Who says the teen years have to be terrible? Although the word teenager has become synonymous with trouble, the evidence is clear: Adolescents have gotten a bad rap—and this according to a landmark eight-year study of 4,000 teens from twenty-five states. In The Good Teen, acclaimed researcher Richard M. Lerner sets the record straight. The book: • Explores the academic origins of “the troubled teen,” dismantling old myths and redefining normal adolescence • Presents the five characteristics of teen behavior that are proven to fuel positive development—Competence, Confidence, Connection,Character, and Caring—and specific ways parents can foster them • Envisions our children as resources to be developed, not problems to be fixed • Clearly shows parents what to do when things really go wrong—all teens, no matter how troubled they seem, can be helped • Encourages new thinking, new public policies, and new programs that focus on the strengths of teens “There is no one in America today who understands teenagers better than Richard Lerner.” —William Damon, author of The Moral Child, professor of education, and director of the Stanford Center on Adolescence, Stanford University

William Damon offers the first, much-needed overview of the evolution and nurturance of children's moral understanding and behavior from infancy through adolescence, at home and in school. Drawing on the best professional research and thinking, Professor William Damon charts pragmatic, workable approaches to foster basic virtues such as honesty, responsibility, kindness, and fairness—methods that can make an invaluable difference throughout children's lives.

This guide incorporates the latest scientific findings about physical, emotional, cognitive, identity formation, sexual and spiritual development in adolescent, with tips and strategies on how to use this information inreal-life situations involving teens.

"Good morning America book club"--Jacket.

REVISED AND UPDATED 2011 EDITION The essence of adolescence hasn't changed since this book was first published in 2005. Their brains haven't skipped a growth spurt; their search for identity hasn't been called off or even detoured; they haven't forgotten how to speak with the ease of attitude. And yet, fingers fly across keys to a host of new adolescent domains--from texting to iTunes, from chats to anything-on-demand. This update traverses new adolescent territory, both charted and uncharted, to bring parents up-to-speed on what to expect and how to deal. Every teenager keeps secrets, and if you're like most parents, you worry about what your kids don't tell you--especially when they prefer text messages and social networking sites to face-to-face conversation. Now this popular guide has been revised and updated to address the challenges parents face with a wired and Web-savvy generation. Jenifer Lippincott and Robin Deutsch offer a deceptively simple plan for talking to your kids that's based on a simple set of rules: Teens need to stay safe, show respect, and keep in touch--online, and in real life.

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • AN ALL-ENCOMPASSING GUIDE THAT PARENTS WILL WANT FOR THEIR TEENS This thorough, concise guide offers straight talk about: • The male and female body as it changes and matures. • Teen relationships: what it takes to create happy, supportive, positive, and meaningful connections with family, friends, and others. • Identity empowerment: how to be authentic and thrive in today’s world. • Sex and sexuality for boys and girls: how teens should take care of their bodies, embrace their experiences, and strengthen self-esteem. • Strategies for working through the toughest challenges, including bullying, sexual abuse, eating disorders, pregnancy, and more. Praise for Being a Teen “A frank and candid resource for adolescents.”—People “Fonda’s warmth and love for the teen community is evident.”—Publishers Weekly “Clear, practical, and riveting, Being a Teen cuts away at myth, enhances teens’ self-esteem, and arms them with a trove of useful information. Beautifully organized . . . Any parent, teacher, coach, or doctor needs to read this authoritative guide. What a lifesaver for our boys and girls!”—William S. Pollack, PhD, author of the international bestseller Real Boys and Associate Clinical Professor, Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School “Being a Teen should be in the hands of every teen in the world. It is a myth-busting, fact-filled treasure full of life information all teens want and need to know.”—Christiane Northrup, M.D., New York Times bestselling author of Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom “Clear, unflinching, and nonjudgmental . . . a reliable guide to the turbulent physical and social transitions of adolescence.”—Michael Kimmel, Distinguished Professor of Sociology and Gender Studies, Stony Brook University, and author of Guyland “A comprehensive, honest, fun-to-read book for today’s teenagers. This delightful book will be used again and again.”—The Reverend Debra W. Haffner, president, Religious Institute, and author of From Diapers to Dating “Detailed, accurate and practical . . . an excellent resource.”—Paul Kivel, author of Boys Will Be Men

Expert, authoritative guidance you can trust on helping your teenager cope with the changes and challenges of adolescence, from The American Academy of Pediatrics. The critical, life-shaping years between twelve and twenty-one have been called the “turbulent teens.” But adolescence doesn’t have to be a time of anxiety and upheaval--for either teenagers or their parents. In this comprehensive, down-to-earth guide, the nation’s leading authority on the care of children helps parents and caregivers guide teenagers through the successful transition into young adulthood. Combining practical parenting advice with the latest medical, psychological, and scientific research, and covering every aspect of a teenager’s growth and development, the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Caring for Your Teenager offers indispensable information on: • The stages of adolescence--what defines normal physical, emotional, social, and intellectual development • Setting rules and limits--helping teenagers grow into responsible adults • The twelve building blocks of self-esteem--from feelings of security and belonging to decision making, pride, and trust • Instilling values and strengthening family ties • The problem of peer pressure: giving your child the confidence to handle it • Hormones--easing teenagers’ anxieties about their changing bodies • Safeguarding your teenager from sexually transmitted diseases • Adapting to different family types--from single-parent to adoptive to blended • Helping your teenager cope with serious illness or death in the family, sibling rivalry, separation, or divorce Plus • Helping your teenager find the right college--or make an alternative choice • Teens, the Internet, and the law • A comprehensive medical guide to common ailments . . . and much more Caring for Your Teenager is the one guide that no one entrusted with the care of a teenage child should be without--a book that provides parents with all the information they need to ensure that their child is on the right track to becoming a happy, healthy adult.