February 22, 2012

3 Favorite Activities of Teens

September 14, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Typical shopping center food court vendor layo...

Image via Wikipedia

The teenage years present many opportunities to gather with friends and try new things. Cruises, new movies and large shopping malls are just a few favorite teen activities. Hanging out with friends in places that offer entertainment and physical activities are common teen pastimes.

Doing it all at Shopping Malls

Hanging out at malls is fun for teens because, technically, it’s a free activity. Window shopping and trying on clothes gives teenagers a chance to laugh, interact and help each other nail down the perfect look. Free makeovers and sample items are also exciting for teenagers. Most malls also have food courts, allowing young people to enjoy each other’s company while trying different cuisines.

Large Ships and Fun Times

Silversea Cruises offer innumerable activities for young people. Swimming, games, entertainment and exercise classes keep people of all ages busy on vacation cruises. Parents can also relax as their teens roam the ship with friends without being too far away. For teenagers, sharing the excitement of new sights and activities with new friends often sets the foundation for lifelong memories.

Catching the Latest Flick

Going to the movies is yet another fun activity for teens. Getting together at a movie theater on a Friday night to catch the latest vampire movie, romantic comedy or science fiction flick is something some teens look forward to all week. Even though technology makes it easy to download films at a lower price a few months after their release, the experience of waiting in line with friends to see a favorite actor or action movie on the big screen can’t be replaced.

Filed Under: Financial Trends Tagged With: , ,

The Benefit of Home Staging

July 25, 2011 By Leave a Comment

While it’s fun to personalize a home with your favorite color schemes or ethnic styles, know thi s: if you’re in the market to sell your home, you better change everything. Yes, everything. Why?

Staging will sell your house. Plain and simple.

Ranch style home in North Salinas, California

Image via Wikipedia

What many home sellers don’t understand is that it’s not the home that sells. It’s the ‘house’ that sells. What that means is you need to take all of YOU out of the equation. What home buyers are ultimately looking for is a house — not you.

This means you need to change the color into something neutral — beige, white, whatever. Opt for simple furniture styling, reduce the lived-in clutter, overhaul your landscaping. In essence, you have to make your home look new.

Keep this in mind, though: ‘new’ doesn’t mean ‘renovated.’ Don’t shell out tons of money to replace the roof, windows, basement, carpet, floors, and just about everything else (unless you really need to!). All you need to do is to shed a few pieces of furniture (maybe), find a few other simpler pieces to add in, clean up the floors, buy a little neutral paint, and you might do just fine!

Home buyers are interested in space. They can’t see the space if they’re too busy seeing your stuff. Lighten it up. Let the house sell itself. You’ll definitely see top dollar for all the hard work. Watch the offers fly in from every direction, and you’ll be reaping the rewards of the benefit that is home staging.

Enhanced by Zemanta
Filed Under: Personal Development, Teen Milestones Tagged With: , ,

Take a Peek Inside the World of a Teen

July 25, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Image representing iPad as depicted in CrunchBase

Image via CrunchBase

Knowing what a teen thinks, feels and desires can be a complicated task for parents. Coming to terms with who you are, how you want to portray yourself to society and what you want to do with your life is an important process through which teenagers go. Being a teenager in 2011 isn’t easy and trying to fit in is oftentimes a hard and exhausting struggle.

Material Things

Many teens feel that things can make them more popular with their peers. Often, these things, whether they’re iPads, laptops, mp3 players or cars, can be expensive. It’s important to teach young people how to value money and find good buys on the things they want. These coupon sites offer printable coupons as well as coupon codes that can be used online to purchase things such as clothes, shoes, electronics and beauty items, among other things.

Being Accepted

Whether or not these things actually get teenagers accepted into the clique of their choice, the situation is one in which parents must step up. It’s important to note that it isn’t things that make people who they are, but their character. Many teenagers will struggle to understand that concept because of their peers and surroundings. Pampering your child is sometimes acceptable, however many parenting experts suggest allowing your kids to purchase things for themselves as well. This teaches them the value of things and how much they cost.

Filed Under: Consumer Trends, Personal Consumer Needs Tagged With: , ,

Understanding Teen Stress

July 24, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Polish teenagers. 

Image via Wikipedia

 

Adolescence can be a stressful time due to bodily changes, relationship challenges and demands from teachers and parents. Understanding teen stress requires putting yourself in the shoes of teenagers and imagining a time in your life when life was out of control.

