Parenting Teens with Dr. Cam

Are you constantly worried your teen is making bad choices, and feel like consequences are the only way to teach them a lesson? You're not alone, and you're not wrong to care.
But what if the very thing we do to prevent bad decisions is making them worse?
👉 Want to stop policing and start guiding? Inside Parenting Teens Academy, you'll learn my COLLABORATE Method, so you can stay calm when your teen messes up, guide better choices without power struggles, and raise a teen who thinks for themselves. Try it free for 7 days
In this episode, we dig into one of the biggest parenting traps: punishing the behavior instead of teaching the skills behind it. When your teen makes a risky, impulsive, or frustrating choice, it's easy to assume they're careless, defiant, or just not thinking. But something deeper is going on, and once you see it, how you respond starts to shift.
This isn't about letting your teen get away with it, and it's not about lowering your standards. It's about giving your teen what they need in those moments, so they learn to make better decisions without you hovering, nagging, or stepping in. Because the goal isn't to control their choices forever. It's to raise a teen who can think for themselves when you're not there.
This episode is for you if you've ever:
Replayed a bad decision your teen made and wondered, "What were they thinking?"
Felt stuck between being too strict and too lenient
Worried that giving more freedom will lead to worse choices
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
Why teens make choices that don't make sense to you but make perfect sense to them
The hidden reason punishment often leads to more lying, hiding, and disconnection
What your teen needs in the moment of a bad decision (hint: it's not a lecture)
How to help your teen build real decision-making skills without constant power struggles
A simple mindset shift that changes how you respond right away
THE SERIES
This episode is part of the series 7 Teen Behaviors Parents Punish That Are Actually Signs of Healthy Development.
Episode 269: Attitude
Episode 271: Refusing to do chores
Episode 273: Arguing about everything
Episode 275: Acting entitled
Coming next, Episode 280: Why teens keep secrets, and how to make honesty feel safer
CONNECT WITH DR. CAM CASWELL
Website: AskDrCam.com
Instagram: @DrCamCaswell
Parenting Teens Academy
ABOUT THE SHOW
Parenting Teens with Dr. Cam is hosted by Dr. Cam Caswell, an adolescent psychologist and certified parenting coach. Each episode gives you practical strategies, real-life scripts, and expert insight to help you build a stronger relationship with your teen, without yelling, nagging, or walking on eggshells.
⭐ If this episode helped, share it with a parent who needs it and leave a rating and review. It helps other parents find the show.
🔔 Follow the show so you never miss an episode.

Teaching your teen to drive can feel terrifying. And if your teen is nervous behind the wheel, or keeps putting off getting their license, you're not alone. Many teens today feel anxious about driving, and the way we approach practice can either build their confidence or make the anxiety worse.
👉 Want to stay calm in the passenger seat and everywhere else? Inside Parenting Teens Academy, parents learn to coach instead of criticize, keep their cool in stressful moments, and raise a teen who trusts them. Try it free for 7 days
In this episode, I sit down with Nigel Tunnacliffe, CEO and co-founder of Coastline Academy, the largest driving school in the US, which has helped more than 250,000 teens learn to drive. Nigel shares what professional instructors know about building confidence in nervous teen drivers, and why well-meaning parents sometimes make it harder without realizing it.
When we shift from critic to coach, teens learn faster, feel more confident, and build safer habits. This conversation will help you turn practice drives into confidence builders instead of power struggles.
 
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
Why many teens today are delaying their driver's license
How parent anxiety can make teen driving anxiety worse
The biggest mistake parents make when teaching teens to drive
How professional instructors build confidence in anxious teen drivers
How to tell when your teen is ready to drive on their own
How to make practice drives calmer and more productive for both of you
 
EPISODE CHAPTERS
00:00 Why teaching teens to drive feels so stressful
00:53 Why many teens are delaying their license
03:41 Helping anxious teen drivers build confidence
05:23 Encouraging teens without creating resistance
07:09 Managing your own anxiety during practice drives
09:56 Creating a calm learning environment
12:34 Celebrating small driving wins
15:25 Teaching through observation and empathy
19:02 Signs your teen is ready for more responsibility
21:29 Building safe driving habits
24:11 Helping teens feel confident behind the wheel
27:32 Setting boundaries for new drivers
29:19 Practical tips for safe practice drives
 
CONNECT WITH NIGEL TUNNACLIFFE AND COASTLINE ACADEMY
Website: CoastlineAcademy.com
Instagram: @coastlineacademy
Facebook: @coastlineacademy
 
CONNECT WITH DR. CAM CASWELL
Website: AskDrCam.com
Instagram: @DrCamCaswell
Parenting Teens Academy
 
ABOUT THE SHOW
Parenting Teens with Dr. Cam is hosted by Dr. Cam Caswell, an adolescent psychologist and certified parenting coach. Each episode gives you practical strategies, expert advice, and real-world insight to build a stronger relationship with your teen.
⭐ If this episode helped, share it with a parent who needs it and leave a rating and review. It helps other parents find the show.
🔔 Follow the show so you never miss an episode.

