How to Effectively Ground a Child or Teenager

Grounding, or removal of liberty, is a commonly-used form of punishment. I'm all for grounding, if done properly. Here's how to effectively ground a child or teen.

* Long groundings are hard to follow through with. Kids are involved in many activities: sports, arts, community and church events, work, school functions. Parents must constantly decide which are included in the grounding. It's also hard because grounding kids is grounding parents. For young kids it might be okay, But with teens, its harder. You have to stay home and "babysit" them. Say you take away the driver's license. You've just shot yourself in the foot. Now YOU need to provide transportation to work, school and events not included in the grounding.


* There's also a point at which grounding (any punishment) has the reverse effect from the desired correction. I call it 'the point of saturation'. For the first few days of grounding, the child may feel remorse for behavior. Whether they admit it or not, kids get why they were grounded, if it was appropriate to the crime. Then kids begin get restless. Resentment sets in. What was initially effective, corrective discipline backfires.


* Age appropriate grounding is vital. Little children put in 'time out' are in effect grounded. At this age, timeout should be timed in minutes. Timeout/ grounding rule of thumb: the older the child the longer the time, up to a certain point. Children under 6 should get two minutes per year (roughly). Ages of six to ten, ground children to yard or house for a few hours to a day.

*  Children should not be grounded from: school field trips, visiting relatives, special interest group activities, sports practices, boy scout camping trips, youth group functions, arts performances. Never withhold meals or other necessities.

* Family outings are case by case. They might be grounded from a special outing with Grandma and Grampa, but I don't advocate it. Find something else to withhold. Grandparents might have a hard time following through. If they don't, you end up the bad guy all around. Also lift the grounding when visiting. It can cause tension and awkwardness that will only have an adverse affect on the desired outcome of the punishment. But family should respect your rules. Everyone has to be on the same page for a grounding to work.

* Only on the rarest occasions should children be grounded from playing with specific children. Only do this if they persistently get in trouble together or if threatens or hurts your child.

* Ground tweens and teens under 16 from specific things and only for a few days. Good things to ground from are: junk food, candy, television, computer, video games, Playstation (Wii, Xbox etc.), iPod, cellphone, internet, party, going to a friend's house, sleepover.


Grounding should be remove privileges not administer harm. For more parenting helps, visit me at www.healthhelp4u.blogspot.com and http://emotionalhealthhelp.blogspot.com and http://heartsmartrelationships.blogspot.com

Puberty Belly Fat. Healthy Food Swaps to Burn Tummy Bulge

I've lost 97 pounds and dropped from size 20 to size 3/ 4. (Left photo is then, right photo is now). Belly fat has always been my nemesis--being apple-shaped.

Parents, is your once-slim tot sprouting a belly in puberty? Don't worry too much, if he's active and mostly eating right, it'll trim down in adolescence. But if you have family history of obesity, or if that belly is staying past 15-16, it's time to tone it. Here are healthy food swaps to help everyone from a menopausal 50-year old like me to a preteen, burn belly fat. These are healthy diet tweaks, not crash dieting. Don't, for heaven's sake, put your child on a too-restrictive diet. He needs to eat a lot while growing. The trick? Avoid saturated fat, highly-inflammatory food, sugary, salty and bloating foods. Then boost MUFAs (monounsaturated fatty acids), metabolism-boosters, omega-3 fatty acids, flavonoids, fermented foods, vitamin C. Here's an A-Z guide of foods that add and subtract to tummy bulge.  Belly Fat or Flat, Foods That Boost and Burn Stomach Bulge

Parenting Kids With Low Self Esteem

 Have you ever wondered what goes on inside the head of a person with low self-esteem? If you're experiencing low self-esteem for the first time, it can be pretty scary. If you've not experienced negative self-image, it's hard to imagine why those of us who have behave as we do. If you're parenting a child with self esteem issues, it's even more challenging. Kids struggle with communication as it is. To explain negative emotions to a parent can be overwhelming. Here are coping tips. Read more

How to actively listen to your teen

"We need to talk." Those words make me nervous. I don't know whether it's the faint implication of censure, the possible portent of bad news or just the fear of the unknown, but I get edgy. Kids do, too. When it's said without any added details, the person can only conclude it must be something really dire. And frankly, approaching someone with an ominous opener like that will not engender healthy communication.  Kids shouldn't have to walk on eggshells wondering what they've done wrong now. If they've done something you disapprove of, say so. Don't be cagey. Don't play games. Don't turn it into a drama fest. The only thing you'll accomplish is to alienate your teen.  Be honest and open with your kids and they'll be more likely to return the favor. Here are other parenting tips on talking to teens so everyone feels comfortable. How to actively listen to your teen and talk with empathy 

How to talk and listen to your teen

"We need to talk." Hearing those words makes me nervous. I don't know whether it's the faint implication of censure, the possible portent of bad news or just the fear of the unknown, but I get edgy when someone says that to me. Kids get nervous, too. Here are parenting tips on talking to teens so everyone feels comfortable.  To read the article, click here How to listen to your teen. (Please note: there are several errors in this article and I apologize for that. I'm not sure, but I think they're happening when I transfer the article from WORD to the template I'm using.)

