Valentine’s Day can be such a fun time for teens. Even for teens that do not have a special “other person”, giving gifts to a bestie or other friends can be fun! Finding the best Valentine’s gifts can be a lot of fun, and there are many great activities as well that I list at the bottom as well!
We encourage our boys to give gifts at least to us and their grandparents, even if it is just a card. These can mean a lot, especially if they are homemade!
Showing someone that you care is a life lesson, and there is no better time than Valentine’s Day to make sure that this happens!
Encourage your teens to reach out to someone or many someones with a message of friendship and/or love.
I put together the following list of Valentine’s gifts with help from my boys and my middle school students. These vary in price from just a few dollars up to a lot -most are really inexpensive items of less than $25. Our teens need to remember that it is the thought that counts more than anything.
*This post may contain affiliate links. My full disclosure policy is here.
“Since you get more joy out of giving joy to others, you should put a good deal of thought into the happiness that you are able to give.” ―Eleanor Roosevelt
Heart shaped box – Use these to create something beautiful to then fill with some other gift for your Valentine.
“Those who are happiest are those who do the most for others.” —Booker T. Washington
Photo box explosion album -My son got one of these for Christmas from his girlfriend! It is so cute! She did say that it took some time to put together.
Some fun activities for spending time together on this special day!
•Create a Valentine tree -I think these DIY twig trees are so cute! This one is cute, too.
•Write someone love notes and/or coupons -you get to choose what to offer.
•Spend one on one time with your teens -watch movies, play games, take a walk… Here’s the link to a post my friend wrote about creating a fun day with her teenage daughter!
My good friend Shannon Hale at www.skiptomylife.com has kindly written this guest post letting us know how to avoid losing your coolwith your teen. She has some great ideas!
And, bonus, these tips would be helpful over winter break as well, just tweak the timing and conversations! *This post may contain affiliate links. My full disclosure policy ishere.
Pin for later!
…It’s tough to remember exactly where the burning sensation started. Perhaps I mistook it for a hot flash. Before I knew it, I was excusing myself from the room, muttering something to my husband about this being HIS son.
When your darling teen comes home from college…
What could my rising freshman possibly have said to stir such emotion, just moments after hugs and welcome-homes from his first year at college? I’m going to tell you. Because even though I’m not usually a betting kind of gal, I’d be willing to place cash on the barrel that you will hear some version of these two sentences come from the lips of your sweet child in the coming weeks:
“You never knew what I was doing when I was away at school. Why do I have to tell you where I am now that I’m home”?
How to avoid losing your cool with your young adult
Whether you’re launching a graduate or welcoming a teen home this summer, the routine you’ve settled into over the school year is sure to change in the coming days. And, surprise! The dynamics between you and your young adult may have morphed more than either of you are expecting.
Learn from me, friends, and top off the volcano of unrealistic expectations before it erupts. Just a little planning on your part and a short discussion with your student can make the difference between a frustrating summer and one you’ll cherish for years to come.
Don’t worry; I’ll walk you through this process step-by-step.
Living with young adults feels a little like walking a tightrope over the Grand Canyon. It takes a lot of balancing to trust our kid on one side while requiring their personal responsibility on the other.
That balancing act can leave us, as parents, a bit wobbly. Add to this the fear of major repercussions for slipping too far to either side, and we are quickly set up for a very stressful summer.
Avoid summer slump
“Summer Slump” is the term coined to describe the post-semester blues that result from a combination of factors: change in daily routine, distance from friends, and unforeseen conflict in family and romantic relationships. About 1 in 3 students described themselves as depressed as a result of this phenomenon.
As the busyness of the school year comes to a screeching halt, don’t be left frantically navigating how your teen will fill their summer days. (These tips are all true for winter break as well!)
Take just 30 minutes to talk through some simple strategies and set a plan in motion, and you’ll see major pay-off in the coming months. Here’s how you’ll spend that half hour.
5 tips to avoid losing your cool with your teen this summer
1. Get out the calendar
Young adults are notorious for misunderstanding time constraints. Pull out the calendar and start by figuring out just how many weeks are unaccounted for this summer. It may be fewer than you, or your student, think.
Next step: post any dates that are already scheduled, such as family vacations, weddings, deadlines and social events. These events will serve to break up the perception of monotony of the months stretching before your student.
Give your student permission to dream about what they’d like to do this summer. During my son’s last summer before college, he and his cousin organized a cross-country road trip to see their favorite band.