Is your teen acting entitled, ungrateful, or selfish, no matter how much you do for them? You're not alone, and it may not mean what you think.
👉 Want to raise a grateful teen without the guilt trips? Inside Parenting Teens Academy, you'll learn my COLLABORATE Method, so you can build responsibility and gratitude without shame, stay calm when your teen seems ungrateful, and keep your relationship strong. Try it free for 7 days
In this episode, I explain why teen entitlement is often a normal part of growing up. It's rooted in brain changes, identity formation, and intense self-focus, not bad character. And I share how to respond in a way that builds character, not resentment.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
Why lectures and guilt trips about gratitude backfire
The psychology behind self-centered teen behavior
How to teach gratitude without shame or comparison
Practical ways to build empathy, responsibility, and perspective
EPISODE CHAPTERS
00:00 Why teens seem so entitled
01:46 Understanding self-focus in teens
04:27 The role of gratitude in development
08:34 Building perspective through experience
12:08 Teaching gratitude as a skill
13:33 Rethinking how we respond
14:58 Wrap-up and what's next
THE SERIES
This episode is part of the series 7 Teen Behaviors Parents Punish That Are Actually Signs of Healthy Development.
Episode 269: Attitude
Episode 271: Refusing to do chores
Episode 273: Arguing about everything
Coming next, Episode 277: Why teens make risky and bad choices, and how changing your approach can improve their decision-making
CONNECT WITH DR. CAM CASWELL
Website: AskDrCam.com
Instagram: @DrCamCaswell
Parenting Teens Academy
ABOUT THE SHOW
Parenting Teens with Dr. Cam blends brain science, practical tools, and real-life scripts so you can parent smarter, not harder.
⭐ If this episode helped, share it with a parent who needs it and leave a rating and review. It helps other parents find the show.
🔔 Follow the show so you never miss an episode.

Teen boys shutting down can feel like rejection, but it’s usually self-protection. If your teen son won’t talk, gives one-word answers, or avoids conversations completely, this episode will help you understand what’s going on—and what actually works.
Dr. Cam Caswell (adolescent psychologist + certified parenting coach) and licensed professional counselor Jarrod Hoffman break down teen communication, emotional withdrawal, and trust-building strategies that help parents reconnect with teen boys. You’ll learn how to stop the lecture cycle, use reflective listening, and create emotional safety so your teenage son opens up again.
What You’ll Learn:
Why teen boys shut down emotionally during puberty (and why it’s not rejection)
The #1 communication mistake parents make that pushes teen boys further away
How to use reflection instead of rapid-fire questions to build trust
The “10-Minute Play Rule” that strengthens parent-teen connection
What to say when your teen goes silent (without panicking or lecturing)
Why teens already know what they “should” be doing—and why more advice backfires
How to build trust with your teenage son so he talks to you again
Connect with Jarrod Hoffman:Website: jarrodhoffman.comNewsletter: Jarrod’s Monthly NewsletterBlog: jarrodhoffman.com/blogLinkedIn: Jarrod Hoffman
Connect with Dr. Cam Caswell:Website: AskDrCam.comInstagram: @DrCamCaswellYouTube: Parenting Teens with Dr. Cam (search “Parenting Teens with Dr. Cam”)
Enjoying the show?Share your favorite episode and leave a rating and review so other parents can find the support they need.Hit SUBSCRIBE so you never miss a solution-packed episode.
About the show:The Parenting Teens with Dr. Cam Podcast is your go-to resource for navigating the challenges of raising teenagers. Hosted by Dr. Cam Caswell, adolescent psychologist and certified parenting coach, each episode delivers practical parenting tools, expert insights, and real-world strategies to help you improve communication, reduce power struggles, and build a stronger relationship with your teen.
#theteentranslator #drcamcaswell #parentingteenswithdrcam #teencommunication #parentingteenboys
 

