It is a different era since parents’ best advice for talking to their kids was to tell them to “just say no.” While many of us rightly boast closer communication with our kids today than generations before… in the MySpace age it’s also harder than ever to keep tabs on all of the communications they have with others.

   

As such, we liked the very practical scoop on talking TEEN found at “Parents The Anti-Drug” Given our usual aversion to “parenting advice,” what makes this initiative, backed by the Office of National Drug Control Policy, worth a browse is its focus on getting parents up- to-speed on what kids are talking about, and how. In fact, the content we were drawn to most gives shortcuts to parents so they can literally decode teenspeak, as it pertains to issues of greatest parental concern.

• According to urban legend what do teens think niacin (vitamin B) can we used for?
• If your teen were to “ROTFL,” what would she be doing?
• If a teen is “leaning,” what might he be doing?

Then, check out their “Action Items” which are actually, actionable…


Yes, there’s plenty of advice to be found, but skip ahead to their glossaries of lingo that are equally amusing and informative for catching you up on talking their talk (specifically instant/text messaging language), which can help you recognize if that talk has taken an uncomfortable left turn. A few subcategories:

• Lingo Warning of Parenting Monitoring (such as P911 = Parent Alert)
• Lingo With a Sexual Nature (such as LMIRL = Let’s Meet in Real Life)
• Key Emoticons Beyond the Smiley Face (such as %*} = Drunk)
• Drug-Related Lingo

The fortunate bottom line: studies show most teens do not want to disappoint their families. In turn, whether the teen years are upon you or still a far distant thought, it’s good for them to hear you say “IHU.”

(“I hear you”).

Learn more at theantidrug.com
 
  
 
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