Carl Pickhardt 
Surviving Your Child’s Adolescence 
How to Understand, and Even Enjoy, the Rocky Road to Independence

Expert suggestions for guiding your child through the rough
teenage years

Does it sometimes seem like your teenager is trying to push you
over the edge? Learn what your child is going through and what you
can do to help your teen navigate this difficult period in this
practical guide from psychologist and parenting expert Carl
Pickhardt. In an easy-to-read style, Dr. Pickhardt describes a
4-stage model of adolescent growth to help parents anticipate
common developmental changes in their daughter or son from late
elementary school through the college age years.

* Provides unique advice for dealing with arguing, chores, the
messy room, homework, and many other issues

* Offers best practices for teaching effective communication,
constructive conflict, and responsible decision-making

* Includes ideas for protecting kids against the dangers of the
Internet, bullying, dating, sexual involvement, and substance
use

An essential road map for parents looking to guide their
children on the path to adulthood.

Table of Content

Acknowledgments ix

About the Author xi

Author’s Note xiii

Introduction xv

Voices of Parents Past xix

1 Preparing for the Inevitable 1

2 A Road Map to Early and Mid-Adolescence 21

3 A Road Map to Late Adolescence and Trial Independence 49

4 Parenting Adolescent Sons and Daughters 83

5 The Complexities of Spoken Communication 105

6 The Use and Abuse of Conflict 127

7 Discipline That Does and Doesn’t Work 149

8 Informal and Formal Education 175

9 Problems with Peers 197

10 The Power of Parents 227

Epilogue: Climbing Fool’s Hill 249

Recommended Reading 253

Index 255

About the author

Carl Pickhardt, Ph D, is a psychologist with more than
twenty-five years in private counseling and lecturing practice in
Austin, Texas. He is the author of fourteen parenting books and
writes a weekly blog, Surviving (Your Child’s) Adolescence, for
Psychology Today. More information about Dr. Pickhardt may
be found at www.carlpickhardt.com.