Does your teen talk back or turn every conversation into a debate? You're not alone.
In this episode, I flip the script on what talking back means. What if your teen's arguing isn't disrespect but development? Those debates can be signs of growing critical thinking, identity, and moral reasoning.
👉 Tired of every disagreement turning into a power struggle? Inside Parenting Teens Academy, you'll learn my COLLABORATE Method, so you can stay in charge without escalating, handle pushback with calm, and get your teen talking to you instead of fighting you. Try it free for 7 days
You'll learn why shutting down arguments with "because I said so" often creates more power struggles, not fewer. And you'll learn how to turn daily battles into chances to build confidence, connection, and real-life skills.
If you're tired of feeling like the bad guy every time your teen pushes back, this episode will help you respond with clarity and calm, without giving up your authority.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
Why teen arguing is often a sign of healthy brain development, not defiance
The hidden cost of "because I said so" parenting
How to separate disagreement from disrespect
The difference between debatable topics and non-negotiable boundaries
Phrases that keep conversations open without giving up authority
How healthy arguing helps teens resist peer pressure and advocate for themselves
EPISODE CHAPTERS
00:00 Behaviors that are signs of healthy development
01:18 Why arguing feels so frustrating
03:56 Arguing as executive function development
06:36 Teaching respectful disagreement
09:51 Debatable vs. non-negotiable topics
12:09 The COLLABORATE Method™
THE SERIES
This episode is part of the series 7 Teen Behaviors Parents Punish That Are Actually Signs of Healthy Development.
Episode 269: Attitude
Episode 271: Refusing to do chores
Coming next, Episode 275: Why teens act selfish and entitled
CONNECT WITH DR. CAM CASWELL
Website: AskDrCam.com
Instagram: @DrCamCaswell
Parenting Teens Academy
ABOUT THE SHOW
Parenting Teens with Dr. Cam is hosted by Dr. Cam Caswell, an adolescent psychologist and certified parenting coach. Each episode gives you practical strategies, expert advice, and real-world insight to build a stronger relationship with your teen.
⭐ If this episode helped, share it with a parent who needs it and leave a rating and review. It helps other parents find the show.
🔔 Follow the show so you never miss an episode.

Fighting with your teen about screens doesn’t mean you’re failing. It usually means you’re focusing on the wrong thing.
In this episode of Parenting Teens with Dr. Cam, I’m joined by Stephen Balkam, Founder and CEO of the Family Online Safety Institute, who brings 30 years of experience helping families navigate online safety without fear or power struggles.
We break down why traditional screen time rules backfire, why screen use matters more than minutes, and how parents can stay influential in a world where teens are using AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude for school, problem-solving, and decision-making.
If you want to protect your teen online without losing trust or connection, this episode will help you rethink your approach.
What You’ll Learn
The biggest screen time mistake parents make (and what works better)
Why quality of screen use matters more than quantity
How the “co-pilot” approach keeps you involved without controlling
Why involving teens in rule-setting increases follow-through
What parents need to know about AI and critical thinking
Simple boundaries that protect both safety and connection
Resources Mentioned
Family Online Safety Institute: https://www.fosi.org
Seven Steps to Good Digital Parenting
Digital Parenting Contract Template
FOSI YouTube Channel
AI tools discussed: ChatGPT, ClaudeApps referenced: Pokémon Go, nature and star identification apps
About the Guest
Stephen Balkam is the Founder and CEO of the Family Online Safety Institute, a nonprofit working with major tech companies to make the online world safer for kids and families. He has been at the forefront of online safety for three decades and has witnessed the evolution from the early web to social media to today’s AI age.
About the Show
Parenting Teens with Dr. Cam helps parents stay calm, connected, and confident while navigating the challenges of raising teens. Hosted by Dr. Cam Caswell, adolescent psychologist and certified parenting coach.
👉 Learn more and access free resources at AskDrCam.com📱 For daily parenting tools, follow @DrCamCaswell on Instagram

