Sometimes it helps to step back and look at the big picture of challenges your child -- and you -- face in the coming years. On this page we've listed reference links and sources that offer a broader perspective on parenting teens and preteens.

PAMF for Parents

• Parenting a Preteen


• Parenting a Teen


• Teen Growth & Development: 11-14 Years


• Teen Growth & Development: 15-17 Years

PAMF Content for Your Preteen

• Having a Birthday Party for Your Parents

Outside Resources

• Adolescent Growth and Development: This Web site for parents addresses physical, cognitive and psycho-social development. It includes explanations about what is happening to teens, how these changes affect teens and how parents deal with these changes.


• Family Guide: This is a user-friendly Web site that addresses family dynamics, mental health and underage substance abuse. It includes resources such as videos, e-cards, activities, mental health dictionary, links, drug facts and getting treatment. It also includes links to current news articles on substance abuse issues.


• MVParents: This Web site provides “Involved Parents are the Real Heroes” tips on the daily issues of raising teens. It includes links to everyday parenting idea articles, magazine subscriptions and other parenting resources.


• Parent Package: This is a document by the American Medical Association designed to help physicians share important information about adolescence with parents. The “Parent Package” addresses 15 adolescent topics. Each topic contains up-to-date facts, parenting tips and other resources to help parents guide their teenagers to become healthy, responsible young adults.


• Preteen Alliance: The Lucile Packard Foundation for Children’s Health Web site supports the emotional and behavioral health of preteens. It includes preteen data, support groups, discussion forums, news, research and other resources.


• Virginia Cooperative Extension: This is a Virginia Tech and Virginia State University Web site for parenting and families. It includes great information on adolescents and teens, children, health care, marriage and divorce, and stress. Resources include PDFs and tip sheets.

Recommended Books

• Good Parenting Through Your Divorce: How to Recognize, Encourage, and Respond to Your Child’s Feelings and Help Them Get Through Your Divorce by Mary Ellen Hannibal


• Millennials Rising: The Next Great Generation by Neil Howe and William Strauss


• MOMfulness: Mothering with Mindfullness, Compassion and Grace by Denise Roy


• Our Last Best Shot: Guiding Our Children Through Early Adolescence by Laura Sessions Stepp


• Raising Self-Reliant Children in a Self-Indulgent World: Seven Building Blocks for Developing Capable Young People by Stephen H. Glenn and Jane Ed.D. Nelson

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