teenager

In an incident that has parents in two Missouri communities reeling, four members of Cassville High School's girls basketball team are being disciplined for spiking the drinking water of their opponents at Monett High — with urine.

With concerns running high about the possibility that the stunt may have transmitted disease, the Monett Times reports that school officials immediately notified parents by letter. But Brad Hanson, Monett's superintendent, is calling for cool heads: "We all need to remember that people make mistakes whether we're adults or 14- to 18-year-old kids. . . . I'm asking for our students, coaches, and community to take the high road on this and show we are the classy people we are."

Read more (Monett Times).

How do you handle it when your kids show poor judgement?

A 'Words for Teenagers' piece printed in a New Zealand school newsletter in 1959 has been drawing the attention of both parents and teens recently. The advice originated with a judge who was trying to answer a question he regularly heard from restless, bored kids: "What can I do and where can I go?"

The judge's answer, which has gone viral on Facebook, has received enthusiastic approval from some, while others find it harsh and authoritarian. 

Click on the image to the left to decide for yourself.

Read more at the Huffington Post. 

Image Source: chiesADIbeinasco via Flickr/Creative Commons

Ahhh, the teen years. This bid for freedom and autonomy is challenging for even the most experienced of moms. Take, for instance, the teen who tells her parents that she's thinking about becoming a mom herself — or the one who then does so, on purpose. Not only does this happen, as Alycia W.'s story shows (Her 16-year-old daughter moved out and had a baby), but it comes up frequently enough that it's an area of anguished discussion on Circle of Moms.

Here, members share what they would do or say if their teen announced that not only does she crave independence, but that to get it, she's planning to get pregnant.

Shoud You Say Whatever It Takes to Dissuade Her?

Lindsay S. and Doris N. both suggest using whatever means you can come up with to dissuade your teen from seeking motherhood. For Lindsay this means pleading with her: “Sweetie, please stop and rethink having a child this early in your life. Children are extremely hard to raise. When it is your time to have a child, you will know. Until then, finish high school and go to college so that when you do have a child you will be able to give them the best life possible.”

Doris N. ups the ante: “If I was the mother of a daughter who said this I would tell her my feelings would be incredibly hurt."

But Diana H. cautions that a teen who wants to get pregnant is crying out for attention, and counsels moms to tread very carefullly and react gently. "Above all you should validate your teen's feelings of [needing] love and attachment and not overeact." Luoise G. concurs: "I would try [to] be approachable and understanding and give as much support to my daughter as I could."

Tracey L., who got pregnant for the first time at 16 herself, echos this sentiment. She feels moms need to both show unconditional love and "point out the challenges."

“Don't give up on her," she cautions, as teen motherhood "never turns out well."

Confronting Her with the Facts

Teens tend to react poorly to shows of parental authority, so be prepared for a hostile reaction when you tell your daughter you think being a teen mom is an unwise idea. Louise G. recommends explaining what the future will most likely look like if she actually has a baby. “I’d ask her how she would provide for herself (and the baby). Bills are not fun to pay and the novelty will soon wear off."

Maria recommends being more blunt. “I’d be completely straight up with her and tell her that wanting a baby isn’t stupid, but wanting a baby at 13 is,” she says. She would confront her own daughter with a lot of hard questions, including: “Do you know what happens to your body? Do you know about labor and delivery? Do you know how much it costs to have a baby? Are you prepared to continue going to school and [to] take care of an infant?"

How would you react if your teen announced she wanted to get pregnant?

Image Source: iStock Photo

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, POPSUGAR.

While it's not uncommon for parents to hesitate over sleepover invitations for tweens and teens because of sleep loss (They tend to be "irritable" when they get home, says Circle of Moms member Lisa J.), some oppose them unequivocally. Susanne Y. is one of these moms; she's banned her boys, 11, 9, and 3,  from participating in them, end of discussion. And she's tired of hearing, "What's the big deal?" from her own kids and even from other parents. "The oldest is asked to sleepovers all the time and most of his friends have been doing it for years, but I prefer my kids in their own beds at night."

Belinda B. also feels that it's better to be safe than sorry. "I would rather watch over my children than to let them go somewhere and something happens. You can't go back."

Tween and teen slumber parties are a hot topic in Circle of Moms communities. Here, moms share three reasons for keeping the tween and teen set at home at night.