Teenager won't do chores? If you've asked your teen to help around the house and they reacted like you just requested a kidney, welcome.
Here's the thing. The chore battle usually isn't about the chore. It's about what happens after you ask. The stalling. The eye rolls. The "in a minute." The sudden, deep commitment to scrolling. And you repeating yourself until your voice hits a pitch only dogs can hear.
👉 Tired of being the household nag? Inside Parenting Teens Academy, you'll learn my COLLABORATE Method, so you can get help around the house without the standoffs, stop repeating yourself, and raise a teen who pitches in. Try it free for 7 days
In this episode, I explain why teens resist chores, what's going on in the teen brain, and why the usual fixes (punishment, consequences, rewards, bribes, threats, and lectures) often backfire in the long run. It looks like a lazy teenager. It's usually a skill gap.
You'll learn the simple shift that turns chores from a power struggle into cooperation, so you can get your teen to help without nagging, begging, or doing it all yourself. Plus the one mistake that teaches teens to avoid chores, and you, even more.
If chores have turned into a nightly standoff in your house, this episode will change how you see it and what you do next.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
Why "clean your room" feels impossible to the teen brain, even when they want to do it
How executive functioning affects your teen's ability to start and finish chores
Why punishment and consequences make chore resistance worse over time
How to break big chores into small steps your teen can manage
The mindset shift that motivates teens to help without constant reminders
How to build responsibility without damaging your relationship
EPISODE CHAPTERS
00:00 Is my teenager lazy? Why teens ignore chores
00:45 The nagging cycle every parent knows
02:57 Why punishing teens over chores backfires
03:49 Executive functioning in teens: the skill gap
06:30 Why "clean your room" feels like 97 tasks
07:46 Why chores have zero payoff for teens
09:05 Chores are a favor, so say thank you
10:05 Give your teen ownership
11:03 Chores that only affect them
12:11 Why a thank you beats any reward
14:03 Match chores to what your teen enjoys
16:57 Next up: why teens argue about everything
THE SERIES
This episode is part of the series 7 Teen Behaviors Parents Punish That Are Actually Signs of Healthy Development.
Episode 269: Attitude
Coming next, Episode 273: Why teens argue about everything
CONNECT WITH DR. CAM CASWELL
Website: AskDrCam.com
Instagram: @DrCamCaswell
Parenting Teens Academy
ABOUT THE SHOW
Parenting Teens with Dr. Cam helps parents of teenagers handle everyday struggles with less conflict and more connection. Host Dr. Cam Caswell is an adolescent psychologist and certified parenting coach who translates teen brain science into practical parenting strategies you can use tonight. Each episode tackles real challenges like teen attitude, arguing, chores, motivation, screen time, school stress, anxiety, and communication, so you can build a stronger relationship with your teen and raise a confident, responsible young adult.
⭐ If this episode helped, share it with a parent who needs it and leave a rating and review. It helps other parents find the show.
🔔 Follow the show so you never miss an episode.

A lot of us see the hours, hear the headphones, and picture the worst. Strangers. Predators. Secret chats. And the big one: "Is my kid addicted to this?"
👉 Want to set screen limits without the eye rolls and blowups? Inside Parenting Teens Academy, parents learn to talk about tech without a fight, set limits their teen respects, and get their teen talking to them again. Try it free for 7 days
So in this episode, I brought in someone who knows what's happening behind the scenes at Roblox. Tami Bhaumik is Vice President of Civility and Partnerships at Roblox. This conversation will either calm your nervous system or at least hand you a real plan.
 
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
The one thing most parents misunderstand about Roblox, and why it matters for safety
A major safety feature rolling out that could change how teens connect with others online
The screen time question parents obsess over, and what signals a real problem
Why "play with your teen" isn't cheesy advice, and how it leads to better conversations and more honesty
How to set limits that don't trigger eye rolls, blowups, or shutdowns
 
EPISODE CHAPTERS
00:00 What Roblox is, and why parents misread it
05:41 The safety features you need to know
11:47 The parenting move that changes everything
16:49 Screen time: what's normal and what's not
22:38 How to work with your teen on safety
28:18 Tools, next steps, and where to start
 
RESOURCES MENTIONED
Roblox Safety Center: parental controls, safety guides, video tutorials, and wellbeing resources for families
 
CONNECT WITH TAMI BHAUMIK
Vice President of Civility and Partnerships, Roblox
LinkedIn: Tami Bhaumik
 
CONNECT WITH DR. CAM CASWELL
Website: AskDrCam.com
Instagram: @DrCamCaswell
Parenting Teens Academy
 
ABOUT THE SHOW
Parenting Teens with Dr. Cam is hosted by Dr. Cam Caswell, an adolescent psychologist and certified parenting coach. Each episode gives you science-backed insights and real-life parenting tools, so you can stop second-guessing yourself and lead with more calm, clarity, and connection.
⭐ If this episode helped, share it with a parent who needs it and leave a rating and review. It helps other parents find the show.
🔔 Follow the show so you never miss an episode.

