Parenting Newsletter Aspen Education Group

In this issue:

What Parents Need to Know About Chatroulette

The Benefits of Wilderness for Teens with ADHD, Asperger's and Nonverbal Learning Disorder

SUWS Wilderness Therapy Programs Serve the Distinct Needs of Pre-Teens and Teens

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Spring is a great time to enroll your teen in a wilderness program!

Phoenix Outdoor is a licensed wilderness-based substance abuse and chemical dependency treatment program for teenagers ages 13-17.

SUWS of the Carolinas is a therapeutic wilderness program that uses the outdoors as an alternative to conventional treatment environments, while engaging students using traditional therapeutic methods.

Wilderness Programs for Teens

Four Circles Recovery Center for older teens and young adults ages 18-28 is an innovative addictions, substance abuse and co-occuring mental health disorders treatment program that combines a traditional counseling setting with extensive wilderness experiences.

Adirondack Leadership Expeditions is a character development wilderness program that promotes personal growth through focused experiences. The forested, mountain setting removes urban distractions to allow students room to gain insight into their core values and accept responsibility for their choices.

Turn-About Ranch is a place where old-time values such as hard work, honesty, respect, teamwork and accountability are the standard. Teens thrive in the unique environment of this spirited working cow-and-horse ranch. The objective of Turn-About Ranch is to provide a hard-hitting, high-impact therapeutic program that will remold and turn around the lives of rebellious teens.

What Parents Need to Know About Chatroulette

two teens chattling online via-webcam Have you heard of Chatroulette? Even if you haven’t, your kids probably have.

Chatroutlette is the newest fad in the social networking world. The website has garnered attention from the gamut of television shows and news sources, growing from 500 visitors to millions in just a few months.

Equipped with nothing but a computer and a webcam, kids can chat with strangers from all over the world. Created by a 17-year-old high school student in Moscow, the thrill of using Chatroulette lies in its anonymity and randomness – the user never knows who they could be chatting with.

On the other end of the webcam could be a fellow student, a parent next door or someone in a remote part of the world – but, experts warn, the chances are high that it could also be a child predator or someone looking to expose themselves (and persuade your child to do the same).

Despite its popularity, Chatroulette poses serious dangers for children and teens, especially those with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Asperger’s syndrome and other special needs. Children with ADHD, for example, tend to be impulsive and may not think through the consequences of using a site like Chatroulette. Children and teens with Asperger’s may lack an understanding of appropriate social boundaries and may be quick to trust a stranger without understanding that personal information should never be shared online.

“Chatroulette is like a perfect storm for children with special needs like ADHD and Asperger’s,” said Aaron McGinley, the clinical services manager at Talisman camps and school programs for teens with Asperger’s syndrome, high-functioning autism, ADHD and related issues. “The site plays to their vulnerabilities in a way that makes it extremely risky for them to use.”

So, what should parents do?

Learn more about what parents should do with Chatroulette>>

The Benefits of wilderness for Teens
with ADHD, Asperger's and Nonverbal
Learning Disorder

Teens act out for all kinds of reasons. Some become angry and defiant because of their parents’ divorce, some start using drugs or alcohol to fit in with a certain peer group, and some immerse themselves in video games, gambling or the Internet to cope with problems at school.

Disorders such as attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), nonverbal learning disorder (NLD) and Asperger’s syndrome can also be at the core of a teen’s behavioral issues. Parents know they need help, but they aren’t sure where to turn.

Assessing the Treatment Options

How do parents know whether their child would benefit most from a program designed specifically for teens with learning disorders or a program that treats various types of teen issues?

According to Neal Christensen, the clinical director at Outback Therapeutic Expeditions, a wilderness program for troubled teens, adolescents with moderate to severe social and emotional deficits generally require a program that specializes in teens with special needs. These programs allow teens to develop social skills in the company of other teens with similar issues.

Teens with ADHD, NLD, mild Asperger’s and related disorders, in contrast, thrive when they are in the company of teens who have different struggles. This gives them a chance to learn social skills by interacting with teens who do not have social skill deficits and modeling their behaviors.

“In wilderness therapy programs, teens learn to be accepting and tolerant of other teens’ problems,” said Christensen. “Every student has the opportunity to be both a mentor and an apprentice.”

Learn more about the benefits of Wilderness for teens with ADHD, Asperger's and Nonverbal Learning Disorder>>

SUWS Wilderness Therapy Programs Serve The Distinct Needs of Pre-Teens and Teens

Despite being only a couple years apart, pre-teens look, speak, act and think differently than teenagers. Although research clearly shows that pre-teens are emotionally, socially and physically in a very different place than teens, pre-teens are facing growing pressure to look and act more like their older counterparts.

“A lot of 11-year-olds want to dress and act like 15- and 16-year-olds, but they’re not mature enough to be able to do so,” said Chris Edwards, PhD, the clinical director at SUWS wilderness therapy programs for adolescents and youth in Idaho.

When tweens hang out with older kids, they often put up a tough exterior to fit in. By doing so, they lose self-esteem and their sense of identity, which often leads to defiant and destructive behaviors.

When a child acts and looks older than they are, parents often fall into the trap of treating them like they’re older. The problem, according to Dr. Edwards, is that children try to live up to their parents’ expectations, thus fast-forwarding through the very important pre-teen stage.

According to Kathy Rex, the executive director of SUWS Adolescent and Youth Programs, tween girls are rushing into adolescence, getting into difficult situations and making major life decisions before they are ready. In contrast, tween boys are getting stuck in pre-adolescence and are struggling to transition into adolescence.

“Kids need to be allowed to be kids,” said Dr. Edwards. “By working through the pre-teen stage rather than hurrying through it, kids can develop healthy relationships with their peers, their families and themselves.”

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