1. Drinking and Drugs

When it comes to sleepovers, Lori is one of many moms who feel there are just too many unknowns, including the possibility that your kids will be unsupervised and tempted to make bad or risky choices. She works in a hospital, where she's seen many parents lose kids to accidents. She says, simply, "You don't know what goes on in other people's houses. . . . You just don't know what other parents will allow them to do."

As if to bring this point home, Paula M. relays the story of a Sweet Sixteen sleepover her daughter attended where four girls got sick after smoking pot and drinking in the host's bed room.

2. Teen Sex

Several members are adamantly opposed to sleepovers because they can wind up being coed, a trend moms say is on the rise.

Veronique P. is guided by memories of her own hormonal adolescence: "I remember those years very clearly, [so] I never would I let a boy sleep over at my house, nor would I let my daughter go to a sleepover where there will be boys. Not a good idea. I have no intentions of being a very young grandmother and having to support that child and my daughter."

Katie agrees. "You have to be careful at that age and especially with girls."

3. Dangerous Strangers

A member named MeMe feels bound to protect her kids from dangers she's read about in newspaper headlines and seen on the news. "While many parents may believe slumber parties are harmless fun, several news stories about molestation at a sleepover have given many of us parents reasons to worry about slumber parties and concrete reasons to avoid them," she says. 

Lisa J. agrees, asserting that, "Even if we know [the parents] somewhat there could be a 'compromising visitor' that drops by. They could have a porn movie going. There could be drinking, whatever. It's not that I don't trust my children — I don't trust every person there."

And Kelina, like Veronique, thinks back to the risks she took during her own teen years. "I'm so freaking amazed that nothing happened to me," she says. "In all likelihood most kids who have sleepovers have great experiences, and are never in harms way. But that one in a million chance is the one that curdles my blood, because nothing could ever take that back."

How do you feel about sleepovers for tweens and teens?

Image Source: Mike Klein via Flickr/Creative Commons

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, POPSUGAR.

“Are today’s teens different than we were?” asks Gail E. on Circle of Moms. It's not really meant as a question though; she firmly believes that something's amiss with this generation of kids. Another Circle of Moms member, Jodi, expresses the sentiment more bluntly, noting that kids seem “more entitled than ever before.” She adds: "Kids seem to be getting worse and worse as time goes on. Maybe we could learn from parenting styles of older generations." 

Are we really in the era of more-indulged-than ever offspring? And if so, what's causing it? Circle of Moms members have various theories, some lighthearted, and many of them more serious. Here, we take a closer look at what moms feel is behind this suppoedly “all about me” generation.

1. Parents Buy Too Much

"I see little ones given so much so often," shares JuLeah W. "A little toy here, a fun little thing here, a buck here.  It is all based on the, 'you're so cute ... I love you ... you deserve it’ idea."

JuLeah argues that parents today buy far too much for their children: "They get a coloring book for walking in the store and not whining. They get a new beach ball and buckets because they are going to the beach and only have their toys from last year. Yes, their toys from last year include a ball and bucket, but not in the color they want this year." 

Part of the problem may be modern technology and the Internet, says Janice C.: "Kids today often have an entitled attitude, because technology has changed so rapidly over the past thirty years and it’s much easier to over indulge your child than in the past.”  As a member named Me Me shares, "My neighbor has bought their son (12 years old) five cell phones in the past year and a half because he keeps either losing them or breaking them. He doesn't care how much they cost because his parents keep replacing them."

If parents give kids whatever they want, why wouldn't they feel entitled to it, ask Bonnie M. "We need to stop giving our children everything," she declares.  "We need to teach them that nothing is handed over freely. This is what life is about, working for what you want. . . .We are to blame [for] this generation's apathy."  She adds that parents seem to be confused over what kids need and what they want: "How much does a child really need an X-box, a computer, and [a] television in their room?" 

2. Kids Don't Fend For Themselves

It might have been endearing when 30-something Matthew McConaughey needed more than a little push to leave the nest in the movie Failure to Launch. But Circle of Moms members say moms are simply fueling entitlement by waiting on their kids hand and foot. 

As Lissa H. says, "They never have to work towards or earn anything. They never have to be part of the team that is a family to work towards common goals. If you show them that they are the center of the earth and nobody else matters, that is what they will grow up to believe."

It's a trap that moms like Shannon T. are trying not to fall into. "I need to work on that," she admits. "Letting them do things for themselves. I am so used to being on autopilot that I need to stop and let them do it for themselves."

