Transcript - Active Parenting of Teens 1 - The Active Parent
Transcript - Active Parenting of Teens 1 - The Active Parent
Transcript - Active Parenting of Teens 1 - The Active Parent
Transcript: Active Parenting of Teens 1: The Active Parent Actualizado automáticamente cada 5 minutos
Man 1: The big deal, Matt, is that you and your friends are not the only ones
that use the internet. College admissions people, your teachers, and other
adults see this stu . And if you put something stupid or obscene on there, it will
follow you forever.
Man 2: I can't believe we didn't catch on with how depressed she was. That was
a really scary time. I had no idea how much pressure she was under.
[Video switches to a di erent family. The dad is talking to his son while the
mom and sister listen in the kitchen]
Man 3: We're just not sure we can trust you. And you've given us plenty of
reasons not to.
Boy 2: How many times do I have to say, “I'm sorry.” I'm not hanging out with
those guys anymore, so I'm not drinking anymore. Besides, I can't a ord it
anyway since you cut my allowance and everything else.
Man 3: You're lucky that's all we did. I'm not ready for you to go to another
concert yet anyway.
Boy 2: But dad you don't know how much this means to me. This is my favorite
band and everyone’s going.
Woman 2: We're sorry. But we're doing this because we care about you. And we
don't want to see you get hurt.
Boy 2: You think you can just keep me here? Well you think wrong.
Male Narrator: Sometimes it seems like only yesterday when they were playing
with toy boats in the safe harbor of a bathtub under a parents watchful eye.
Then, all of a sudden, they're teenagers setting out in boats of their own where
the sailing isn't so smooth. Hello and welcome to the third addition of active
parenting of teens. A program designed to help you and your teens not only
survive adolescence, but to help you enjoy these years and bring your family
closer together. I'm Michael Popkin, the founder of Active Parenting. And as the
father of 2 young adults, Meagan and Ben, I'm no stranger to the challenges of
parenting teenagers. I've always loved the image of a ship heading out to sea. It
holds such promise of hope and adventure. Like this model, the Royal Warship
Vassa. The Vassa was built in Sweden in 1628. Its upper deck of canons made it
one of the most formidable warships ever built. The king, the nobles, and all the
citizens of Stockholm turned out for the launch and expected great things from
the Vassa. But less than a mile into its maiden voyage, it hit some high winds
and stormy seas, promptly capsized and went to the bottom of the sea where it
remained for nearly 350 years. We all know the world is full of risks for ships
and for teenagers. How do we protect our sons and daughters and prepare
them to cope with the dangers and responsibilities they'll face as they enter the
adult world? And how do we help bring out the positive potential that will
enable them to thrive and survive and to make real contributions to their
families and communities? One of the answers to these questions can be found
in the story of the Vassa. What caused this great ship to capsize was a lack of
ballast in the hull. Ballast, you might know, is the weight put in the bottom of a
ship to give it stability as it rides through the water. There's also another
de nition of the word ballast. It's also de ned as that which gives stability to
character. Qualities like courage, responsibility, cooperation and respect are the
ballasts that give your teenager the emotional stability to withstand the storms
of adolescence and beyond. Yes, this program will help your teen behave well
and achieve success. It will help you enjoy time together as a family. But as
important as these things are, we want to go further and help you instill in your
teen the character and values that underlie positive behavior and lead to a
meaningful life. We want to help give your teens ballast. Now, I would like to
introduce you to our narrator, Daphne Maxwell Reid, who will give you a closer
look at what's in store for you in sessions ahead.
