Most parents never imagine that their kids would cheat, but let me tell you, cheating in school is a big problem with teens today!

Cheating comes in many different forms: looking at answers on a test, plagiarizing a paper, or copying a friend’s homework assignment. So what’s driving our kids to practice such blatant dishonesty?

High academic expectations can put a lot of pressure on a teen to perform well. When he feels like he can’t meet those expectations on his own, he might see lying and cheating as alternative paths to academic success.

If your child has been caught cheating at school, maybe it’s time to bring these expectations down to a realistic level. A “C” achieved through honest means is better than an “A” won with lying and cheating.

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Do you dream of your child flourishing academically?

You probably thought that was a pretty pointless question. “Of course I want my kid to do well in school, Mark. What parent doesn’t?”

Sure, I get it. We want our kids to succeed in the future, and doing well in school is one thing that can help ‘em get there. However, when your teen starts to feel like your love for her directly correlates to the grades on her report card, then you’re headed down a dangerous road.

Before you try to help your teen stay on track at school, make sure you’ve already got a solid relationship founded on unconditional love.

Hey, schools are designed to value academic achievement. Families are designed to value people!

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Do you love the life that God has given you? Or do you wish He would reshuffle the deck and deal you a new hand?

I don’t know what’s going on in your life right now. Maybe you’re dealing with a teenage daughter who seems bent on destructive relationships. Maybe your son has checked out of school, and his future looks pretty bleak.

Again, I don’t know what’s going on, but God does. God intimately knows whatever troubles plague your family or your teen.

Let me encourage you not to see these as unfortunate coincidences. No, they’re divine circumstances! So the next time you’re in the middle of a family conflict or crisis, don’t run away. Ask God to give you the tools to help your family grow in love and grace.

If you listen on a mobile phone or tablet, please download our Parenting Today’s Teens app available for Apple or Android. If you listen on a desktop or laptop computer, press the “play” button above to enjoy daily parenting advice.

Student Story: Carly

Every fall, parents gear up to send their children back school. But for many moms and dads, the back-to-school season comes with a number of deep-seated worries and anxieties. This weekend on Parenting Today’s Teens, Mark Gregston addresses four common fears parents have about school—and what to do if they come true.

If you listen on a mobile phone or tablet, please download our Parenting Today’s Teens app available for Apple or Android. If you listen on a desktop or laptop computer, press the “play” button above to enjoy daily parenting advice.

Picture this: You’re at a party, and everyone seems to be dodging conversations with you. Pretty soon, you’re asking yourself, “What, do I smell or something?”

Okay, so maybe you’re not at a party, but sometimes it can feel like your teen never wants to talk. Chances are, though, it’s not hygiene that’s driving him away.

The question you really should be asking is, “How am I coming across?” Too many times, what parents consider to be heartfelt wisdom, teens interpret as relentless judgment. The intentions are good, but the delivery just keeps missing the mark.

If you notice your teen shutting down during conversations with you, ask for his honest answer: “How do I come across to you?” What he says might provide the insight you need to start developing meaningful connection with him.

If you listen on a mobile phone or tablet, please download our Parenting Today’s Teens app available for Apple or Android. If you listen on a desktop or laptop computer, press the “play” button above to enjoy daily parenting advice.

It’s the start of another school year. And for many parents, it’s the start of another nine months of fighting about grades!

Academic pursuits can cause tension in the home. It makes sense, because grades are measurable. But the problem comes when parents confuse grades with personal value.

If you want to push your teen to do better in school, start here:

First, don’t do the homework for your kids!

And second, if you see grades drop suddenly, start looking behind the behavior for a cause. There could be something wrong!

And third, recognize your own anxiety when it comes to education. What’s your motivation for having high standards?

Remember, high or low, a grade- point- average says nothing about the value of your teen!

If you listen on a mobile phone or tablet, please download our Parenting Today’s Teens app available for Apple or Android. If you listen on a desktop or laptop computer, press the “play” button above to enjoy daily parenting advice.

With a household of rambunctious kids, do you ever feel like you’re living in a zoo?

Zookeepers have a lot to do to keep their animals happy: they feed them, clean up after them, and protect them from harm. That’s also a pretty accurate description of a parent’s job—up to a certain point. But if we keep sheltering our kids, without ever giving them more control of their lives, we’re not preparing them for life in the jungle. In fact, we’re setting them up for failure.

So start during her pre-teen years, and every month, introduce a small area of responsibility into her life. By the time she reaches adulthood, she’ll be ready to leave the confines of the zoo, and face the challenges of the jungle!

If you listen on a mobile phone or tablet, please download our Parenting Today’s Teens app available for Apple or Android. If you listen on a desktop or laptop computer, press the “play” button above to enjoy daily parenting advice.

Moms and Dads, Grandmas and Grandpas can all attest, raising a teen is no cakewalk!

I’ve worked with thousands of parents and teens over the years, and I understand when parents tell me that they’re ready to give up hope. So today, I want to offer some encouragement from James chapter 1, verses 2 and 3: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”

When was the last time you rejoiced in the face of a trial? I know, it doesn’t feel like a very natural reaction. But when you and your teen go through a tough period, know that there’s a reason behind it! God wants to use your trials to bring faith and perseverance.

If you listen on a mobile phone or tablet, please download our Parenting Today’s Teens app available for Apple or Android. If you listen on a desktop or laptop computer, press the “play” button above to enjoy daily parenting advice.

It’s the day every father dreads, the day his little girl wants to start dating a boy.

When it comes to dating, most dads turn into bodyguards. Their definition of a “date” is eating dinner with the entire family, or sitting on the porch under the watchful eyes of Mom and Dad. Let’s be honest, though. This sort of interaction won’t actually teach your daughter to avoid temptation or have self-control.

Instead of being a bodyguard, I’d like to encourage you to be a coach instead. A bodyguard zealously tries to protect his daughter from any perceived harm. A coach trains and instructs her so she’s capable of making good decisions when the harm comes!

So, which one are you? Coach? Or bodyguard?

If you listen on a mobile phone or tablet, please download our Parenting Today’s Teens app available for Apple or Android. If you listen on a desktop or laptop computer, press the “play” button above to enjoy daily parenting advice.

Guest: Jessie Minassian

In today’s culture, the number of young girls who vie for attention by acting and dressing inappropriately is reaching epidemic proportions. So what are the reasons behind their low self-esteem? This weekend on Parenting Today’s Teens, Mark Gregston shares what moms and dads can do to make their daughters feel valued.

If you listen on a mobile phone or tablet, please download our Parenting Today’s Teens app available for Apple or Android. If you listen on a desktop or laptop computer, press the “play” button above to enjoy daily parenting advice.