Teenagers

Could suicide be “contagious?”  If you’re a teenager—it just might be. According to a story in the Los Angeles Times, new research has confirmed what some experts already suspected. When a high school student commits suicide, other kids at their school may think about killing Read More

Dear Dr. Bill, Our 12-year-old daughter wants to participate in a coed sleepover.  All of the kids who will be involved attend the same Christian school and I know them pretty well.  However, puberty is right around the corner for this age group and I wonder if my daughter will Read More

Are your kids really studying when they hit the books—or are they doing something else? According to a story on Plugged In.com, researchers recently observed 263 students from middle school, high school and college as they were studying. Interestingly, they found that within two Read More

There are only 24 hours in a day. So it makes sense that the more time college students engage with social media and entertainment, the lower their GPA will be. And according to Plugged In.com, that precisely the case. Researchers at The Miriam Hospital Center for Behavioral and Read More

The majority of Americans believe pot should be legal.  According to a new poll from the Pew Research Center’s 52% of Americans now believe marijuana should be legalized. Cultural opinion in favor of legalizing pot usage has grown quickly, with support for it jumping 11% in Read More

Did you hear what happened at Victoria’s Secret stores last Saturday? The Mommy Lobby, a 50,000-member parent organization, sent thousands of moms to the stores to protest the company’s “Bright Young Things” ad campaign. The ads feature modeled underwear paired with Read More

Some new stats are out on tech and your teen. A new study has found that 78% of American teens have a cell phones, and nearly half of those own a smartphone.  The research was done by the Pew Internet and American Life Project According to PluggedIn.com, The study also found that Read More

Does your teen ever get temporary tattoos?  That may not be such a good idea! A lot of kids are getting temporary tattoos these days, but they may not be as harmless as they think. According to an article in the LA Times, the Food and Drug Administration has issued a new health Read More

Dear Dr. Bill, My 9-year-old daughter and I are ALWAYS arguing.  She’s reluctant to obey and when I discipline her by removing privileges, it turns into a bitter, emotional contest.  My husband does his best by supporting me and creating a playful environment for our kids, but he Read More

What factors contribute to mass shootings? According to a new report from the National Science Foundation, the answer is a combination of three factors: access to guns, exposure to media violence, and mental health. PluggedIn.com reports on a new study by the Foundation, working Read More