Surviving Your Child's Adolescence

Expert suggestions for guiding your child through the rough teenage years

Does it sometimes seem like your teenager is trying to push you over the edge? Learn what your child is going through and what you can do to help your teen navigate this difficult period in this practical guide from psychologist and parenting expert Carl Pickhardt. In an easy-to-read style, Dr. Pickhardt describes a 4-stage model of adolescent growth to help parents anticipate common developmental changes in their daughter or son from late elementary school through the college age years.

• Provides unique advice for dealing with arguing, chores, the messy room, homework, and many other issues
• Offers best practices for teaching effective communication, constructive conflict, and responsible decision-making
• Includes ideas for protecting kids against the dangers of the Internet, bullying, dating, sexual involvement, and substance use

An essential road map for parents looking to guide their children on the path to adulthood.

“Psychologist, prolific parenting author (Boomerang Kids) and Psychology Today blogger Pickhardt focuses on helping parents understand the adolescent years, "the age of argument." Pickhardt identifies four adolescent stages, beginning with early and mid-adolescence, and then moving on to late adolescence and trial independence (which ends after the college years). With characteristic clarity and wisdom, Pickhardt walks parents through various ages and stages, explaining how to be supportive, empathetic and accessible while at the same time providing limits and boundaries. He concludes with "eight anchors for adolescent growth," including completing homework, cleaning up one's room, doing household chores, joining in family gatherings, community service, saving money, developing proficiency and relating to salient adults (a counterbalance to the overwhelming influence and "mixed blessing" of peers at this age). He also covers such familiar teen topics as sex, substance use, the Internet, dating, and effective communication. Pickhardt is adept at deconstructing the complexities of the parent/adolescent relationship, pointing out, for instance, that the mother/adolescent daughter relationship is often the most conflicted and intense due to the "double closeness" created by being attached by birth and sexually similar. This witty yet sensible guidebook to the adolescent years will help parents stay steady as their kids negotiate the rocky waters on their journey to independence. (Mar.) ( Publishers Weekly , April 2013)”

Psychologist, prolific parenting author (Boomerang Kids) and Psychology Today blogger Pickhardt focuses on helping parents understand the adolescent years, "the age of argument." Pickhardt identifies four adolescent stages, beginning with early and mid-adolescence, and then moving on to late adolescence and trial independence (which ends after the college years). With characteristic clarity and wisdom, Pickhardt walks parents through various ages and stages, explaining how to be supportive, empathetic and accessible while at the same time providing limits and boundaries. He concludes with "eight anchors for adolescent growth," including completing homework, cleaning up one's room, doing household chores, joining in family gatherings, community service, saving money, developing proficiency and relating to salient adults (a counterbalance to the overwhelming influence and "mixed blessing" of peers at this age). He also covers such familiar teen topics as sex, substance use, the Internet, dating, and effective communication. Pickhardt is adept at deconstructing the complexities of the parent/adolescent relationship, pointing out, for instance, that the mother/adolescent daughter relationship is often the most conflicted and intense due to the "double closeness" created by being attached by birth and sexually similar. This witty yet sensible guidebook to the adolescent years will help parents stay steady as their kids negotiate the rocky waters on their journey to independence. (Mar.) (Publishers Weekly, April 2013)

Carl Pickhardt, PhD, is a psychologist with more than twenty-five years in private counseling and lecturing practice in Austin, Texas. He is the author of fourteen parenting books and writes a weekly blog, Surviving (Your Child's) Adolescence, for Psychology Today. More information about Dr. Pickhardt may be found at

Does it sometimes seem like your teenager is trying to push you over the edge? In this essential survival guide, psychologist and parenting expert Carl Pickhardt helps parents anticipate common developmental challenges and gives them the skills to help their children through the sometimes difficult teenage years. In Surviving Your Child's Adolescence , Pickhardt presents a dynamic four-stage model of adolescent growth from early adolescence to trial independence and provides practical strategies for guiding children to adulthood, including dealing with arguing, chores, messy rooms, homework, and other common issues that drive parents and their teens crazy. Pickhardt also includes advice for teaching young people effective communication techniques, engaging in constructive conflict, and employing responsible decision-making approaches, as well as guidelines for protecting teens from the dangers of the Internet, bullying, dating, and substance abuse. Praise for Surviving Your Child's Adolescence "This is a road map for raising healthy, independent young people in a way that fosters a positive parent/child relationship for a lifetime." --Diana Weiss-Wisdom, PhD, author, Wisdom on Step-Parenting: How to Succeed Where Others Fail "Adolescence is tough on everyone. But there is expert help for both parents and children in Dr. Carl Pickhardt's Surviving Your Child's Adolescence , the only guide you will need to survive and enjoy the process of your child's development into an independent young adult. With this brilliantly presented and thorough guide in hand, you may find that the aliens return your child to you in much better shape than you believed possible." --Carolyn White, author, The Seven Common Sins of Parenting an Only Child , and editor of Only Child magazine "Carl Pickhardt offers parents a compassionate road map for their children's adolescent years, rooted in faith in the power of love to transcend conflict." --Eileen Kennedy-Moore, PhD, coauthor, Smart Parenting for Smart Kids

Does it sometimes seem like your teenager is trying to push you over the edge? In this essential survival guide, psychologist and parenting expert Carl Pickhardt helps parents anticipate common developmental challenges and gives them the skills to help their children through the sometimes difficult teenage years. In Surviving Your Childs Adolescence , Pickhardt presents a dynamic four-stage model of adolescent growth from early adolescence to trial independence and provides practical strategies for guiding children to adulthood, including dealing with arguing, chores, messy rooms, homework, and other common issues that drive parents and their teens crazy. Pickhardt also includes advice for teaching young people effective communication techniques, engaging in constructive conflict, and employing responsible decision-making approaches, as well as guidelines for protecting teens from the dangers of the Internet, bullying, dating, and substance abuse. Praise for Surviving Your Childs Adolescence "This is a road map for raising healthy, independent young people in a way that fosters a positive parent/child relationship for a lifetime." --Diana Weiss-Wisdom, PhD, author, Wisdom on Step-Parenting: How to Succeed Where Others Fail "Adolescence is tough on everyone. But there is expert help for both parents and children in Dr. Carl Pickhardts Surviving Your Childs Adolescence , the only guide you will need to survive and enjoy the process of your childs development into an independent young adult. With this brilliantly presented and thorough guide in hand, you may find that the aliens return your child to you in much better shape than you believed possible." --Carolyn White, author, The Seven Common Sins of Parenting an Only Child , and editor of Only Child magazine "Carl Pickhardt offers parents a compassionate road map for their childrens adolescent years, rooted in faith in the power of love to transcend conflict." --Eileen Kennedy-Moore, PhD, coauthor, Smart Parenting for Smart Kids

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