Eye rolls. Heavy sighs. That sharp, snarky tone that flips your nervous system in half a second.
If your teen's "nasty attitude" instantly makes you think disrespect, defiance, or this needs to stop now, this episode will change how you see it.
👉 Want to stop the tone without starting a war? Inside Parenting Teens Academy, you'll learn my COLLABORATE Method, so you can stay calm when the attitude hits, hold boundaries without power struggles, and build respect that lasts. Try it free for 7 days
This episode kicks off a new series on teen behaviors parents punish, even though they're often signs of healthy development. And we're starting with the one that triggers parents fastest: attitude.
Here's the truth most of us were never told. What feels like disrespect in the moment is often your teen's nervous system in overload, paired with a brain that's wired for emotion but still learning regulation. When we shut it down with consequences or lectures, we don't teach respect. We teach defense. And that's where the power struggles, shutdowns, and distance begin.
Every time your teen gets mouthy, snappy, or sarcastic, we have a choice. One response builds walls. The other builds trust. In this episode, I walk you through that choice and how to respond in a way that works, even when your teen isn't at their best.
This episode is for you if you've ever wondered:
Why does my teen get snarky over the smallest things?
Am I accidentally making the attitude worse?
How do I stop the tone without starting a war?
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
Why teen attitude usually has less to do with disrespect and more to do with brain development
The hidden reason even well-meant questions can trigger snark and shutdown
The parenting response that escalates attitude, and why most of us default to it
The moment-by-moment choice that decides whether your teen opens up or closes off
THE SERIES
This episode kicks off the series 7 Teen Behaviors Parents Punish That Are Actually Signs of Healthy Development.
Coming next, Episode 271: Why "not doing chores" is rarely about laziness, and how nagging trains teens to avoid responsibility
CONNECT WITH DR. CAM CASWELL
Website: AskDrCam.com
Instagram: @DrCamCaswell
Parenting Teens Academy
ABOUT THE SHOW
Parenting Teens with Dr. Cam is your go-to podcast for understanding teen behavior and responding in ways that build connection, not conflict. Hosted by Dr. Cam Caswell, adolescent psychologist, parenting coach, and "The Teen Translator," each episode delivers science-backed insight and real-life parenting tools you can use.
⭐ If this episode helped, share it with a parent who needs it and leave a rating and review. It helps other parents find the show.
🔔 Follow the show so you never miss an episode.

Is your teen confiding in ChatGPT instead of you? Generative AI is now part of almost every corner of teen life, and it happened so fast that many of us feel a step behind. Are teens using AI to learn, to cheat, or something in between? Are they turning to it for emotional support? And what should we worry about versus react to out of fear?
👉 Want to be the one your teen turns to first? Inside Parenting Teens Academy, parents learn to talk about tech and AI without lectures, stay calm when something worries them, and become the person their teen trusts with the hard stuff. Try it free for 7 days
In this episode, I sit down with Alanna Powers-O'Brien, Research and Program Specialist at the Family Online Safety Institute and co-author of the national report Generative AI in Uncertain Times: How Teens Are Navigating a New Digital Frontier. We talk about what teens told researchers directly, what surprised even the experts, and why most parents are focused on the wrong risks.
You'll hear why many teens don't want to cheat, why 42% use AI to talk through their emotions, and what teens wish parents understood before reacting.
 
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
How teens use ChatGPT and other AI tools for school, learning, and everyday problems
Why many teens are confused about what counts as cheating with AI
Why teens turn to AI for emotional support, and what it does and doesn't replace
Teens' top concern about AI, and why it's not what most parents assume
What teens wish parents understood before reacting
 
EPISODE CHAPTERS
00:00 Teens and generative AI explained
01:03 Inside the research on teen AI use
02:40 How teens use ChatGPT and other AI tools
05:22 AI and cheating
08:22 The gray areas parents should understand
10:13 Teens' fears about losing critical thinking skills
12:05 AI and the future job market
12:59 Why teens talk to AI about their feelings
15:59 Why AI feels human to teens
17:16 Data privacy and safety concerns
18:40 Why AI is so appealing to teens
20:52 AI dependency and social connection
24:16 Accessibility and emotional support
25:54 What teens wish parents knew
27:56 Practical advice for parents
 
RESOURCES MENTIONED
Generative AI in Uncertain Times: How Teens Are Navigating a New Digital Frontier
Family Online Safety Institute
 
CONNECT WITH ALANNA POWERS-O'BRIEN
Organization: Family Online Safety Institute
Website: FOSI.org
 
CONNECT WITH DR. CAM CASWELL
Website: AskDrCam.com
Instagram: @DrCamCaswell
Parenting Teens Academy
 
ABOUT THE SHOW
Parenting Teens with Dr. Cam is hosted by Dr. Cam Caswell, an adolescent psychologist and certified parenting coach. Each episode gives you practical strategies, expert advice, and real-world insight to build a stronger relationship with your teen.
⭐ If this episode helped, share it with a parent who needs it and leave a rating and review. It helps other parents find the show.
🔔 Follow the show so you never miss an episode.