITH YOUR TEEN" PRESENTATION
Use the PowerPoint presentation provided on this site to give a short noontime session on helpful hints for raising teens. Ask each attendee to come with a successful tip on raising a teen to share with the group.

NEWSLETTER ARTICLE
Submit an article to the employee newsletter, intranet or e-zine. The tip sheets on this site can be re-printed in a company newsletter, or you can use an existing article on parenting available on this site. Submit different topics each month.

PARENT "BROWN BAG" LUNCH
Choose a day to invite parents/grandparents/ caregivers of teens to attend an informal discussion on "tricks of the parenting trade." Post flyers/posters around the office to raise awareness for the session. Check with the employer to inquire whether beverages and treats will be provided. Attendees can bring their own lunch. Be sure to ask attendees to RSVP to the organizer. The organizer can send an e-mail or ask colleagues to come to the session with a successful tip on raising a teen to share with the group. Consider selecting a theme for the lunch discussion, such as "tough talks," dating, or formal dances (i.e., prom).

INVITE AN EXPERT
Post a request on this site for a parenting expert to speak during the noon hour at your workplace. The expert can give a brief presentation and provide helpful tips for parents and caregivers, as well as facilitate a discussion among the audience for parents to share advice with one another.

Here's a checklist of items to help make your workplace programs successful from start to finish.

PROGRAM CHECKLIST

Meet with human resource director or appropriate office contact to seek necessary approvals for activities
Select date, time, location for your event(s)

ADDITIONAL ITEMS TO HAVE ON HAND

Note cards to record parents' tips generated at the session

MATERIALS AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD
You'll need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the files marked "PDF." If you don't already have the program, you can download it for free here.

Tip Sheets – Sorted by Topic and Available as PDFs

Flyers.pdf Flyers.pdf Campaign Flyer (color)-PDF
Flyers bw.pdf Campaign Flyer (B&W)-PDF
INFO posters 11x17.pdf Campaign Posters (color-11X17)-PDF
INFO posters 8.5x11.pdf Campaign Posters (color-8.5X11)-PDF
INFO posters bw 11x17.pdf Campaign Posters (B&W-11X17)-PDF
INFO posters bw 8.5x11.pdf Campaign Posters (B&W-8.5X11)-PDF
Meeting poster 11x17.pdf Meeting Annct. Poster (color-11X17)-PDF
Meeting poster 8.5x11.pdf Meeting Annct. Poster (color-8.5X11)-PDF
Meeting poster bw 11x17.pdf Meeting Annct. Poster (B&W-11X17)-PDF
Meeting poster bw 8.5x11.pdf Meeting Annct. Poster (B&W-8.5X11)-PDF

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