Blogging Teens

Every day, blogs are created by people of all ages and

from all walks of life, but when it comes to blogging,

teen writers are truly on the cutting edge of the

movement. Because today's teenagers are the first

generation of people to have grown up using the

internet at every stage of their development, many

adolescents have a seemingly innate sense of how to use

web technology to express their innermost thoughts and

ideas. Older writers often experience a kind of learning

curve when they begin to blog, but many young people

find that using a word processor and blogging software

feels more natural and direct a mode of communication

than writing in a diary ever could.

One of the reasons why blogs have undergone a kind of

explosion in the teen community and are growing by

leaps and bounds is the fact that they provide a unique

mixture of visibility and anonymity. A teenager can

invite friends and peers to read his or her blog with a

simple email, thereby winning attention or possibly

even praise. Of course, with visibility usually comes the

possibility of embarrassment, but the fact that it is

possible to blog anonymously with an invented handle

or nickname negates a lot of the potential for

humiliation. Many a blogging teen lives in fear that a

parent or guardian will discover his or her blog, but by

publishing under an alias a teenager can spill his or her

secrets without fear of being traced.

Outside the world of blogging, teen writers often have

very limited opportunities to be published. Magazines

and journals are often reticent to publish young writers

who may not have as much credibility as older writers

with a lot of experience and extensive credits to their

names. This can discourage adolescents from writing or

from seeking chances to publish their work. By

blogging, young people can begin to gain a following of

readers without first having to win the attention and

support of an editor or publisher who may not be very

interested in teenaged authors.

Between the fact that blogs provide young people with a

chance to exercise their impressive technical aptitude,

to gain visibility without compromising privacy, and to

build a readership for their writing without having to

jump through the traditional hoops of the publishing

industry, it is little wonder that are so many teenagers

with blogs. For some teenagers, blogging is even a very

social endeavor that allows them to meet people with

similar interests from all over the world. Many a

blogging teen has discovered that having a weblog on

the internet is a great way to explore self-expression

and, often, to win positive feedback from new friends.

Air Travel Tips for Parents with Teens

Are you the parent of a teenager? If you are, are you in the process of planning a trip that requires air travel? If so, you may be looking for tips that can help you and you family have a nice and pleasant flight.

When traveling with a teenager, you will find that you are very lucky. This is due in part to your child’s age. Teenagers are likely to be more pleasant and cooperative on flights, especially when compared to toddlers and preschoolers. Still, you may be looking for some extra tips, just in case.

One of the first things that you will want to do is teach your child the importance of watching what is said at the airport. With security concerns, it is not uncommon for travelers to be detained for a closer look, even just when joking. Many teens do like to joke around, so be sure to let your teen know the danger of doing so. Make sure that they know not to repeat certain words in an airport, such as knife, gun, bomb, or terrorist. Your teenager may already know this important piece of information, bt there is no harm in providing a quick reminder.

If you let your child pack their own bags for your trip, be sure to give them a quick look over. The checking of your teen’s carry-on luggage is extremely important. Does your child have anything in their carry-on bag that may result your family being stopped at an airport security checkpoint? As for checked baggage, make sure that your child’s bags are not overfilled. Also, make sure that they don’t put anything of great value or importance, like a digital camera or a laptop computer, in a checked bag, as damage can occur.

You will also want to make sure that your child has a drink or snack for the trip. This is particularly ideal for short flights or picky eaters and drinkers. Although many dry snacks, like chips, are okay to pickup before arriving at the airport, drinks are another story. Due to a limit on liquids, have your child get a soda, water, or juice at an airport store, namely one that is positioned after you have passed through all needed security checkpoints. This approach may cost more money, but the end result is much less hassle.

Since all passengers are allowed a carry-on bag, you will want to make sure that your child brings things that interest them. For example, books and magazines are cheap ways to keep teens occupied on an airplane ride. Extra items that are perfect for teens include handheld video gaming consoles, DVD players, and MP3 players. There are some locations in the United States where you can rent these items if you or your teen doesn’t already own them. When using anything electronic, be sure to bring a few extra batteries and keep them in your purse or in a carry-on bag.

As highlighted above, there are a number of steps that you, as a parent, can take to ensure that your next family flight is pleasant for you and your teenager. Although teenagers are more likely to be pleasant and cooperative, the above mentioned points can still provide you with much needed assistance, as well as comfort and peace of mind.