3. "The Way We Never Were Syndrome"

Though many parents feel today's generation is more entitled than ever before, there are some Circle of Moms members who strongly believe that the sense of over-entitlement is just an illusion. In reality, they say, kids are still just kids, but parents have delusional memories about how they themselves were so much better  at that age. 

Beth M. calls it 'The Way We Never Were Syndrome:' “My mom and dad have some crazy stories about when they were kids (the 60s), stuff kids today would probably not even try,” she shares. “We think there was this golden era in history where families were perfect and children were well behaved and everything was great. But in reality that never existed. In the past, a child was overindulged because mom and dad handed them a china doll, a real china tea set, a record player, or a Sony Walkman. You don't think this is equivalent to today's child receiving an X-Box?"

Do you think today's kids are more entitled than ever before?

Image Source: Asterix611 via Flickr/Creative Commons

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, POPSUGAR.

Like many moms of teen girls, Gayle S. struggles with whether to put her 15-year-old daughter on birth control pills. It’s not that she wants her daughter to be sexually active, it's that, as she explains, “She’s started to see a 17-year-old boy a lot. . . . I don't want her think I don't trust her to be careful with this boy, but I think contraception is a good idea and [that] this needs to be addressed.”

She's not alone. As another member, Loryn A., shares: “I absolutely would put my daughter on the pill. Let's be real here – we can teach our daughters about STD's, pregnancy, sex and love, but in the end, we know they are going to do exactly what they want.”

Here, she and other Circle of Moms members share five reasons to put your teen daughter on birth control pills.

(For the other side of the story, read 3 Reasons Not to Put Your Daughter on the Pill.)

1. Better Safe Than Sorry

Even if you worry that you're sending your daughter a message that it is okay for her to have sex, it is better to be safe than sorry, says a member named Victoria. She put her 16-year-old on the pill to protect her from getting pregnant, and as she says, "It is unlikely that you will be able to stop your daughter from having sex once she has made the decision. . . . considering the possible consequences, it is better to be safe than sorry.” She told her daughter that it is ultimately "her choice when to become sexually active," and that she must protect herself against pregnancy.

Buffy D. agrees with this approach to the issue. Putting her 14-year-old daughter on the pill when she was 12 was the best way to protect her, she says. “As mothers, we don't only worry about our kids having sex; there is also the worry of pedophiles."

2. She's Asked to Be on the Pill

If your teenage daughter approaches you about going on the pill, many Circle of Moms members warn that denying her birth control is unlikely to dissuade her from becoming sexually active. Even Cindi C., who recommends explaining to her why you hope that she can put off sex, is also clear on one thing: “If she is asking, I would take her to the doctor ASAP. You do not want to take the chance of an unplanned pregnancy."

Jenni D. agrees. She took her now 18-year-old and 15-year-old girls to the doctor when they asked a couple years ago. “The doctor went through everything and she was great. I have no regrets at all with allowing them to take it. I trust my girls and it is up to them. Let's face it, they will eventually have sex, and once they are 15 or 16 they can go to the doctor without mom or dad, so at least this way everyone knows what is going on and there are no secrets.“

3. She Has Medical Issues

Many moms put their teen daughters on birth control pills to help painful periods or heavy bleeding, points out Tabitha S. She put her 13-year-old on the pill because "She was having extremely painful periods and is also bleeding six to eight days. Though concerned that her daughter will think this is "a license to have sex," she says the medical reasons for putting her on the birth control pill are still more important.

Victoria is another mom who put her daughter on the pill early — in sixth grade — because of medical concerns. “We have a family history of ovarian cysts," she explains, "and after her emergency surgery for removal of a (twisted) ovarian cyst which included the removal of the involved ovary, we put her on the pill to help with stopping formation of cysts."

4. Teens Lie About Having Sex

Teens don’t always tell their parents the truth about their sexual activity, points out one who knows, Circle of Moms member Kelly H. She herself got pregnant at the age of 13, and when her own daughter reached her teens, she put her on the birth control pill “just in case."

As she explains, “I was a teen mom myself at 13. A lot of children will not tell their parents what they are doing. It was very hard growing up [myself] having [had] a child so young. Children don’t think about things at the time and regret it later.”