Although I was tempted to say “absolutely not” when he first presented the idea, the planning and responsibility he showed won me over. Put a lock on your lips and just listen. You may be surprised to see a new side of your kid.
Once they’ve had their say, it’s time for mom and dad to share their dreams for the summer. This might include something as simple as visiting the local snow cone stand or as epic as a major bike ride. Your summer will be so much more fun if you don’t lose your cool with your young adult!
3. Discuss boudaries for your teens
Learn from my mistakes, my wonderful friends. Don’t assume your student knows what you expect from them this summer. You are making the transition from parenting to coaching, from living with your child to living with another adult.
It’s tough. It’s awkward. But, we can do this. Setting simple expectations about household chores, curfew, communication, use of car- will keep you from so many rolling eyeballs and slammed doors.
Remember that they have, indeed, kept themselves from dying over the last several months. Give them credit and very generous limits.
I grew up in a home with one bathroom. Not one full bath and one half bath- one toilet, one sink, one shower. So many battles could have been avoided and so many tears could have been saved had we just sat down and figured out a schedule. But then my sisters and I wouldn’t have near the stories to tell, right?
4. Provide summer ideas for teens
In the event that your teen’s answer to question 2 is “play video games on the couch”, here’s some help. You, dear parent, will come to this conversation armed with some ideas for summer options. Here is the beauty of taking 30 minutes to have this planning session in early summer versus waiting until mid-July.
As you probably know, but your teen may not, now is the time to apply for and pursue a summer job, schedule an internship, or sign up for summer classes. I know, I know, you’re afraid this revelation will push your already-overwhelmed kid into overload. But here’s where your pre-work will pay off.
Show them support by offering to temporarily take something off their plate so they can have a couple of hours to fill out an application online or schedule a meeting with a local business owner.
**If it is holiday break, they can use this time to scout out summer jobs -this will give them a head start over their friends who won’t be thinking about this until later in the spring. Line up jobs now!
5. Celebrate and model self-care
Summer is a great time for students to catch up on sleep, get into better eating habits or start an exercise program. But we can’t very well encourage them to do those things if we’re not doing them ourselves.
Choose a few goals you’d like to work on this summer. Your son or daughter will be more motivated by your actions than by nagging. Plan to celebrate reaching a weight or fitness goal as a family.
Now that another school year is in the books, push the easy button and set aside some time for summer planning with your student. You’ll be glad you did when fall rolls around and you’re waving goodbye once again.
A tool to help: how to avoid losing your coolwith your young adults
Thanks to Shannon for all the great ideas for ideas on how to avoid losing your cool with your young adults. This is our first summer that our boys are NOT coming home, and that is a whole other story!
I have heard horror stories about parents not being able to make medical decisions for their kids because this was not in place, so please do this for your peace of mind. *The cost of these forms is so much less than going to an attorney, which I checked into before doing this. And, talk about EASY!
Make sure you subscribe to myParenting High Schoolers newsletter below for a weekly dose of love from me about surviving and thriving with teenagers. Simply enter your information below and you will be all set! You can also like myFacebook page, and follow me onPinterestandYouTube! I look forward to seeing you again!❤️
Here are some ideas that will help out a stressed out teen in overwhelming times.
(I first wrote this back in April of 2020. Some things have changed. Some have not. Many kids are able to go to school in some type of in seat hybrid version, some are learning in pods, and some are totally virtual. No matter which way, their lives probably look very different than they did one year ago this time. These tips for checking with your teen’s mental health are possibly more important today than ever.
We had a son struggling with depression -and before Covid he had no problems. Would they have surfaced without this pandemic? Possibly, but we will never know. All I know is that I am proud of how he handled himself, and he worked his way towards his future with help from us, his friends, and a counselor. Please check in with your teens!)
I have reached out to my blogging friends to find the best advice that they have for our stressed out teens today and any other time. Here is the advice that they have shared. *This post may contain affiliate links. My full disclosure policy is here.
Pin for Later!
Grab a Survival Chart -full of strategies to try -for your stressed out teen here!
If you can encourage your teen to just try one or two of these habits to try, it will go a long way to relieving their stress. I, for one, reduced the noise I was hearing over the past weekend. I did not listen to news. I did not read anything that might stress me out.
I basically took a time out from news for a couple of days. It was wonderful, and I plan on doing this every weekend from now for as long as the current (insert whatever you want!) situation goes on.
