Young Teen/Junior High (13-15 years)

John's Most Recent Articles

Solution to Teens Leaving Clothes on Floor

Posted on 1/3/2023

Q: Getting my daughters, fifteen and thirteen, to pick up their clothes from the floors of their rooms requires constant nagging from me. I’m at my wit’s end. Please help me out with...

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Connect Son With Person You Both Trust

Posted on 12/20/2022

Q: Our fifteen-year-old son has pronounced mental health issues. He deals with multiple anxieties, depression, and is painfully shy. You seem to believe that psychological therapy is of...

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School Principal Asks About Discipline

Posted on 10/25/2022

Q: I am a principal at a private church-affiliated school. Contrary to my graduate school training and most of my peers’ practice, I believe disciplinary actions should "fit the crime."...

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Don't Enable Entitled Teen

Posted on 4/19/2022

A recent online article concerned a mom who refused to pay her teenage daughter for doing household chores. A poll of readers found that an overwhelming majority of them agreed with the...

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In Defense of ‘Because I Said So'

Posted on 2/1/2022

Q: Concerning chores, another expert recommends giving a child a certain number of chips, like poker chips, every month and if he or she fails to do a chore or doesn’t do it properly, you take a...

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Should Son Switch Schools?

Posted on 10/5/2021

Q: Our 13-year-old eighth-grader says he doesn’t like the small private school he attends and wants us to put him in public high school next year. His grades are fine, he’s got several close...

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The Biggest Problem Teachers Face Is Parents

Posted on 7/13/2021

When I ask a teacher, “What is the biggest problem you face?” the answer – there has never been an exception – is “parents.” That is certainly a recent phenomenon. My parents were...

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Four Steps To Give Argumentative Teenager the Last Word (and Restore Sanity)

Posted on 6/8/2021

Q: My fifteen-year-old daughter is slowly driving me insane! She argues with me about everything and always wants the last word. No matter how well I explain the “why?” of a decision to her, she...

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Micromanaging Child Always Produces Conflicts

Posted on 2/23/2021

A therapist takes a 10-year-old boy into what she calls “therapy.” The young fellow is belligerently defiant toward his parents and throws titanic tantrums when things don’t go his way. At school...

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Beware of 'The Protocol'

Posted on 12/29/2020

Q: Our son is seven years old and in the second grade. His school went virtual this past Spring and we see no end to it, not in the near term at least. When he was going to a brick-and-mortar...

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Recent Questions

Additional Support Needed for 14YO

Posted on 3/27/2025

My 14-year-old daughter got caught using her cell phone in school. The phone was taken, and we have handed out consequences (no phone and extra chores). But later learned she didn't not apologize...

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Nip 14 YO's Unacceptable Behavior in the Bud

Posted on 3/25/2025

Caught 14 yr old son sneaking handheld video games in the middle of the night after bedtime. Upon investigation, found out he has also viewed porn on his school laptop 3x (during daytime hours)....

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Step-mom blues

Posted on 2/19/2025

I have a 14 yr old stepson that lies, sneaks (had electronics taken away but snuck his school tablet into his room to look at inappropriate things), and has "run away" to his grandparents to get...

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Helping Daughter Overcome Shyness and Build Confidence

Posted on 2/4/2025

Dear John my name is Tatiana Silva, and I reside in Nassau, Bahamas. We've had a conversation over the phone previously, and I continue to value and follow your work closely. I'm reaching out for...

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Teachable moments

Posted on 1/25/2025

Wonderful advice. Thank you so much! Your books are amazing; we love them. I just purchased and listened to The 7 Biggest Mistakes Parents Make. Our problem is that we were more "buddy buddy"...

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13 YO STEALING MONEY FROM PARENTS

Posted on 9/25/2024

My 13 year old son is stealing money from us. Both from my purse and our envelope system. I was suspicious for a long time, but now I am confident it's him. My guess it's to spend money on junk...

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Carry On!

Posted on 9/1/2024

We have six kids ranging from 15-5. The oldest is a girl and the last 5 are boys. We are also homeschooling, so we are together ALL the time. It's hard for me to discipline her because I DON'T...

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MORE SOCIOPATHIC BEHAVIOR FROM 15 YO GIRL

Posted on 8/23/2024

Thank you for your reply. I actually sent both parents a description of sociopathy after the thefts and asked that they send her to counseling. My husband agreed but his ex emphatically disagreed...

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TEENAGER HAS A PERSONALITY DISORDER?

Posted on 8/20/2024

How can you tell the difference between normal teen rebellion and other personality disorders?

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SOCIOPATHIC BEHAVIOR IN TEEN GIRL?

Posted on 8/19/2024

I need advise about a situation I am dealing with with my almost 15 yo stepdaughter. She has been exhibiting very bad behavior over the last 1-2 years including lying, stealing, sneaking out,...

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