The Great Indoors: More Teens Staying Inside

Summer is not too far away — and with it camping, swimming, hiking and other outdoor activities. But a survey of California teens suggests that more adolescents will be spending their leisure time this summer indoors.

Summer is not too far away - and with it camping, swimming, hiking and other outdoor activities. But a survey of California teens suggests that more adolescents will be spending their leisure time this summer indoors.

Parents of California children ages 13 to 17 were asked if their kids had good access to outdoor activities – and 70 percent responded positively. But nearly 60 percent said their teen’s interest in the outdoors is declining.

89 percent of those surveyed said TV, computers and video games were the main reasons their kids were staying inside. About one-third of the parents said their children did not visit any kind of park last summer.

An official with the California State Parks Foundation says a lack of open spaces for self-guided play — along with the siren song of electronic gadgets - is making teens feel less comfortable outdoors.

Pressure Forcing Kids to Lie and Cheat

Faced with overwhelming pressure to succeed in school, more teens than you think admit to lying and cheating on tests, no matter the cost.

Faced with overwhelming pressure to succeed in school, more teens than you think admit to lying and cheating on tests, no matter the cost.

Think the world forces you to make tough choices every day? Today’s teens are already there. A recent Junior Achievement/Deloitte “Teen Ethics Poll” surveyed a large group of 13-to-18-year-olds, and the results were startling.

More than two out of five teens said they feel “overwhelming” pressure to succeed in school, no matter the cost. Many teens in the poll owned-up to their own unethical behavior as well: 69 percent said they had lied and 22 percent had cheated on school tests. And of the students who felt pressure to succeed, most (81 percent) expect the pressure to remain the same or get worse by the time they enter the marketplace.

“The survey results underscore that it is critical to educate and prepare the next generation to make ethical decisions – even during the most stressful, pressure-filled situations,” said Jim Quigley of Deloitte & Touche. “The business community has seen how ignoring ethical responsibilities can lead to devastating results.”

There was one positive trend reported by the survey: the percentage of teens who said they would not act unethically to get ahead, even if they knew they wouldn’t get caught, has increased by 40 percent since 2003.

“Graduated” Teen Driver’s Licenses are Keeping Kids Safer

Most U.S. states now have graduated driver licensing systems – which progressively phase-in young teenage drivers to our roads and highways as they mature. A new study by the Highway Safety Research Center at UNC-Chapel Hill indicates these laws are working.

Most U.S. states now have graduated driver licensing systems – which progressively phase-in young teenage drivers to our roads and highways as they mature. A new study by the Highway Safety Research Center at UNC-Chapel Hill indicates these laws are working.

Graduated driver licensing systems start with learner’s permits (which require adult supervision while driving) and progress to restricted driving times and then full privileges. In many states, these laws have been in effect now for ten years.

But are they working? Researchers at the Highway Safety Research Center at UNC-Chapel Hill says the number of 16-year-olds hospitalized in North Carolina dropped by more than 36 percent in the first four years after graduated driving laws came into effect in the state. And an earlier study from the Center said fatal crashes involving 16-year-olds were cut in half after the graduated licensing system began.

One of the factors for the lower injury and death rates was that the graduated licensing laws mean fewer teens on the roads. During the 46 months examined by the study, the percentage of 16-year-olds with driver’s licenses dropped from 51 percent to 33 percent.

Teens Creating Their Own “Digital Divide”

As the sale of consumer electronics explodes, teens are segmenting into two groups: those with the latest gadgets and those without them.

As the sale of consumer electronics explodes, teens are segmenting into two groups: those with the latest gadgets and those without them.

In the 1980s, a household with teens had an average of four or five consumer electronic products. But today, according to the Consumer Electronics Association, that number has jumped to 35.

So it’s little wonder that many teens are putting their used MP3 players, laptops and other less-than-state-of-the-art gadgets up for sale on websites such as Craigslist, MySpace and eBay.

One electronics expert says this trend is creating a “tiered system” of teens: those with the latest and hottest new electronic appliances – and those without but who are willing to buy something used if it looks hip and still works.

Experts warn that if your teen is planning to sell some of their old gadgets to have them remove any personal information from computers, not put their personal contact information in online ads and to avoid any direct interactions with unknown buyers or sellers.

Silent Witness:
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Research reveals that almost a third of today’s teens are either bullies or a victim of a bully. And in every age group, there’s the silent majority: those witnesses who watch and do nothing wherever bullying takes place. Watch Silent Witness and hear true stories from students, parents, teachers and experts. Learn about anti-bullying programs in schools around the country and why it’s so important to report bullying when it happens. Click here to get yours today and to preview the video.

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