The news isn’t going anywhere. I was available to my family and friends if something came up, but it really refreshed my soul to tune the world out for a bit.
Have your teen try a time out, even if it’s just for a few hours, they will be glad they did it! This will be a great way to help a stressed out teen.
Here are my friends’ tips for calming your stressed out teens…
Diverting activities that are teen stress relievers
Our teens have a lot of time on their hands even with school, friends, social media, and right now, a world-wide pandemic. Here are a few fun things that might distract them when they have a moment of boredom! Staying busy is good for a stressed out teen, as long as it is balanced with rest and relaxation. Here are my friend’s tips for keeping your teen busy…
If a teen has anxiety, it’s a whole other dimension of stress. It is all-consuming, and overpowering. Teens may need outside help. They for sure need for you to know that it is very real to them. More than anything, they need your love and support!
Stress is a factor every day in our teens’ lives. School, work, family, money, dating relationships, the list is endless. We need to model behaviors that are positive for our teens to emulate. We need to practice self-care, so that we can help meet their needs and show that it’s a great stress management tool.
Let’s help our teens to fill their toolboxes with strategies for dealing with stress today and any other time that will be stressful in the future.
Here is a great post on coping with all this as a mom from my friend Miranda at The Reluctant Cowgirl.
Here is a post that I wrote about self-care under the best of times, but is great for now because there are tiny doable things that you can do to have a better day, every day!
We have time now because everyone is at home. The thing is that we should always make time to have conversations. Our teens are only with us for a limited amount of time-the countdown has started for them to leave for college or a job or the military or one of a million things.
We know that our kids are probably on their devices too much. But, these are proven to be helpful -nice to know that there are good uses of technology!
Spiritual Me -only $1.99, but it has a tracker and many options
Many of these are similar to each other. And, there are so many more. I recommend having your teen try each one to see which features they like, and which one works best. They may like different ones with different options. Who can beat FREE?
Conversation Can Really Help Your Teen With Stress
Use the time that you have with your kids to have some of these important conversations about making their future a better place to be. Help you teen to have an advantage by discussing important tips that will help them no matter what is going on in the world.
Make sure to visit myFacebook page, and follow me onPinterestandYouTube where I share lots of helpful info for parents of tweens and teens! And, finally, if you feel like this post was helpful, please share it on your favorite social media platform! Thank you so much!❤️
Do you have a college freshman? A new 18 year old? Get ready for things to change in more ways than one. Your parental rights are about to change or actually be gone!
Did you know that you have will have no rights to their school information like grades, financial aid etc?
Did you know that once your kiddo is turns 18, you will not be able to even make them a doctor’s appointment or call with an insurance question about your own child?!!! Whaaaaaaat?
What happens when your teen turns 18? I’m here to help…
What do I mean by, “Your rights are basically gone?”
I found this out the hard way when I called to doctor to find out some info about one of my boys’ doctor appointments. They wouldn’t tell me anything! Keep in mind that this was our pediatrician, who I had known since the morning my oldest was born almost 25 years ago…
In addition to all of the dorm room supplies and school supplies and other miscellaneous stuff, you need to be aware of some really important terms: FERPA, HIPAA, and Selective Service to name a few.
Once your child enters college, and especially after they turn 18, your parental rights will drastically change, as in disappear. Read on to find out what these terms mean, and how you can be prepared for the transition of your teenager to adulthood. *This post may contain affiliate links. My full disclosure policy ishere.
There are lots more tips below the video as well as great gift ideas for 18 year olds!?
Pin for later!
What you need to know when your teen is turning 18
What does FERPA mean for an 18 year old?
FERPA stands for Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. So, let’s say that you suspect that your child has been skipping classes, or you want to make sure that your child didn’t drop a class and scoop up that money. You cannot find out from the college unless the FERPA has been signed!
FERPA is the law that protects student educational records. It includes protections for … a child’s education records, such as, report cards, transcripts, disciplinary records, contact and family information, and class schedules. Find out what FERPA compliance means, and how you and your teen can work together with this law.
This means that at the age of 18, all rights that you have had as a parent regarding these types of information transfer to your student.
There are exceptions when a school may, but IS NOT REQUIRED to-share this information about the student’s educational records. The exceptions include situations where the student’s health or safety may be at risk, instances of drugs or alcohol if the student is under the age of 21 and/or if the student is claimed as a dependent for tax purposes.