Daphne Maxwell Reid: Hello, I'm Daphne Maxwell Reid. And we'll be working
together throughout the 6 sessions of Active Parenting of Teens. Earlier
additions of this program have already helped over a million families and it'll
help you too. As you and your teen set out to navigate the sometimes stormy
seas of adolescence. I'm so glad to be hosting active parenting of teens because
I know how much this program is needed. I've personally experienced some of
these challenges of adolescence in a couple ways. First, in the make believe
world of television on shows like the Fresh Prince of Bellaire where I played
Aunt Vivian to a street smart teenager played by Will Smith. Then, I've been a
real mom to three teenagers. Let me tell ya, that's a lot tougher because in real
life parenting doesn't come with a script. So, let's look at the six dynamic
sessions of active parenting of teens a little closer. In session one- the active
parent- we'll begin discussing the challenges that today’s parents and teens
face. And you'll learn what your teen will need to survive and thrive in the 21st
century. You'll also learn about di erent parenting styles and how you can be
an active leader in your family instead of a reactive dictator or doormat. Session
2, winning cooperation will help you develop the communication skills to
become an approachable parent. The kind of parent that your teen will want to
turn to for help when a problem arises. While instilling courage and self-
esteem, you'll learn how to help your teen develop the problem solving skills
needed throughout life. And by the way, the communication skills you develop
will not only help you be a more e ective parent, but also be more e ective at
work and in all your other relationships too. Session 3 is where you'll learn
respectful methods of discipline and problem solving that also serve as
opportunities to teach your teen responsibility. You'll learn a model for
understanding how your teen thinks, feels and behaves. And how to help your
teenager move into success styles and stay there. In session 4-building courage,
redirecting misbehavior- we'll teach you how to recognize why teens behave the
way they do and how to redirect your teen towards better behavior. You'll
practice 4 methods of turning discouragement into encouragement to help
build your teen’s courage and self-esteem. You'll also learn a method of
anticipating and preventing problems before they happen that will save you
and your teen hours of frustration and con ict. Sessions 5 and 6 form a 2 part
unit called Drugs, Sexuality, and Violence: Reducing the Risks. You'll learn to
recognize the hazards of teenage life today. Tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs.
Inappropriate sexuality and violence. We've designed this unit around 10
invaluable strategies you can use to prevent your teen from getting involved in
these harmful activities and what you'll do if they already have. You'll notice
that the families you'll get to know in the video re ect some of the beautiful
diversity that is part of our modern society. Of course, what we've learned in
over 25 years of producing parenting programs is that families are much more
alike than they are di erent. So, if the families you see here don't look or sound
like your family, you can be sure that most of the issues they face are similar to
yours and that all of the skills we present will be just as helpful for your family
as they are for theirs. This program is for all parents and caregivers no matter
what kind of family you have. The bottom line is that active parenting of teens
will help you strengthen your parenting skills so you can strengthen your
teenager’s character and help them emerge from these turbulent years as
successful young adults. Yes, you've got a challenge ahead of you. But, with
good information and the support of your program leader and other parents in
the group, we can help you and your teen map a safe and well charted course.
[Video 2: What’s with you?]
Woman 3: [Kids are sitting on the couch watching tv and the mom walks in,
yelling] How many times do I have to tell you to take out the garbage? This
room is such a mess! And why aren't you doing your homework? What is with
you?
Boy 3: What's with me? I'll tell you what's with me. Adolescence is with me.
Scientists tell us that adolescence is a period of rapid, intense, physiological and
psychological growth fueled by a rapid explosion of hormones gone wild. We
get all this body hair, our shoulders get broader, and our voices get deeper.
That is deepening of the voice. Not only that, these overactive hormones can
cause sudden mood changes and the emergence of sexual desire. In addition,
brain growth during adolescence is enormous. In fact, scientists have
discovered that between the ages of 11 and 14, there occurs the most growth
in gray matter since infancy.
Girl 2: Of course this growth occurs earlier in girls. So, we have a head start.
But, in both cases it's followed by a series of pruning the list all the way into the
mid 20's. Brain connections that are used are made stronger while those that
are not used are pruned back and lost
Boy 3: Sort of like a use it or lose it system that turbo charges the brain.
[Has a drawing of the brains and highlights the di erent areas that are being
explained.]
Girl 2: This pruning occurs from the back to the front of the brain starting with
the part of the brain that controls physical coordination, sensory processing,
and then onto the part of the brain that controls motivation, and then onto the
seed of emotion. And last but certainly not least, this pruning reaches the
executive center of the brain. That's the part that handles, among other things,
judgment, empathy, evaluating consequences, impulse control, and morality.
Boy 3: I'm still waiting for that one to kick in.
Girl 2: Tell me about it, perv.
Boy 3: Which reminds me. We like to use our new abilities on each other in the
form of insults. Isn't that right Miss Perfect?
Girl 2: That's right, monkey breath. We like to practice our skills as social critics
for everything that's not up to our standards. In fact, we get so fond of our
intellectual abilities that we often argue just for the sake of arguing.
