parenting teens

Raising kids is tough, so if you’re currently slogging through the long, interrupted nights with potty-training toddlers, well…I’m sorry to say that even though things will be different one day, that doesn’t mean they’re going to be easier.

Teens especially are leading completely different lives than their parents did thirty or forty-odd years ago, so we might often wonder what sort of wisdom we can offer when it comes to navigating this brave new world.

One mom of a teenager has some advice on using technology to prepare your almost-adult for taking on life after living at home, and personally, I’ll definitely be taking notes.

1. Have them conduct internet research for your family.

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If you need to kill weeds or replace a fence or put your dog in day care or rent a car – anything you’d normally do, your kid can do (but of course double check!).

2. Have them pay medical bills.

If you get a medical bill, show them where to find the service date and invoice number and then sit there while they call or pay online.

3. Have them make actual phone calls to get help when something breaks.

Using the phone to make calls is a chore, but when our internet breaks, the water heater goes out, etc, your kid can make the calls and set up the appointments on their own.

4. Let them schedule their own appointments.

It might be time for them to schedule their own haircuts and dentist appointments, but make sure they actually get it done.

5. Have them renew your driver’s license or voter’s registration.

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It can be intimidating to navigate official government processes, so why not let them practice while you’re still there as a safety net?

6. Let them order groceries online.

Online grocery shopping is amazing – and something everyone should know how to do when they’re on their own.

Show them how to re-order necessities, to check the pantry for recipe components, and to stay within a budget.

7. Make them responsible for cooking dinner once a week.

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They should choose the recipe, make sure the ingredients get on the online grocery list, and then make the dinner for the family once a week.

8. Teach them how to use Microsoft Excel.

Use it to make a packing list, a personal budget, a schedule of activities – it doesn’t matter what for as long as they’re figuring out how to use the program.

9. Help them learn PowerPoint.

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Like with Excel, PowerPoint is something they’ll likely need in college and, depending on their profession, beyond.

They can make birthday presentations, Mother’s Day presentations, etc – you could even use it as a punishment if they’ve done something wrong.

There you have it – I’m not sure my husband can do all of these things, honestly, so I’ll definitely be making sure my sons can before they call themselves grown ups.

What do you do to try to use technology as a teaching tool? Are you going to try any of these in your home?

Talk to us in the comments!

The post Mom of a Teenager Shares Tips on How to Teens Can Use Their Phones for Real World Experience appeared first on UberFacts.

Parenting has always been a tough gig, and each generation has had its own unique challenges.

For millennial parents, the challenges come from the realm of technology. We’re faced with the dilemma of how much screen time is too much for our young ones. That said, we also live in an age where kids need cell phones at a certain point. Sadly, while cell phones were supposed to be a way for us to stay in constant contact with our kids, they’ve become yet another way for our kids to ignore us altogether.

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As a parent, few things are more frustrating than your kid refusing to respond to your texts.

So, one dad decided to do something about it.

Nick Herbert couldn’t stand it when his son continually failed to reply to his texts.

Photo Credit: CBS 11 Dallas

“My son has an iPhone, but I still can’t get hold of him very easily as it’s always on silent because he is playing games or has been at school and forgotten to turn the sound back on. There didn’t seem to be a solution out there that allowed me to send a message to him, that would override the silent function, appear over whatever he was doing and tell me when he had seen it.”

He created an app in response to this problem, calling it ReplyASAP. It works by taking over your iPhone when you get a message, not allowing you to ignore it or go back to playing a game or using social media. It also sounds an alarm, and tells the person who sent the text that it has been read.

Your child might be resistant to it at first, but chances are they’ll eventually see the use for it – it helps them remember that their parents are wondering whether they’re still alive.

Photo Credit: CBS 11 Dallas

In Herbert’s experience, this works out well.

“It is key to discuss with the child that they understand the reason for having it. It is not a punishment or a tool for tracking them, nor will it remotely lock or freeze their phone. It is simply a means of allowing them to carry on using their phone however they want, but giving a means of getting them an important message when you need to.”

You’ll probably want to also come to an agreement with your child on when and how you’ll use the app. For instance, it shouldn’t be something you employ every single time you send a text (especially if you know they’re in the middle of class). They should learn to associated ReplyASAP messages with something important and/or timely.

Communication is key in all relationships, so don’t skip on the chat and just download the app.

It’s currently only available on Android, but will be coming to iOs soon.

The post Fed-Up Dad Creates App That Forces Kids to Respond to Parents’ Texts appeared first on UberFacts.