The point being, that unless your student signs the FERPA when registering for classes or at student orientation or at any time, then you may or MAY NOT be able to see your child’s grades, see their financial records at the school or be able to help make decisions regarding their health should a situation occur on campus.
It is a simple form that carries significant weight.
The truth is that your child will not necessarily know what this is!
Unless you basically make your teen sign the FERPA, then you will be out of luck when trying to communicate with the school if you want any real answers. Look for this when your child is uploading all of their info to their college once they are accepted.
HIPAA for an 18 year old
Here’s another example of parental loss of power… Your child has gone to the health clinic at their college. You call the clinic to find out more information from them about the diagnosis because your child cannot tell you much since they didn’t really listen. No can do. Unless your child has signed the HIPAA and put your name on it!
HIPAA is another governmental term. The Health Information and Portability Accountability Act comes into action when your teen turns 18. Up until this point, you as the parent have signed the HIPAA form at all doctors visits. This includes dental, vision, and insurance information as well as primary care.
Your 18 year old will need to sign this form and list any adults who may be given information regarding their health. If you are not on that list, then you will not be privy to any of that information. (A really good description for an 18 year old to read about what the HIPAA means is here.)
This would need to be signed by your teen once they are 18. This would be a really good thing to have in place if for some reason your child were to become incapacitated in some way. It is recommended that you get a power of attorney for the state that your teen goes to college in, as well as the state of permanent residence. Here is more info about each state’s requirements.
I have heard horror stories about parents not being able to make medical decisions for their kids because this was not in place, so please do this for your peace of mind. *The cost of these forms is so much less than going to an attorney, which I checked into before doing this. And, talk about EASY!
One more tip that I would like to share, and you will laugh because it’s so easy… Have your teen memorize their social security number! This will come in handy in so many situations, especially medical ones!
Does my 18 year old have to register for selective service?
Once your son turns 18, he needs to register with the Selective Service. He will have 30 days to do so. It is a federal offense not to register. He will be unable to get a driver’s license or apply for student loans or grants. There is a hefty fine of $250,000 and up to 5 years in prison for not signing up.
Conscientious objectors and disabled persons need to register as well. If the draft ever comes back, those individuals can can register their objections or disabilities then.
At this point in time, girls do not have to sign up for this.
What are legal things to do at 18?
Turning 18 has many implications.
Is 18 years old still a child? In most states, turning 18 means being an adult-age of majority. Some things to consider about turning 18 responsibilities…
As an adult, a person can buy property, vote, or even get married in most states. Jury duty is now a possibility as well.
As an adult, a person can now be put in prison if convicted of a crime, can legally gamble, and can now be sued. Not all fun and games for the teenager to adulthood transition!
Does my 18 year old need to get their own insurance?
A tool that young adults may want to take advantage of is life insurance. It all depends on circumstances. Some young people may be facing financial hardships or want to utilize life insurance as an investment tool. Here is a quick link to a guide explaining more about this.
One more thing that your 18 year old needs to consider. Sex. If your son or daughter is dating someone younger than them, which many of them are, then they can be charged with, and be prosecuted with statutory rape. This varies from state to state, and the description of what that means also varies from state to state.
Also, sexting as an adult is a crime. It is distribution of pornography. Please make them aware of this! Here is a post with more info about sexting.
How do I teach my teen about finances?
Are you wondering what you should be teaching your teen about money? Saving? Investing? This knowledge is so important for our kids as they leave for college and/or beyond. I so wish that I had known all of this when I was their age!
I have found this awesome resource. There is also this one. Both of these are full of much great information! If there is one way that we can give our kids a head start financially, these conversations and tools are a great approach. Help your teen know everything that they can about finances -this will give them so much power for their future!
This is a lot!
All of this info is so important! Be sure that you and your teen have discussions about all of this over time. Turning 18 means a lot of new things. These are big topics, so don’t try to discuss it all at once.
Your role as a parent will definitely change, and that’s a good thing! Just know that as you lose your parental rights, they are gaining their rights as adults, and that’s a good thing too!
I feel your pain, but hope that this information helps you along this crazy journey as our kids become adults!
Let me know if you have any other questions about your teen turning 18, I am always searching for new topics to write about!
*Please contact an attorney for legal advice. I am not qualified to do that!
18th birthday gifts!