Boy 3: Which is a pretty cool way to drive parents and other adults crazy.
Girl 2: Did you mention that this is a period of psychologically intense stress and
we want to establish our own identities independent from our own parents, yet
still want support and approval from them.
Boy 3: And speaking of stress; how do you think it feels to have a fully
functioning reproductive system complete with sexual desire, yet be told not to
use any of this valuable equipment until you're older.
Girl 2: And don't forget the intense temptation and even pressure to
experiment with alcohol and other drugs.
Boy 3: Not to mention the stress of constantly changing peer groups, and where
do I t in and who likes who, and will anyone ever go out with me?
Girl 2: And will this body ever fully develop? And will I ever get a date? And will
that sweet guy I've been irting with in the chat room turns out to a 40 year old
weirdo?
Boy 3: And what if I never get a date and turn into a 40 year old weirdo picking
up teenagers in a chat room?!
Girl 2: But, what if I do meet someone I like. What about sex? Should I wait? And
what if I do do it? What if I get pregnant or an STD?
Boy 3: What about keeping your grades up so you can get into a good college?
Girl 2: Or get a good job.
Boy 3: And meanwhile, you're not sure you can even make it through high
school. After all 25% of us don't.
Girl 2: And who can think about school when there's so much else on our
minds? Like problems at home.
Boy 3: Family violence, drug abuse, alcoholism, or just having parents that are
never around. 60% of us live in homes hit by separation and divorce.
Girl 2: Depression.
Boy 3: Over 500,000 teenagers in this country attempt suicide every year.
Girl 2: And to top it o , we live in a society that acts like it doesn't want or need
teenagers anyway? Do you know what's it like to feel so unneeded?
Boy 3: It feels like you want to join a gang just so you can t in somewhere. It's
no wonder most of us try to grow up too fast these days.
Boy and girl: It's tough being a teenager.
Boy 3: Nothing.
[Video 3: Drugs, Sexuality, and violence: Storms at Sea]
[Boy pouring alcohol into a water bottle.]
[They’re at a party with other teenagers]
Girl 3: I don't think this is a good idea. Maybe we should go back to the party.
Boy 3: Later. Right now, the bar is open. Cheers. Come on. Drink up.
Girl 3: Are you sure Steve doesn't mind us being in his room?
Boy 3: Yeah, well that's enough time for you to know if you want to. You said
you liked me, didn't you?
Daphne: This scene with Matt and Julie may strike some parents as exceptional.
Others may see it as pretty mild. The truth is, a lot of scenes like this end worse.
Teenage use of alcohol and other drugs is everywhere. Teenage sexual activity
is also on the rise and starting younger each year. And every day, you hear or
read about violent acts committed by teenagers. Any one of these three issues
is enough to be concerned about because a wrong decision can have a life
altering e ect for everyone involved. But, combine any of these high risk
behaviors and the result can be disastrous. A teenage boy who usually knows
the limits of decent behavior gets drunk and suddenly thinks nothing of
trashing a house or taking sexual advantage of a girl. Or a girl who usually has
good sense, gets high on drugs, forgets about birth control and nds herself
pregnant. Or, she gets a sexually transmitted disease, even aids. And what
about the two in the school hallway who think the only way to solve a problem
is with their sts? All too often, sts become knives and guns and kids start
taking sides, joining gangs, and teenagers are getting killed. Is your teen at risk?
The teens we asked certainly think so. Our surveys are lled with comments like
these.
Woman 2: And what in the world are you thinking sneaking around like this?
You know the rules! Ten o’clock on weeknights and 12:30 on weekends. It's
1:30. You have no excuse for being out.
Alex: 12:30 is for kids. I'm 16 years old and I'm old enough to come in when I
want to.
Man 3: No big deal? Well maybe being grounded for 4 weeks will be a big deal!
Alex: Yeah right. That's going to prove a lot. I can't wait till I'm out of here for
good.
Man 3: Fine. But until then, you'll do what we say. Is that understood?
Woman 2: Well, it is Saturday. You know how grumpy he gets when we don't let
him sleep in on the weekends.
Man 3: Three, huh? That is pretty late. Maybe we should talk to him.
Woman 2: Yeah. Maybe.
Alex: You don't have to worry. I've told you before, I can take care of myself.
