When it comes to teens and marijuana, there’s good news and there’s bad news. Here’s the good news: teen use of pot has decreased 25% since 2001. That translates to about 2.3 million kids using pot at least once a month.

But here’s the bad news: teens who have been depressed at some time over the course of the last year are more than twice as likely to have smoked marijuana than teens who haven’t been depressed. According to a White House report, that means 25% of depressed teens are using pot. Other important stats to know in regards to teens, depression, and drugs are listed below:

• Using pot increases a teen’s risk of developing a mental disorder by 40%
• Teens who smoke marijuana when depressed are more than twice as likely to get addicted to it
• Teens who use marijuana at least once a month for a year or longer are 3 times more likely to have suicidal thoughts than teens who don’t use

As the experts point out, pot is not going away anytime soon and parents can’t stick their heads in the sand about the topic. If parents notice behavioral changes in their teens like withdrawing from family, changing friend groups, not caring about their hygiene or appearance, they need to find out what’s wrong. Changes in behavior could signal depression or drug use or both.

The American Library Association recently released their list of the 10 Most Challenged Books of 2007. For the second straight year, Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell’s award-winning children’s book about two male penguins who care for an orphaned egg–And Tango Makes Three–topped the list.

When schools or libraries receive formal, written complaints requesting that a certain book be removed because of content or appropriateness, the book is considered a “challenged book.” According to the ALA Office of Intellectual Freedom (OIF), they received 420 reports from libraries and schools of efforts to have books removed last year.

However, they also note that the majority of challenges go unreported. 

How do you feel about it as a parent? Is it different than how you feel about it as a regular ol’ American citizen? When should people/children have access to information and the freedom to choose for themselves and when should it be denied or controlled? It appears that these questions present themselves over and over again each year when it comes to children’s literature.

Taken from the ALA website, here is the list of the “10 Most Challenged Books of 2007.” You’ll see that they reflect a range of themes and are challenged for a variety of reasons:

1. And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson/Peter Parnell 

Reasons: Anti-Ethnic, Sexism, Homosexuality, Anti-Family, Religious Viewpoint, Unsuited to Age Group

2. The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier

Reasons:  Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Violence

3. Olive’s Ocean by Kevin Henkes

Reasons:  Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language

4. The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman

Reasons:  Religious Viewpoint

5. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

Reasons:  Racism

6. The Color Purple by Alice Walker

Reasons: Homosexuality, Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language,

7. TTYL by Lauren Myracle

Reasons:  Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group

8. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

Reasons:  Sexually Explicit

9. It’s Perfectly Normal by Robie Harris

Reasons:  Sex Education, Sexually Explicit

10. The Perks of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

Reasons:  Homosexuality, Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group

Today, May 7th, is National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) points out that although teen pregnancy rates are the lowest they’ve been in 30 years, they’re not low enough.

Before age 20, 31% of teen girls will get pregnant.

The AAP, along with 200 other national organizations, is promoting National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy through a variety of ways.

If you’re comfortable talking with your teen about sex and pregnancy, visit the StayTeen.org website and take the quiz with your child to see what your teen would do in a risky sexual situation.  This should prove to open up a great dialogue. Also, pediatricians across the country are talking with their teen patients about this national campaign and encouraging them to think about what to do “in the moment” before the moment arises.

Much more information about the national campaign can be found at the campagin’s website. While all parents don’t agree on how to and what to discuss in regards to sex with their teens, all parents probably agree that preventing teen pregnancy is a must.

I’m bored. There’s nothing to do. How many times have you heard that? Probably too many. The next time you hear that same old, same old saying, see if your kids are up for disc golf.

Disc golf, or Frisbee golf, is a fun activity that is fun for kids of all ages but especially teenagers. You may or may not have seen it played but it’s a pretty simple premise. The object is to land small discs in strategically placed metal baskets in as few throws as possible. Part Frisbee. Part golf. All fun.

It’s easy enough for your teens to set up their own course in the neighborhood or a local park. If they want an official course, pdga.com can tell them where to find one. So, next time your teens tell you that they have nothing to do, tell them you have an idea…

Is your teen in real trouble or is she just being a teen? Rebellious. Uncommunicative. Sullen. According to Mark Burdick, a psychologist and educational consultant, these words desribe your typical teenager. But other behaviors can signal a more serious problem.

Dr. Burdick notes that certain actions or non-actions may indicate that your child is out of control and in need of help. Dr. Burdick cautions parents to watch for the follwing things:

• A decline in personal hygiene
• Loss of interest in usual activities
• A completely new set of friends

If parents notice these behaviors or other troubling signs, it might be time to get help. Dr. Burdick suggests that when you can no longer effectively parent, you need to turn to experts like therapists doctors and other professionals who can get you the help you need. Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need to get your teen back from the brink.