5. It Breeds Trust and Good Decision-Making

Many moms who put their daughters on the pill say they are keen to avoid repeating the mistakes of their own mothers, who didn't educate them at all about sex or birth control, which made the whole subject taboo. As Charlene W. explains, “Everything I knew about sex, STDs, and birth control when I was in my teens came from everywhere except my mother. . . I think that schools and we as moms need to be able to teach about birth control and safe sex and not be forced to talk only about abstinence. I don't see it as giving them permission to have sex, I see it as arming them with the proper knowledge to make good decisions if they so choose to go ahead and do the deed. It needs to be a fair balance."

(For the other side of the story, read 3 Reasons Not to Put Your Daughter on the Pill.)

Image Source: Kara Allyson via Flickr/Creative Commons

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, POPSUGAR.

There’s been a lot of discussion about parents letting their teenagers have sex in the house. The New York Times weighed in on the topic. The View’s Elisabeth Hasselbeck talked about it. Even Perez Hilton chimed in.  Circle of Moms members are talking, too, but they’re not saying what I expected them to say.

Should You Allow Your Teen to Have Sex at Home?

The argument for letting your teen have sex in your house goes something like this:

If you know your teens are having sex and they’re going to do it anyway, it’s safer to let them do it in your home. After all, they are (supposedly) more likely to use protection and you’ll know where they are.

With that being the reasoning, I suspected Circle of Moms members would fall into one of two camps. The “not on your life” camp or the “it’s a good idea” camp.  But it seems this question isn't one that easily lends itself to a simple “yes” or “no” answer.

So what do moms think about their teens having sex in the house?

“It’s disrespectful.”

A lot of moms say they wouldn’t allow teen sex under their roof. Many give reasons I expected to hear, like Kelly, who says her son shouldn’t be having sex at all “until he can be financially and emotionally prepared for a kid.” As she wisely points out, “birth control can fail.”  

Others are adamant that a parent’s role is to set limits and teach their kids to be responsible for their own behavior, something they believe can’t be done if a parent allows a child to act like an adult in their home.

But still other Circle of Moms members feel it’s simply a matter of respect. As Heather M. puts it, “having sex under age in your parent’s house is disrespectful.”  Shannon H. agrees, saying, “Absolutely not! That is your house to raise your children to be self-aware, responsible, contribute to society and [be] respectful.”

"It's safer."

Disrespectful or not, there are parents opting to let teens have sex in their house because they think it’s safer, though Circle of Moms members have differing opinions on what “safer” actually means.  

To some, it means kids will take fewers risks because their parents aren’t forbidding sex. Janice C., however, says she doesn’t think “condoning sex makes it any safer.”  

Moms like Liz, who asks, somewhat tongue-in-cheek, “Unless you put the condom on the kid yourself, how is it safer?” think “safer” refers to parents making sure their children are using contraception.

Then there's Amanda O., who thinks both these viewpoints miss the real meaning of the word "safe" in this context.  “I think the word ‘safer’ is being taken the wrong way by some people. I know safe sex is contraception, etc., but in this case I think the 'safe' is meant for actual personal safety.”  

Her point is well-taken, and when they look at it in that context, a number Circle of Moms members say they’d rather open up their home to their kids than let them have sex in some “scummy place,” or the back of a car.

“I have mixed feelings.”

The truth is that many parents are ambivalent about the idea of allowing their teens to have sex at home, and the reasons are varied.

Karen G. shares, “I have mixed feelings on this. On one hand, I do not really want them having sex in our home, [but] it is better for her to be at home instead of out in a car somewhere or at some guy's house, because anything could happen.”

Christine M. ‘s view shows similar ambivalence. This mom says she’ll provide her teens with condoms and other forms of birth control, but won’t “lay out the welcome mat.”  If her teens want to have sex, they’ll need to “sneak around” like she did when she was a kid.

Finally, there are quite a few moms like Kelina G., who don’t mind it happening in their homes but also don't really want to know about  it. Kelina says she’d be cool with her teen having sex at home, “provided it was far enough away [that] I couldn't hear it and they had a 'Do Not Disturb' sign on the door.”  

Are Parents Really Letting Teens Have Sex at Home?

If Circle of Moms members are any indication of what’s happening in homes all across the nation, this whole "phenomenon" of parents letting their teens have sex in the house isn’t trend so much as an ongoing conversation with no easy answers. Right now, it’s not an issue in my house, but I’m certainly considering what I will do when it becomes one.

Would you let your teen have sex in your home?