Is your teen away from you on their birthday? Send them a Sugarwish! This is a great company that I have developed a relationship with, and they are the bomb! You choose candy, cookies, popcorn, snacks, cotton candy or dog treats and then a gift size for your recipient. Or, you can send them a credit (in an email or text) for them to choose what they would like. Finally, Sugarwish will create a beautiful custom box just for them and include a gift card for the occasion. This is so easy! I have already sent 3 in the last month.?
Make sure to visit myFacebook page, and follow me onPinterestandYouTube where I share lots of helpful info for parents of tweens and teens! And, finally, if you feel like this post was helpful, please share it on your favorite social media platform! Thank you so much!❤️
There are some amazing books that teach about social justice -books that teach about social justice and are great for Martin Luther King Day and black history month. Social justice books for teens are a great way to start conversations.
As a mom, as a teacher, as a person, I need to be willing to put myself in someone else’s shoes. To empathize with my fellow man. As I live out my life, I hope that the lessons my own children, as well as my students, have learned from me will help them to be better people. To be empathetic, sympathetic, to be GOOD people, now and always.
Respect.
Tolerance.
Diversity.
Equality.
Justice.
These are all concepts that need to be taught. Defined. Lived. As mothers, teachers, parents, we can only do so much, but with everyone’s help, our world can be a better place.
With headline after headline of police brutality, rioting, social injustice-sadly, the list goes on and on. We need to do better. We need to BE better. No excuses. We have run out of time. That’s where the idea for this post about social justice books for teens came from…
Teens and social justice….
One of the units that I teach as a middle school English teacher is Deep Study of Character -with Lucy Calkins curriculum. It is literature based on all the above characteristics woven through their themes. I love to use books to teach all sorts of lessons.
I was new back to the classroom last year after a long hiatus bringing up my boys, so many of the books on the following list are still new to me. However, I have researched all of these, and I am part of a wonderful group of teachers on Facebook that shares and elaborates, so I pulled a lot of information from that group. Read on for great social justice books for young adults (and everyone)!
Check the bottom of this post for other options besides books!
Social justice books for teens, and, really anyone!
These books were chosen to represent the best of what I have taught and what I have learned as a teacher listening to other teachers…
There are sections for picture books, short stories, young adult and adult, and finally, authors who have written so many books to choose from. I wanted to get this out and published because this is such an important subject and will be adding to this list frequently! Let me know if you would add another book to this post, so that I can read it and add it to the best social justice books for teens.
*This post may contain affiliate links. My full disclosure policy is here.
“Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.”―Martin Luther King Jr.
Social justice books for teens -picture books
Not My Idea -Higginbotham This is an honest book that looks at race, racism and being white in today’s world. This addresses the topic of civic responsibility in a great way for kids to relate to. I have ordered for my classroom!
For white folks who aren’t sure how to talk to their kids about race, this book is the perfect beginning. —O MAGAZINE
Juneteenth for Mazie – Cooper Juneteenth is a holiday celebrating the emancipation of those who had been enslaved in the southern United States that had formed the Confederacy. This is a sweet story about a little girl who is ready to celebrate freedom. She celebrates the day her ancestors were freed from slavery.
Separate is Never Equal – Tonatiuh The unknown story of school integration in California 10 years before Brown v. The Board of Education. This began school integration in California for Mexican-Spanish American children.
You, Me, and Empathy -Sanders “Showing empathy towards others is a learnt trait, and one to nurture and cherish with the children in our care,” -this quote taken from the book description. Such a wonderful book about the main character, Quinn learning that empathy means “being able to understand how another person is feeling and recognizing their needs helps people to connect to one another across race, culture and the diversity that is ever-present and so important to our world.” Everyone needs to read this one!
Unspeakable -Weatherford This is a wonderful book about a terrible event that took place in Tulsa, Oklahoma one hundred years ago.
“I cannot say whether things will get better if we change; what I can say is that they must change if they are to get better.”― Georg Lichtenberg
Social justice books for teens -short stories
Thank You, M’am – Langston Hughes This short story is all about morality. What is good? How do we know? A boy tries to steal a woman’s purse to buy a new pair of shoes. Find out what happens… I found this on the CommonLit website.
Flying Lessons and Other Stories -Ellen Oh This selection of stories is such a great collection. I have not read them all, but between my classes last year, I have heard about all of them from my students. All sorts of stories about all sorts of people. My students chose the story with this book that resonated with to do a project on for class. These ten stories are all great in their own way.
