Teenagers

[Chocko]

My daughter is 13 and looks a lot older than 13. She is taller than her peers and and although very slender in build, she has the physical appearance of an older teenager.

Her friends have started going to the movies or the mall in groups of children. A parent drops them off and picks them up. One of my fears in letting her join in, (which is important because she is beginning to be left out now that she is the only one not allowed) is that she will not know how to handle herself if she were to be "approached" by an older teenager boy. She is not as mature as her friends and although she has a good head on her shoulder, she is very inexperienced with the whole boy scene, especially when compared to the stories she comes home with regarding her peer group.

I think the TEENPOWER course is exactly what she needs to educate her on how to handle "inappropriate approaches" and to give me peace of mind as we move into this new independent mode. When I try and give her advice, I get the eye rolling. I really really need to know she knows how to fend off older boys and unsafe situations.

If I knew she knew she had the power to set boundaries and know how to enforce them, we will both be happier :ita:

[KIDPOWER]

Many parents put their children into KIDPOWER or TEENPOWER for the very reasons you describe. Some even travel to where we have current centers in order to get a private lesson.

In the meantime, even if your daughter rolls her eyes and seems not to listen, you can still make her practice how to set boundaries, move away, and ask for help in an assertive strong way. You can tell your daughter that, before you can let her be out with her friends without adults along, you need to have the peace of mind that she will be able to protect herself and that, for you, seeing her SHOW you that she knows what to do is required. My own kids used to give me a very hard time but now they tell me that I was right to insist.

[*PL*]

I was that teen Chocko - when i was 14 I could get into bars. And be served no problem. I do think teenpower would be beneficial. Luckily for my mom I was a really good kid. Yeah sometimes not, but when I think about it now - she's very lucky I was so responsible so young.