Image Source: Courtney Carmody via Flickr/CCL

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, POPSUGAR.

You probably knew to keep pills and supplements out of your kids' reach, but did you know that hand sanitizer is also a danger?

Public health officials are becoming increasingly concerned about a very dangerous trend that is emerging among teens. Since 2010, California has had 2600 reports of teens drinking hand sanitizer to get drunk. Six California teenagers were hospitalized last month alone for alcohol poisoning related to drinking hand sanitizer. This isn't just a problem in California either. Helen Arbogast, an injury prevention coordinator in the trauma program at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, told ABC News, "We see it in the South, in the Midwest, in the East.” 

Liquid hand sanitizer is 62 to 65 percent ethyl alcohol, the main ingrediant in beer, wine, and spirits. To compare, a bottle of vodka is only 40 percent. A few swallows is all you would need to feel the same effects of alcohol. Doctors warn that long-term use could lead to brain, liver, and kidney failure. 

Arbogast says foam hand sanitizer is a safer option to keep around the house, but “any hand sanitizer will be at risk for alcohol poisoning, as the foam type is still 62 percent ethyl alcohol.” Parents are being cautioned to treat hand sanitizers like any other medication, keep them out of reach of young children, and monitor their use around teens. Parents are also encouraged to be proactive about talking to their teens about substance abuse. 

Read the full story at ABCNews.com.

Do you keep hand sanitizer around the house?

Image Source: Purell.com

It may be hard to believe, but Circle of Moms member Jamie K. wants her house to be the go-to hangout spot for the neighborhood teens. She encourages her kids to invite their friends over as much as possible, and welcomes  the noise, dirt, and extra expense these frequent guests bring. Jamie does this because, as she says, there’s a major benefit to making your house into your teen's favorite hangout: you always know where your child is and what he and his friends are doing.

“We have a revolving door and at times the family room downstairs looks like a hurricane hit it,” she says. “But my kids and their friends are safe, and it gives me a chance to get to know the kids' friends. There are times my kids aren’t even home and the friends are vegging in our basement playing Xbox or outside skateboarding on our driveway.” Shawnn L. agrees: "I'd much rather be the neighborhood mom than think they may be elsewhere getting into mischief.”

But how do you reap the benefits of being "the neighborhood mom" without getting overwhelmed? “My house is like the community center,” says Constance, who frequently hosts the friends of her seven kids. She cautions that hosting a pack of kids requires a parent to set limits: "Limits remind them you are watching.”  Jodi H. agrees: “The thing with teens is to really consider the rules and boundaries before agreeing to their requests."

Here, Jami, Shawnn, Constance, and other Circle of Moms members share three smart tips for creating a safe and fun "kid house" for your teen.

1. Who and When

Among the rules Jodi and other Circle of Moms members impose are limits on the number of kids allowed at any given time, the frequency of gatherings, and on the time these gatherings have to wind down. Otherwise, a request to invite over "just a few friends" can result in an all-night party for the entire junior class.

To determine a reasonable end time, Ashley L. recommends finding out what time your city enforces as a curfew for teens. "That’s how I got mine to realize that my curfew was not unreasonable.” Jodi H. only allows her teens to have friends over afternoons and early evenings, and never on weekends. “After school and that is it in our house,” she says.

Karlee M. encourages her son to invite his friends over, but only when they can be supervised. “We are very comfortable having our son’s friends over and welcome them, but not when we aren’t home.”

2. Where

Several Circle of Moms members suggest designating a separate place in your house where teens can hang out. Ideally, it should be close by but somewhat removed from you, like the basement or the garage, and to furnish it with casual, comfortable seating. You may also want to establish rules around where your teenage visitors are not allowed, such as behind the closed doors of your child's bedroom, advises Samantha D. “We have an open door policy with my kids, which means we make surprise ‘walk bys’ at different times when their friends are over."

Sheila allows her sons' friends to hang out anywhere in her house, but has a “no girls in the bedroom rule.”

3. What

If you want your teen to bring his friends to your house, you have to make the friends feel welcome, points out Shawnn L.: “We've been the ‘kid house’ since before we even had kids. . . . because we have always made [kids] feel welcome. . . As my kids were born, and have grown, we're still the kid house."

One way to make kids feel that welcome is to keep their hangout stocked with snacks and drinks and equipped with the games and gear your teens like, such as skateboards, a Wii, an Xbox, or even a good old fashioned pool table.