The Hero Next Door -Rhuday-Perkovich This is another gathering of stories about being brave in today’s world. Young people can make a difference, all it takes a little courage. Again, I have not read all of this collection, but the couple that I have read were great!
Fresh Ink – Giles These short stories are unfinished. Their endings are still playing out in today’s headlines. These are all amazing stories of individuality and bravery. Diverse and raw and uplifting. Please read!
Our Stories, Our Voices -Reed These are essays by popular YA authors who all have something to say about all sorts of things that happen as kids grow up.
The Treasure of Lemon Brown -Myers I found this on CommonLit.org We studied this story in my eighth grade class this year. So many lessons contained in this short story! We all loved it.
51 Black Heroes -Norwood “Black Heroes introduces you to 51 black leaders and role models from both history and modern times” from all walks of life. This book is for younger audiences, but also good for lower readers.
“In these days of difficulty, we Americans everywhere must and shall choose the path of social justice…, the path of faith, the path of hope, and the path of love toward our fellow man.”― Franklin D. Roosevelt
Wishtree -Applegate An old oak tree that has been used as a “wishtree” for the surrounding community. A new family that is not necessarily welcomed by all. A crow and other creatures watch from the trees branches as this story unfolds. This is a wonderful story told by a tree, but so much more! If you are not a fan of fantasy, give this a try anyway-because, a tree is wise.
Dear Martin -Stone This follows the story of a Justyce, who always Is doing the right thing: honor student, helps those in need, all-around good guy. Then, he is arrested and cuffed by an off-duty police officer after an event which Justyce just happens to be there. I have not read this, but it’s on my list! There is a sequel, Dear Justyce, which follows up as Justyce is at Yale as a college student.
Refugee -Gratz This was another class favorite. Three refugees on three different paths are all connected by the end of the story. All of them leave homes that they love for reasons beyond their control. They encounter so many difficulties both on their journeys and at their different destinations. I learned a lot about the plight of refugees and many of their circumstances!
All-American Boys -Co-written by Reynolds and Kiely This story could unfortunately be ripped out of today’s headlines. Gripping and realistic. Could not put down!
Long Way Down -Reynolds This book has haunted me. My students all were intrigued by this story and a lot of great discussion came from this. The length of time it takes to get down Will’s building’s elevator. His brother has been shot and killed. While Will rides the elevator down one day, he is visited by people from his brother’s past as it stops at each floor. This is now available in a graphic novel version -soooo good!
Will got on the elevator with a singular purpose. Will he get out at the bottom and carry through his plan?
“Genuine equality means not treating everyone the same, but attending equally to everyone’s different needs.”― Terry Eagleton
The Poet X – Acevedo The main character her, Xiomara, is a young woman with a lot to say. She writes in her journal, and has many thoughts that she feels cannot be shared anywhere else. She is invited to a slam poetry contest, but she knows that her family would not approve.
The 57 Bus -Slater This is based on a true story. Two kids from completely different parts of the world, within one city. They have eight minutes together each day. Then a tragic event occurs. One is injured. One is charged with a crime…
Monster -Myers This is a complicated story about the trial of a young man for a crime. Is he guilty or innocent? A pawn of the system and the characters surrounding the crime. Is he a “monster” as he has been titled? Steve, the young man in this story, starts to transcribe his story as a film script. What is the verdict? This would be a good one to read with your teen…
Mexican White Boy – de la Peña Half Mexican, half white, Danny is struggling with a lot of things as a teenager in San Diego. He mostly wants to figure out where he belongs…
Harbor Me -Woodson I loved this book! Six kids meet in a room that they have a special name for. They can talk about their lives. It’s a wonderful story about a caring teacher, a group of kids dealing with so much, and the friendships that evolve from their meetings. My students loved this book.
Out of My Mind – Draper This book really got to me. Locked into a body that won’t work, Melody is assumed to be stupid. Far from it. She finally proves that she is really smart only to be rejected again. Heartbreaking, heartwarming… My students learned that students with disabilities are always what they seem! Along the same lines as Wonder, another wonderful book and movie -talk about overcoming adversity!
Ghost Boys -Rhodes Two boys meet who have been tragically been killed as a result of racism in different places and times. They help one another to figure out some things about what happened to each of them. This is on my list to order for my classroom!
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry -Taylor This is a classic! A wonderful story set in the depression about hate and racism and social injustice. It stands the test of time.