Man 3: That's not the point. Your curfew is 12:30 and now it's after 1:30. It's
been a long night, so we'll talk about this in the morning. Goodnight.
[It is the next morning and the dad, mom, and Alex are sitting at the table]
Man 3: Alex, you sneaking out last night is a big problem for your mother and
me.
Alex: I know I just didn't . . .
Man 3: We need to be able to trust you Alex.
Man 3: I know you feel you're old enough to come and go when you want, but
the fact is, you're not. For two more years until you go to college or work, those
two years are going to be important for you to mature so you can better make
decisions when you're out on your own. That's why we have a curfew. And we
all talked about it and agreed that 12:30 was fair on the weekends.
Alex: But, some of the other guys don't have any curfew on the weekends.
Man 3: Well, no curfew is unacceptable. For many of the reasons your mother
already said.
Woman 2: If your friends can stay out, I don't mind if you invite them to come
over for a while. You can hang out in your room or outside if the weather is nice
and you're not too noisy.
Alex: But, I don't want to hang out here. It's cool driving around.
Man 3: I understand. When I was 16, I wanted to do the same thing, if you can
believe that. But it's not an option after 12:30. You can either come home by
yourself at that time or invite your friends over.
[Boy sighing.]
Woman 2: Alex, we agreed on a rule and you broke it. I think a fair consequence
would be no going out for the next two weekends. Do you have any other
suggestions?
[Teenage girl is sitting on the couch, she has her headphones on and she is
listening to music. She is eating chips and the couch is a mess around her, her
mom walks in.]
Woman 1: Jada! Jada! Jada! It is so disrespectful for you to ignore me like this.
When I talk to you I expect you to listen. Now if you don't clean up this room
this instant, you're in big trouble. Do you understand me young lady?
[It goes back to the video, but this time the mom is the one sitting on the couch
listening to music, and the daughter walks in.]
Jada: Mom. Mom! Mom! It is so disrespectful for you to ignore me like this.
When I talk, I expect you to listen. Now if you don't take me to the mall right this
instant, you're going to be in big trouble. Do you understand me middle aged
woman?
[Returns to the narrator]
Daphne: [Laughing.] There's no doubt about being disrespectful that time, was
there? Although these scenes may seem a little exaggerated, teens and their
parents do unfortunately sometimes speak to each other like this and worse.
Our goal as active parents is to model respect to our teens and to require them
to talk respectfully to us and others as well. Later in the program, we'll look at
some discipline skills that will help you teach your teen the importance of
treating you and others respectfully. But for now, remember that how you treat
them is the model you present for how they should treat you and others.
Woman 1: Do you want ice with that? What about some chips?
Jada: [Voiceover while it shows what happens in the dream] And before you
know it, there was my soda. If I wanted to go to the mall, I'd just snap my
ngers and say, “take me to the mall now dad!”
Man 2: Sure. Do you need some money?
Jada: But, of course
Man: I'll bring the car around right now.
[Leaves the dream and now Jada is just talking to the camera]
Jada: Didn't I tell you it was cool? It kind of reminds me of my cousin Tonya
though. Her parents are pretty much like that and she's pretty much spoiled
rotten, if you know what I mean, and not that much fun to be around. Anyway,
Part 2 of the dream wasn't nearly so cool. My parents had become these awful
dictators. Ordering me around and trying to run my life and stu .
[Shows a clip of the dream. Jada is wearing a bonnet and an apron and she is
mopping the oor. Her parents are standing behind her watching her clean and
ordering her around.]
Man 2: Jada, after you nish your chores I want you to get up stairs and nish
your homework!
Woman 1: And don't make any plans this weekend, I need your help to get
ready for the open house.
Man 2: Okay, why don't we have a short meeting and coming up with some
guidelines for using the internet?
Woman 1: Honey, I need your help for a couple hours this weekend to get ready
for the open house. What would be a good time for you?
[End of dream]
Jada: They asked my opinion and gave me choices, like they really cared about
what I thought. And I started thinking. Hey, maybe they aren't trying to run my
life after all. In fact, I even chose two chores and didn't mind doing the work
that much. And then they actually listened to my reasons for needing four
hours on the internet each night. Then we compromised to two. Fair enough.
Saturday morning I agreed to help my mom with the open house and then I'm
o to hang out with my friends and everyone’s happy. Pretty cool.
[End of video.]