Parenting teens through relationship drama (without tearing your hair out)

 As a mom, I'm generally confident handling childhood hurdles--potty-training, picky eaters, night frights--bring 'em on. There's one issue that shakes my equanimity--teen relationship drama. Whether they're boyfriend-girlfriend connections or same-gender friendships, teenage relationships are often fraught with drama and drenched in anxiety. Frankly, I'd rather walk barefoot over hot coals carrying a sack of nails on my head than deal with drama (esp. OP--other peoples'--drama. I can distance from drama in my own relationships. In my kid's--not so much). Even the term "drama" makes my face twitch. Disagreeable as they are, relationship problems are part of a teen's life and they need us parents for emotional support. After four kids (and a lot of trial and error), I've assembled some thoughts for parents on helping kids navigate peer relationships.  How to parent teens through relationship drama without going crazy - Yahoo! Shine

Bullying Issues: Parents Wrong to Sue School for Son's Tattoos

The parents of a boy who was tattooed against his will have sued Concord School District in New Hampshire. Michael and Tammy Austin claim the school was negligent and didn't protect their son from bullying, the Concord Monitor reports. This kind of lawsuit highlights misunderstandings about bullying and the dangers of not teaching kids to take ownership for their problems. Parents Wrong to Sue School for Son's Tattoos

Girls Hitting Puberty Younger Isn't Surprising

Girls are starting puberty at younger ages and these findings are causing physicians concern, The Week reports. Increasingly more girls are starting puberty before age 10. Based on changing diets, obesity trends and exercise levels, I'm not surprised. Some girls enter puberty younger because they have central precocious puberty. Medscape says girls with CPP start hormonal changes younger than the normal ages of 9 to 15. My mother  started puberty at age 8.  Read more at Girls Hitting Puberty Younger Isn't Surprising 

Facebook is Right to Nix Teen Photo Competitions

Concerned parents have succeeded in getting a "Most Beautiful Teen in the World" Facebook page pulled. Kids were uploading photos of themselves, sometimes scantily clad in sexualized poses, for the approval or disapproval of the Internet masses, ABC News reports.

Now there's a recipe for disaster: Nubile youths throwing their images into cyberspace to be critiqued by who knows who. I'm bothered by kids splashing images of themselves about to start with. Mix in some shirtless or bikini-clad photos and that just escalates my concerns. Those photos of bare-chested boys with thin arms and concave chests are pitiful. It gets worse; there are "most ugly teen" contests too. Read more at Facebook is Right to Nix Teen Photo Competitions 

How to treat mono symptoms in kids, teens

Your teen is cranky and tired. She sleeps all the time and complains of a sore throat, fever, achy muscles and belly pains. It could be the flu, but there's a good chance that she has mononucleosis, usually shortened to "mono." We've been through three bouts of it in our family, with one child getting a reinfection a few years later. Here are some tips to prevent mono infections and care for a teenager who has it. Read more at How to treat mono symptoms in teens

Tips for Parents About Setting Curfews for Teenagers - Associated Content from Yahoo! - associatedcontent.com

Tips for Parents About Setting Curfews for Teenagers Your children are moving into the teen years, going out more, and staying out later at night. Should you set a curfew for your teenagers? Should they be expected home by a certain time? Are teens safer with a curfew? The answers are yes, with exceptions.

How to Get Your Teen to Respect You Without Compromising Your Integrity

How to Get Your Teen to Respect You Without Compromising Your Integrity
Respect is the name of the game for parents, but how to achieve that oft-elusive goal with teens and children? How can you "get" teens to respect you? With these simple tips. Read on...

Genetic Testing for Mood Disorders

With the Arizona shooting deaths on January 9, 2011, discussion is focused on mental health issues that may trigger violent events. Profiles of shooters often reveal a history of psychiatric issues. Are there genetic

tests that demonstrate a predisposition to mental health issues? Let's look at one commonly diagnosed mental health condition: bipolar or manic-depressive disorder. Read on...

Straight Edge XXX Uses Punk Music to Promote Clean Living

In 1980, a punk rock band called Minor Threat, wrote a song called 'Straight Edge' in response to rampant self-indulgent lifestyles associated with punk rock. Straight Edge has blossomed into a healthy lifestyles sub-culture promoting abstinence, vegan, drug-free lifestyles. The notorious black X or XXX icon worn as a tattoo or design on the back of the hand symbolizes a Straight Edge member's resistance to drugs, alcohol, promiscuous sex and meat-based diets. Parents, concerned because your child wants to join "Straight Edge"? Read on...