Top Stressors for Teens

Teenage stress studies show several issues as the main cause of stress. The demands of school, issues with parents, challenges in romantic relationships and problems with their social standing and friends are the top concerns of teens studied.

Coping Mechanisms

Teens deal with stress in a variety of ways. Some teenagers, particularly boys, resort to avoidance of problems and use distraction strategies to deal with stress. Pretending that a problem doesn’t exist or getting their minds off of the problem is a common coping mechanism among male teens.

In female teens, seeking out support is a common coping mechanism. Talking to friends about the problem and finding ways to either eliminate the stress or decrease it are common ways that teenage girls often deal with stress.

Advice for Parents and Teachers

One way to help teenagers to cope with stress is to model healthy stress management techniques. An adult who pretends that he is not stressed may inadvertently teach this same coping mechanism to teenagers. Here are productive ways to address teen stress:

  • Educate teens about the effects of stress on the body.
  • Teach teens to write in a journal, meditate or talk about stressful events.
  • Discuss stressful events with teens, encouraging them to identify the cause and seek solutions.
  • Listen attentively to teens when they discuss their problems.
  • Suggest that teens attend meetings with professional counselors.

 

Enhanced by Zemanta
Filed Under: Personal Development, Teen Milestones Tagged With: , ,

Encouraging an Entrepreneurial Spirit in Teens

July 14, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Young Europeans practicing science 

Image by European Parliament via Flickr

 

When recessions hit, adults aren’t the only demographic affected by economic challenges. Teenagers who must work to help out with household expenses or pay for extracurricular activities are also challenged with trying to find a job. During these times, teens with an entrepreneurial spirit may think about other options besides working for an employer.

Recognizing an Entrepreneurial Teen

Unless you have started your own business or taken risks in the business world, it may be difficult to guide teens with entrepreneurial aspirations. The tendencies are usually visible at a young age. A child who willingly sets up a lemonade stand is displaying this tendency. A teen who takes charge at family events to ensure that everyone has enough to eat and runs to the store when last-minute items are needed is yet another example of someone who wants to be in charge.

Guiding an Entrepreneurial Teen

Here are few ways to guide a teenager who has the talent and potential to start his own business:

  • Encourage the teen to brainstorm new business ideas and to write them down.
  • Help the teen to find an internship with a successful entrepreneur.
  • Speak to his school about the possibility of an entrepreneur series in which successful business leaders discuss how they achieved success.

Money Matters

Teenagers who want to start a business must also undergo education and training related to money management. Although entrepreneurial ventures typically involve risk and personal investment of time and money, it’s possible to start small and build a business, thereby limiting financial risk. Teens with a serious interest can also be encouraged to look into business grants and venture capital funding.

 

 

 

Enhanced by Zemanta
Filed Under: Personal Development, Teen Milestones Tagged With: , ,

Advice for Teenagers: Dealing With a Breakup

July 4, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Writing

Image by jjpacres via Flickr

 

Relationship breakups can happen at any age. If it’s happening to you as a teenager, it might feel especially devastating since you’re just getting started on your path of building romantic relationships in life. People might tell you that you have a whole life ahead of you and that you’ll meet someone even better. As logical as this advice sounds, it doesn’t always make you feel better. Here are some ways that you can deal with a breakup.

Understand Your Feelings

A breakup can make you feel unloved or unwanted. The truth is that you’re perfectly deserving of love and the best way to understand your feelings is to talk to people you trust. A listening ear can provide the comfort and help you need to get to the bottom of your feelings. Writing in a journal can also be helpful for letting out any intense feelings of anger or sadness.

Let Out the Emotions

In addition to talking and writing, give yourself permission to cry. There’s no need to bottle up the emotions and there is no shame in crying. Everyone experiences pain when losing loved ones and crying is a natural reaction. Bottling up the emotions can lead to health issues and a delay in resolving the emotions. Cry in the privacy of your own room or on the shoulder of a loving and trustworthy friend.

Stay Active

Hiding from the world is a common tendency after a breakup. Don’t give into it. Do the things that make you happy. Go to the movies, attend a concert or play your favorite sports. Before you know it, you’ll reconnect with all of the things that bring joy to your life.

 

 

 

 

 

Enhanced by Zemanta
Filed Under: Personal Development, Teen Milestones Tagged With: , ,