PricelessParenting.com, an online training program that teaches parents proven techniques for effectively responding to misbehavior while guiding children to develop important character traits like integrity, honesty and compassion, has recommended Stephen’s book, Reality Gap, as a resource for parents. On its blog, they say, “the book provides wonderful advice for parents in handling and discussing these critical topics with their teens.”
What parents think their teens are doing and what their teens are actually doing are often two different things. Parents can learn a lot about these common misperceptions in Stephen Wallace’s book Reality Gap: Alcohol, Drugs, and Sex–What Parents Don’t Know and Teens Aren’t Telling.
Wallace, CEO of Students Against Destructive Decisions, documents what’s been learned about teen behavior through the indepth “Teens Today” study conducted from 2000 – 2006. This study reports data like:
average age for alcohol initiation is 13
by 12th grade, more than 75% of teens are drinking
35% of teens report using drugs
52% of high school students report having had sexual intercourse
The book provides wonderful advice for parents in handling and discussing these critical topics with their teens.