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Parents Role
Even Teenagers Do Listen
It's important information to share with parents. While the National Directory for Catechesis calls them the "primary educators of their children," a better term might be "primary influencers." The latest studies don't make parenting any easier but it does prove the importance of setting boundaries.
Writing for USA Today, Kim Painter used several studies including the latest on media use by the Kaiser Family Foundation
http://www.kff.org/entmedia/mh012010pkg.cfm.
She discovered kids who had limits on being plugged in for three hours or less were better in a variety of ways. Teens with a bedtime of 10:00pm or earlier were less likely to be depressed or consider suicide. Teen drivers whose parents set and enforced rules were less likely to speed, get in crashes, drink and drive, and use cell phones while driving. In fact, teens whose parents set rules also smoke less, delay sex and do better in school. She also offers some help for parents who desire to set limits.
Tips on limiting screen time- http://www.commonsensemedia.org/blog
Tips on teen safe driving - http://www.research.chop.edu
Help teens get more sleep - http://www.sleepeducation.com/Topic.aspx?id=53
Kimâ's article can be found at Your Health
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/painter/2010-02-08-yourhealth08_ST_N.htm