“When we identify where our privilege intersects with somebody else’s oppression, we’ll find our opportunities to make real change.”― Ijeoma Oluo
Social justice books for adults
Just Mercy -Stevenson This is a true story about a young lawyer defending a young man accused of a crime he swears that he did not commit. Compared to To Kill a Mockingbird, another great book about good v. evil.
I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness -Brown Written by Austin Brown, who finds out at the age of 7, that her parents named her Austin so that future schools and employers would think that she was a white man. As she grows up, Austin learns that people don’t mean what they say, and she grapples with what it means to be a woman of color in today’s world. Really good insight for me.
The Nation Must Awake -There are many books written about the Tulsa Massacre of 1921. I really like this one in particular because it is a memoir written in story form by a woman who lived through this event with her daughter.
Raising Fences -Datcher I read this a few years ago for a book club. It’s a memoir written by a black man who wants to be a good father without having had one himself. This was painful to read, but I never felt so white while reading this.
Americanah -Aditchie This is a novel that really opened my eyes. It is a love story, but is also a story about how unaware we are of race in this country as white people. This was so good!
The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America’s Great Migration -Wilkerson This is a story that covers the migration of six million people from the south to the north in the US from 1915 to 1970. Thousands of interviews and really great stories of a people who tried to escape oppression and find a better life for themselves and their families.
From my friend, Louisa, over at LPTutoring, she has this great list of podcasts that I copied here. Her post is awesome and has books as well as other resources!
Code Switch – a podcast series from NPR; I’ve listened to this podcast for YEARS. Produced and hosted by people of color, it talks about all things race in the U.S, from school to housing to the census.
Throughline – a U.S. history podcast from NPR. It often features stories about marginalized populations and how they affected and were affected by events in U.S. history
Seeing White – podcast series about whiteness and its impact
I hope this helps you start a conversation about social justice…
This list of social justice books for teens is by no means complete! Please let me know if you have a good suggestion that will help to teach our young people lifelong lessons.
I hope that these best social justice books for teens will help you start or continue a conversation that has to happen in order for our world to be a better place for everyone.
Make sure to visit myFacebook page, and follow me onPinterestandYouTube where I share lots of helpful info for parents of tweens and teens! And, finally, if you feel like this post was helpful, please share it on your favorite social media platform! Thank you so much!❤️
Are you exhausted from your whining, wheedling teenager? What is your teen wanting you to say “yes” to? It takes a lot of strength to say “no” in the face of major teen drama-and there will be drama if you use that BAD word. Stick to your guns, and just say no to your teenager-they might thank you later! *This post may contain affiliate links. My full disclosure policy ishere.
There are so many things your teen might be asking… Going out is probably the biggest one I can think of.
Here are the questions that you will have: Who will they be with? Where are they going? Who will be driving? Will they be going anywhere else? Will the parents be there? Will there be drinking or drugs?
The questions are endless. “Can I…” -you fill in the blank.
Here are three ways it’s hard to say no to a teenager.
Stage 1: Your teen will be very sweet and/or uber-reasonable. Say no!
Stage 2: Your teen will mope. Say no!
Stage 3: Your teen will try to intimidate you with his anger. Say no!
How to say no to your teenager -you can do it!
Have clear boundaries when setting boundaries for teens.
I recommend having very few rules. If you have a lot of family house rules, look them over. Condense them down. Make them crystal clear. We have two rules in our house. Here is my blog post about discipline. If you have few rules and they are concise, then there is less chance for your teen to try to wiggle around them.
When our kids were younger, we really worked on obedience and respect. This helped as they became teenagers. If you have had a lot of rules, your teen might appreciate a new, fresh approach from you. This will go a long way to conversations where you have to say no to your teenager.
Time for teens to learn self-management.
This is a time for you to start letting your teen begin to manage themselves. Contracts are great conversation starters, and writing them can be really freeing. One thing that we learned in the process of using these, is once we have shared our non-negotiables, our boys have written contracts that were much stricter than what we would have written! The final product has to be agreed upon and signed by all parties.
If the contract is broken, your teen has to face the consequences which have been written and agreed upon at an earlier date. (Don’t get crazy with this! A piece of paper and a pen is enough to get started.) Here is a link to what a contract with your child is all about.
The best part about this time for your teen, is that, as your teen begins to try new things and have new experiences, they can prove to you that they are responsible. Eventually, contracts can be amended, lessened, and eventually eliminated!
