Training Troubled Teenage Boys

When kids are little, parents employ a variety of discipline tactics. Time-out chairs, standing with their nose in a corner, tapping the back of their hands, making them go to bed early, etc. They try to gauge the child's reaction to different forms of discipline, and learn to use whatever discipline seems to bring about the best results. But for whatever reason, when boys get past the age of 10 or 12, a lot of parents say, "The only thing you can do from that point forward is take away privileges." But there's a problem with that. Troubled boys, when they hear, "You can't play video games," find a way to get that video game and play it anyway. When they're told, "You can't leave the house," they'll sneak out. When they're told, "You can't use your cell phone," they'll get a hold of somebody else's. If you have that type of son, you need some consequences in mind that he has to accept. Physical exercise wo...

Like it or not, there are plenty of parents out there who are abused by their own sons . They're afraid to tell their son no because of what he might do them. They're afraid to enforce rules. They're afraid to stand up to him. They're afraid to go to sleep at night. That's because they're raising a boy who has difficulty controlling his temper. If you're that parent, I assure you, you're not alone. When you fear your son, he's going to walk all over you. It's hard not to fear him when he's put his hands on you though, isn't it? It's hard when he's used a weapon. It's hard when he's knocked you down. It's hard when he's threatened your life, and he's bigger than you are. A boy that has serious anger issues needs a lot of help - and fast. If you've already tried setting boundaries and giving him consequences for anger outbursts, and that's not getting his attention, you're going to need to spend a lot...

  From the time boys enter school, their parents are encouraged to have them evaluated for a hyperactivity disorder because teachers, who are limited on how they can discipline, don't know how to handle a child when he still has all of the energy God has given him. So they say, "I believe your son has ADD or ADHD. I believe he needs to be put on some medicine." Unfortunately, telling a child he needs medication to control his hyperactivity is going to lead to a teenager or young adult thinking he has to put something in his body to help him every time he goes through one of life's storms. I know the world says medication is the answer, but if it is, why are kids on medicine still often placed in classrooms with a small number of children because they still can't be handled? If medicine is the answer, why do they have to have the meds changed and increased all of the time? Do you realize there are doctors out there who diagnose children with ADD and ADHD and other...

One weakness for a lot of teenage boys is the girls they get themselves into relationships with. Oh, parents, you better keep your eyes open! There was a day when it was the guys who were known to take advantage of the gals. But that day is past. Now it goes both ways. There are a lot of fast-moving females out there, and you owe it to your son to keep a close eye on any girls he expresses an interest in! Just like with friends, it's essential that parents set some expectations as to what minimum age he has to be before he can get into a relationship, what kind of girl their sons can have a romantic relationship with, and to define what kind of relationships he's allowed to have. Let's give some thought to those topics.   Minimum Age In today's society it's common for second and third graders to say they have a boyfriend or a girlfriend. That's dangerous territory. It's teaching kids that relationships are games. Second and third graders don't know anyth...