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Early adolescence can be a challenging time for children and parents alike.  Parents often feel unprepared and they may view the years from 10 through 14 as a time just “to get through.” However, research and common sense tell us that this view is very limited. During the early adolescent years, parents and families can greatly influence the growth and development of their children. We sell our children short if we expect little from them and we sell ourselves short if we believe that we have no influence.

Most youngsters from 10 through 14 are not as troubled as their stereotype suggests. They manage the bumps of adolescence successfully. Still, you need to be on guard. According to one study, 28 percent of America’s eighth-graders have experimented with drugs,although a much smaller percentage go on to develop serious drug problems. Some young teens develop eating disorders. Others suffer from depression and other emotional problems. In some cases,emotional problems are linked to learning disabilities that have not been diagnosed or treated. Some factors that can place a young teen at greater risk for developing problems include:

• growing up in poverty;
• living in a single-parent home;
• growing up in a neighborhood with few social supports;
• lacking adequate adult supervision;
• having poor relationships with their parents or other adults who are important to them;
• possessing low self-esteem;
• attending poor-quality schools; or
• experiencing physical abuse, sexual abuse or neglect.

Don’t assume that being “at-risk” automatically means trouble for a child.

Some young teens with many risk factors avoid major problems. And some with few risk factors stumble.

We know that certain things increase the chances that children will avoid major problems. Having warm, supportive parents who also draw clear rules and monitor sufficiently is key. In addition, a child with an easy-going temperament, good social skills and a sense of humor is generally able to deal with problems.

A child who attends school and lives in neighborhood that provides many supports is also, on average, more able to bounce back form trouble.

These supports include people who take a special interest in them—for example, teachers, coaches or neighbors.

Our website is unable to address in detail all problems that young teen face.

However, it is important to recognize the warning signs for some major problems and our "links" page provides resources,organizations, and web sites, that can provide you with further direction and help.

One warning: You may have  to address more than one problem at the same time, because serious problems likely appear together in one child: a 12-year-old who is drinking with an eating disorder, that may be depressed and may be sexually active.