One of our boys never had a curfew because he never pushed it, and we trusted him. Our next son had a very strict one for quite awhile because he kept pushing it. Every kid and every situation is different, so you may not have the exact same rules for each kid, and that is okay. You are the parent, and you do not have to explain yourself!
Be flexible.
The other piece of boundaries for teens is flexibility. Teens will present you with all sorts of new parenting issues-welcome to the seven year challenge called parenting teens!
As new situations arise, you may not be ready to make a decision right away. Our answer to this has always been, “This is a new situation, we need to think about this first.” This has saved us many times! I have a YouTube video about this in particular.
We used this when they wanted to ride with a new older friend who could drive. We used this when they wanted to get new apps on their phones. We used this when one of them snuck a friend into our house while we were gone…
Stay clear of the drama.
Teens are all about drama! I only have boys and can assure you that they are dramatic in their own way! I have been a teacher of preschool, elementary and middle school for almost 30 years, and so, I know about girl drama as well!
The arsenal of teen histrionics is deep and wide. Teens will use whining, moping, angry behavior meant to intimidate us, and on and on…
Do not cave in. You can say no to your teenager.
I have used a Josh Shipp quote before, but I love it and will use it again here. He said, “Teenagers will test you to see if you, like the lap bar on a roller coaster will hold.” They need to know if you are “steady and safe” and if your love for them will “hold”.
This is truth! But, boy, is it hard!
Keep talking with your teen.
The best way to stay on track with your teen, to know who their friends are, to know what is happening in your teen’s life is to talk with them. Schedule conversations. At the minimum, once a month. We always had longer more serious conversations around grade time. This was whether they had good or bad grades. Goals could be made at this time, and conversation about their plans for the future.
Monthly or even weekly talks can be scheduled as well. It can be as easy as checking in with everyone on Sunday night to fill in the calendar. Don’t overwhelm your teen with big topics, and remember to listen and ask thought-provoking questions to scratch beneath the surface occasionally. Let you teen lead the way more and more often. As situations come up where you have to say no to your teenager, these conversations will help the situation to go better -not perfect, but better than it might otherwise.
Have you read my book, College Bound?. Here is the link to the post written in conjunction with my book.
Be respectful of your teen.
Do not talk down to your teen. Do not talk them to death. Listen. Have a conversation. Respect their opinion even if it makes no sense, and many times it won’t. Don’t point out their errors. Agree to walk away and come back if things get heated. Your teen wants (and needs) to be heard.
We ask that they respect us, but we need to give the same in return. Let them know the questions and concerns that you have about a new situation. Tell your teen if these questions can be answered satisfactorily, then your answer might change to maybe or even to a “yes”. This change can only occur if the answers are provided in a timely manner, and in a way that satisfies all.
This is true even when you need to say no to your teenager.
Get support for yourself.
This can mean many things!
Talk with your spouse or significant other about as many topics ahead of time as possible. As you hear of other family’s circumstances, talk things over, and make a plan together. A teen can sense any type of weakness, and will use all the tools in their wheedling toolkit to get what they want.
Talk with your friends. Have any of them experienced your current issue? It’s great to have a mentor with an older teen who may have already experienced certain problems before. If possible make a pact with your teen’s friends’ parents to watch out for behaviors and to communicate with one another as problems occur.
Talk with a counselor.
Don’t wait until things are out-of-hand! If you start to see some behaviors that concern/scare you, make an appointment. You can go alone or with your spouse/significant other to discuss things and make a plan. Your teen may eventually need to go to a counselor as well, but getting help can be very empowering!
Finally, know that you are in charge. It can be exhausting both mentally and physically, so take care of yourself! Go out on a date with yourself, your spouse or significant other. Take a quick nap. Give yourself mercy because we all make mistakes, and you will too. It’s okay to change your mind, just stay the course!
Visit myFacebook page, and follow me onPinterestandYouTube! I look forward to seeing you again! And, finally, if you feel like this post was helpful, please share it on your favorite social media platform! Thank you so much!❤️
Your parental rights change the day your child turns 18. Learn what you need to take to know for HIPAA, FERPA, POAs, and all the other changes that occur when your child becomes an "adult."
Parenting High Schoolers is now Next Phase Parenting. Your Turning 18 Checklist will come from Next Phase Parenting.
This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
Strictly Necessary Cookies
Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.
If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.