Finally, a word of caution: many moms advise sticking with bottled water and soft drinks, and flatly forbidding alcohol. Not only is it illegal for adults to allow minors to drink, but as Dede C. and Jeri D. point out, you are responsible for your child's friends, "even if their parents say it is okay."

Do your teen's friends like to hang out at your house?

Image Source: via iStockphoto

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, POPSUGAR.

High on the list of what to expect as the mom of a teen is the day your child comes home saying she wants to flip burgers at the nearby fast-food joint or take on a sales job at the mall. That's good news, agree many Circle of Moms members. But how do you guide your teen to make the right job choice so that she can manage school, activities, friends, and a job?

Here, Circle of Moms members share their thoughts about part-time jobs for teens and the factors you should consider when your teen tells you she wants to go out and earn some money.

1. Is Your Teen Mature Enough?

Many Circle of Moms members set limits around their teen’s work lives from the get-go. Barbara J. and Debbie S. both only allowed their teens to work when they felt their kids were mature enough and that the jobs they chose were appropriate. As Barbara explains, "Depends on his maturity level and the location of the part-time job and hours that would be worked," and Debbie adds, “I would let a mature child get a part time job around the age of 14, depending on what kind of job it was. My oldest son began doing yard work for a lady at church, once a week. I would drive him to her house, drop him off for two hours, then pick him up. It was great experience for him and it was a blessing to her. I think the type of job and the maturity of the child need to be a complete match-up to be successful.”

Becky F. points out that a job can help an immature teen become more responsible: "I definitely think that kids should learn responsibility and good money management before they graduate from high school. And I think that starts even before they hit their teens, with doing chores around the home and getting an allowance, though adds that "school comes first. If they can juggle it all, great. If they're not turning in assignments, falling asleep in class, getting poor grades for their ability - or, if I notice they've lost their social life and interests because all they do is school and work - then the job goes."

2. Which Limits Should You Set?

Many Circle of Moms members agree with Becky that most high school-aged kids are too young to be taking on part-time jobs and prefer to encourage their kids to focus on school. As Kelly puts it, "I feel school and school activities are so important and worry a job may take away from that." She held jobs during her own high school years and "found it difficult to keep up with my studies." For her own daughter, a part-time summer job is the limit: "She'll be able to earn some money and learn how to manage it, and still have time to be a kid."

Rachael O. suggests a different way of limiting a teen's work. She's okay with occasional jobs like yard work for a neighbor, but prohibits jobs "where they would have set days to work or a set amount of hours," arguing that school comes first, and that we should "let a kid be a kid."

And Jodi S. recommends having teens gradually work up to a part-time job, proving they can take on more responsibility without jeopardizing school as they go. "My step-daughter is 18 and has been working part-time jobs (mostly on weekends) since she was about 16. Prior to that, she sometimes worked in our businesses for us and was paid for it. My 13-year-old will probably start 'officially' doing some weekend work in our business in about 12 or 18 months. He already does some extra work around the house and also helps me with some of my work to earn his money to pay for some of his extras (including his iPod Touch and mobile phone, plus movie outings with his friends). So I guess starting slowly and setting limits is the way to go."

3. How Do You Teach the Value of Money?

In most states, kids need to be 16 to have a part-time job, but some Circle of Moms members feel it's important to start teaching their kids about “responsible working” even earlier. Meagan P. encouraged her kids to start earning their spending money at age 12 by doing odd jobs like mowing lawns and babysitting. "I really want to avoid that whole ‘entitlement’ attitude that so many children get. I want her to value what she has, and learn how money works. A family is a team, and everyone should help out. A teen/tween getting their own job and earning their own money to help buy their ‘wants’ is a great way to contribute."

Several Circle of Moms members suggest talking to your teen about why it is important to work. As Rebecca A. advises, “I want my kids to understand that what we have was from the hard work we ourselves put in. If they want anything beyond the necessities and our once-in-a-while surprises or gifts from celebrations, they will work for them."

Susan M. adds that when it comes time for a teen to start working, she'll also need guidance on how to handle the money she earns. She suggests "a forced savings plan," where you take a percentage of their paycheck and at the end of each month put it into mutual funds or an IRA. If garnishing wages causes resentment, she suggests explaining to your teen that you are showing your child "how to become a millionaire."

Do you let your teen work?

Image Source: ReUse Photos via Flickr/Creative Commons

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, POPSUGAR.