If animation, comic books, or Japanese anime make the hearts of young adults you know skip a beat, then they might just be interested in the following list. The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) has compiled a list of the 2008 Top Ten Great Graphic Novels for Teens. According to many reading experts, Graphic Novels-known to us older folks as comic books-are excellent reading material. Trust me…teens could be reading much worse or even not reading at all. Share the list and share the love for Graphic Novels!

Laika by Nick Abadzis

Re-Gifters by Mike Carey

The Magical Life of Long Tack Sam by Anne Marie Fleming

 Blue Beetle: Shell-shocked and Blue Beetle: Road Trip by Keith Giffen

King of Thorn,  volumes 1 & 2 by Yuji Iwahara.

Sidescrollers by Matthew Loux

After School Nightmare, volumes 1-5 by Setona Mizushiro

Emma, volumes 1-5 by Karou Mori

The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain by Peter Sis

The Arrival by Shaun Tan

Would you rather talk to your child about sex or money? According to a new survey, you’d rather give the birds and the bees speech than the dollars and cents one.

The Charles Schwab survey polled 1,000 American parents with teenagers, aged 13-18. Here’s what they found out:

97%-Parents who believe it’s important to teach their teens to save and invest for retirement.

14%-Those who have taught their kids what a 401(k) is.

69%-Parents who feel more prepared to discuss sex with their teens than money matters.

34%-Parents who have taught their teens how to balance a checkbook.

29%-Parents who have explained how credit card interest and fees work.

70%-Parents who have taught their kids how to do laundry.

43%-Parents who have taught their kids how to pay bills.

So, when is the right time to talk money with kids? Parents are genuinely concerned about it but aren’t necessarily talking about it with their children. It might be a tough issue to tackle, but the sooner the better, according to Chuck.

In the last post, I wrote about recommended vaccines for children between the ages of 0 and 6 years. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has a schedule of recommended vaccines for people aged 7 - 18 years as well. Their recommendations are as follows:

7-10 years

• Meningococcal (MCV4)*
• Pneumococcal (PPV)*
• Influenza*
• Hepatitis A Series (HepA)*

11-12 years

• Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis (DTaP)
• Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
• MCV4
• PPV*
• Influenza*
• HepA Series*

13-18 years

• PPV*
• Influenza*
• HepA Series*

*These are applicable to certain high-risk groups only. Check with your doctor for more information.

While this schedule of recommended vaccines is approved by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Academy of Family Physicians, you may still have your own questions and concerns. You should always feel comfortable consulting your child’s doctor; there are no dumb questions when it comes to your child’s health.

Have you thought about asking the teenager down the street if she’d be interested in babysitting for an hour or two but just aren’t sure if you should? She seems like a good kid, but appearances can be deceiving…

Many teenagers make fantastic babysitters but you definitely need to make sure it’s a good fit for everybody involved. If the teenager does express interest in babysitting for you, ask her to come over for a little chat and throw some of these questions her way.

• Do you babysit for younger siblings or other children? What are their ages?
• How often do you babysit and for what lengths of time?
• Have you had any babysitter training (First Aid, CPR, etc)?
• How are your school grades? What activities do you participate in?
• What do you like best about babysitting? What do you like least?
• Have you ever had to deal with an emergency? How did/would you handle one?
• What are your expectations of the people for whom you babysit?

It’s a good idea to have the teenager come to your house and even meet your child. See how she interacts with your child and how she handles herself. You’ll be surprised how quickly you get a “gut feeling” about the young person and generally, you’ll know within a matter of minutes if you’d trust this teenager to take good care of your child. Finding the right babysitter is very important and knowing you have the right person with your child when you’re not there is very comforting as well.

Are parents obliged to foot the bill for their children’s education? With the cost of higher education sky-rocketing, can parents even afford to?

Lots of people have lots of different opinions in regards to what exactly parents owe or don’t owe their kids when it comes to college. Suze Orman, the famous financial whiz, has always insisted that parents do not owe their kids college. And so, in the April edition of O, The Oprah Magazine, Suze Orman has provided these four tips to help parents get smart about college spending:

1. Make sure kids max out on student aid. Repayment terms are better for students than for parents and repayment plans that take effect in mid-2009, ensuring that children’s monthly loan payments will not exceed 15% of their disposable income.
2. Shop for scholarships. Don’t rely on guidance counselors alone. Check out fastweb.com-a free database of scholarships-on your own.
3. Consider a less expensive school. Plenty of public universities deliver outstanding educations at a much lower cost than private colleges; a solid education without a six-figure debt to repay might be best for everyone.
4. Start a 529 savings plan. If you’re on track with your retirement plans and are interested in building a college fund, this is a good route to go. Interest on invested money is tax deferred and withdrawals used to pay for college costs are tax-free. Investigate this option at savingforcollege.com.