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Why are teens so eager to get jobs these days? Many people are puzzled at why a teenager would actually want to work. Older folks remember their teenage years as the “golden years” of their lives. They just played, played, played as teenagers. As adults, they realize that the beauty of being a teen is that you don't have to work. For this reason, they can't fathom what's “wrong” with these workaholic teenagers today. It's obvious that society has changed since the 60's and 70's.

Maybe it's all the electronics on the market now – ipods, zunes, cell phones, ps3's, xbox's, laptops, etc. Maybe it's the increasing pressure on teens to have the most extensive wardrobe and change outfits everyday they go to school. I wanted to get to the bottom of this; I wanted to know why teens want to work, so I conducted a survey.

Here are the most popular responses:

I want to save up for a car.

I want to save up for college.

I want things my parents refuse to buy me.

I want things my parents can't afford to buy me, due to the recession.

I even got quite a few responses like this:

“I don't know. I just want the money.”

It appears as though teens get jobs to meet their personal needs, or “thneeds” according to Dr. Seuss. Government statistics say that teens are working for non-necessities, like clothes and entertainment.

http://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2000/Oct/wk5/art03.htm

As I suspected, most of the teens I surveyed worked at fast food restaurants. What surprised me is that a good portion of the teens were working online. I looked into this and learned that it's becoming popular for teens to do surveys and complete offers online. I tried many of these websites to get an idea of what a teen can make sitting in front of their computer. Many of these sites turned out disappointing because they barely pay anything. However, I was quite impressed with one of these websites – cashcrate. After one month I was able to make $50. I continued using this website because it appeared to be a promising source of income that could be used to pay bills. After about four months I began making $600 a month without having to do anything. The best part was that it was all completely free; I never had to spend any money at all. I've recently started the website below so that teens can catch on to this opportunity:

http://paidteens.webs.com/

I personally think it's great that teens want to work. Holding a job at an early age instills responsibility in teens. If teens can hold a job and manage to do well in school, I'm all for it. However, I firmly believe that education comes first, so don't get a job if you aren't doing well in school; spend that time studying.

Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/teenagers-articles/teen-jobs-898040.html

Raising a child doesn’t come with a book of instructions. If it did, the task would be much easier. Facing the teenage years with your son or daughter is not something most parents look forward to. This article will help you take the experience one day at a time and learn how to bridge the communication gap.

As your child goes from toddler to youngster to tween to teenager, something in what you say gets lost in translation. They can give you that blank stare as if the words that are coming out of your mouth sound like the unseen teacher in the Charlie Brown cartoons.

It’s not easy to improve the communication bridges with a teen but it’s important to try to get through as these years and the choices they make now will have a vital impact on their future.

Here are a few tips to help you get started:

1. Watch your body language.

How you move says a lot about you. When a person is tired, they tend to slump. When angered, your jaw muscles tighten and your eyes narrow into slits. Believe it or not, teenagers are good at interpreting body language. Yours will betray you when you are talking to them. Keep it open and honest. Avoid sitting with your arms crossed, eyes looking away from them or squirming in your seat.

2. Make eye contact.

When you don’t look at the person you are talking to it says that you are either hiding something or you are not at all interested in what they have to say. Your teenager will shut down emotionally when they suspect that you are not “tuned in” to them. Sit comfortably and give your teen undivided attention with consistent eye contact. It lets them know that you care.

3. Keep your emotions in check.

Remember back to when you were a teenager. Some of the things you said to your parents were aimed at freaking them out. Teenagers will push your buttons if they can. Don’t go overboard and get upset. Their target is the situations they know make you mad. Instead, take a deep breath and ignore the taunt. Do the opposite of what they expect because really, they want you to see through their ploy and find out the real problem.

4. Ask them about their day.

This technique works with spouses also. Even if your teen only grunts or says the obligatory, “It was okay,” ask anyway. Your show of caring will go a long way to convince them that you are interested in the things that they do and how they feel.

5. Be honest with them.

If you don’t understand the situation they are talking about then say so. Kids know when you are being insincere. Discuss the situation until you get an idea of where they are coming from. Your teen won’t mind explaining as long as they know you are listening.

6. Allow them their privacy.

This one is tricky and since you know your child better than anyone else, you can draw the line. Teens value their time alone. While the policy in your home may be that there are no locks on the doors, always show respect by knocking before entering. If they don’t want to be pressed about a situation in school, wait until they are ready (if it’s not urgent) and then talk about it.

Parenting a teenager takes a tough skin, a willingness to be vulnerable and lots of love. You will make mistakes but whatever you do, don’t ever stop talking.

Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/teenagers-articles/how-to-build-communication-bridges-with-your-teen-895074.html