The “9/11” Generation
of Giving

The number of teens involved in volunteer work has risen sharply in the aftermath of the 9/11 terror attacks. And while some kids say they volunteer to improve their chances on a college application, analysts believe this trend among teens suggests the possible emergence of a new civic generation.

A recent study says 55 percent of kids ages 12 to 18 volunteer – contributing 1.3 billion hours of community service annually. And the rate of volunteering among college students increased by 20 percent between 2002 and 2005, more than double the adult volunteering rate.

Caffeine Culture Can
Lead to ER

Caffeine has become the drug of choice among today’s teens. But if you’re thinking it’s the coffee outlets that must be cleaning up, think again. Nearly one-third of U.S. teenagers say they consume energy drinks – those sweet, highly-caffeinated canned beverages with names like Red Bull, Monster and Rockstar. Along with a boost, some of these potions promise weight loss, increased endurance and – if you down several in a row – a legal buzz.

This trend is rocketing, with no signs of slowing down. The energy drink industry grew by 80 percent last year – bringing in nearly three and a half billion dollars.

But nutritionists caution that energy drinks, with all their caffeine and sugar, can put teens on a harmful “jolt-and-crash” cycle. A recent study found that some of these drinks, which come in eight-ounce cans, contain up to four times the amount of caffeine found in a standard 12-ounce can of Coca Cola.

And all that caffeine is apparently taking its toll on teens. A survey of a poison control center in Chicago found a high number of youths reporting caffeine overdoses. The study found that young people are taking caffeine to stay awake, or perhaps to get high, and many of them are ending up in emergency rooms.

Teen Holiday Shopping Report

Not all teens will be hitting up their parents this holiday season – for the money needed to buy presents. A national survey of consumers ages 12 to 17 years says 41 percent of teens expect to use their own funds for all or most of the gifts they will give this year– with another 45 percent planning to pay by themselves for at least some of the gifts they buy.

Electronics are reportedly at the top of most teenagers’ wish lists this holiday: MP3 players are the most-requested – followed by video game systems, portable gaming gadgets, computers and cell phones.

And while many teens may prefer to shop on-line, the nation’s department stores are expecting to see more teenagers in their aisles this year. The National Retail Federation predicts that more than 79 percent of 18-to-24 year olds will shop at department stores for their holiday merchandise. That’s a 6.2 percent rise from last year, and up sharply from 2004.

Teen Pregnancy Rates Drop

The CDC says the birth rate among U.S. teens dropped sharply in 2005.

Using data from the National Survey of Family Growth, researchers from Columbia University and the Alan Guttmacher Institute looked at sexual behavior and contraceptive use among females, ages 15 to 19. Of that group, the study found that pregnancy risks fell by 38-percent between 1995 and 2002.

The Internet Generation:
Find out how to keep your child safe online!

Today’s kids have grown up online. Finding their way around the Internet and posting on social networking sites like MySpace and Facebook are all part of their everyday lives. But in this online world … What are they saying? Who are they “talking” to? How can we keep kids away from danger – both emotional and physical? With The Internet Generation, you’ll learn the latest facts and advice to help keep your teen safe.

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(888) 598-KIDS