Teens Copyright https://www.crosswalk.com 2026, Crosswalk.com Thu, 08 Jan 2026 03:54:18 -0500 https://www.crosswalk.com/family/parenting/things-you-dont-realize-are-negatively-impacting-your-teens-body-image.html https://www.crosswalk.com/family/parenting/things-you-dont-realize-are-negatively-impacting-your-teens-body-image.html Katie T. Kennedy https://www.crosswalk.com/author/katie-t-kennedy/ There are numerous factors that can impact your teen’s body image, some of which are positive and some negative. As parents, we try to do our best to ensure our children have a healthy view of their bodies.We are all made in God’s image, each unique and special. As a teenager, that can be tough to remember, especially when there are forces working against that truth.We will discuss some of these negative forces affecting your teens’ body image and how we can combat them. Teenagers are in a vulnerable season. They are undergoing significant changes and developments in their brain and bodies, and are influenced by numerous factors around them. Let’s discuss some of these factors.Photo credit: ©Pexels/Alex Green Mon, 05 Jan 2026 14:56:45 -0500 2026-01-08T03:54:18-05:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/family/parenting/teens/tools-for-stressed-moms-dealing-with-teen-drama.html https://www.crosswalk.com/family/parenting/teens/tools-for-stressed-moms-dealing-with-teen-drama.html Vivian Bricker https://www.crosswalk.com/author/vivian-bricker/ Dealing with teen drama can be overwhelming not only for the teenager but also for their moms. While I have never been a mom, I am aware of drama. My main experiences were when I was a preteen, and this caused my self-worth, self-esteem, and self-view to suffer. My “friends” were mean to me and hurt my feelings daily. Whenever my mom would pick me up from school, I would cry and tell her about the events of the day.My mom was quick to tell me that these girls were not my friends. They were “frenemies.” Despite listening to my mom, I still went back to these girls, and they kept repeatedly hurting me. Drama was high, and eventually my mom had to put her foot down. She was not mad at me, but she was disappointed that I couldn't tell real friends from fake ones.After a lengthy conversation with my mom, I finally understood I didn’t want to be around these girls anymore. Years of crying and stress were finally relieved once I listened to my mom and applied her advice to my life. Once I wasn’t spending time with these girls anymore, the drama completely vanished—like magic.Here are six of the tools that my mom shared with me in the aftermath of dealing with drama.Photo credit: ©GettyImages/Anchiy Fri, 05 Dec 2025 10:30:00 -0500 2026-01-08T03:54:18-05:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/family/parenting/things-that-might-surprise-you-about-gen-z-teens.html https://www.crosswalk.com/family/parenting/things-that-might-surprise-you-about-gen-z-teens.html Tanita Tualla Maddox https://www.crosswalk.com/author/tanita-maddox/ One of my favorite questions to ask Gen Zers is: “What do you hear about yourself in the media or from older adults?” There is a lot of information floating around about Gen Z on many different platforms, so there are a plethora of quotes and sources to choose from. Even so, I hear the same repeated words from my Gen Z friends: weak, snowflake, over-emotional, self-centered, and so on. I have yet to hear a Gen Zer quote anything positive they hear about themselves. Maybe some of us have used these words ourselves to describe our next generation.That’s some bad PR for Gen Z, but there is more to this generation than they are being credited with. We aren’t getting the whole story. What if we paused and took our time to really see Gen Z? There are some things that might surprise us about Gen Z teens:Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Maskot Wed, 29 Oct 2025 13:15:00 -0400 2026-01-08T03:54:18-05:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/family/parenting/5-areas-of-your-child-s-life-satan-wants-to-enter.html https://www.crosswalk.com/family/parenting/5-areas-of-your-child-s-life-satan-wants-to-enter.html Cindi McMenamin https://www.crosswalk.com/author/cindi-mcmenamin/ Satan wants our children’s hearts. He wants to mess with their minds, deter their dreams, and take their hopes hostage. Fri, 17 Oct 2025 10:00:00 -0400 2026-01-08T03:54:18-05:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/family/parenting/things-your-teenager-does-and-doesnt-want-from-you.html https://www.crosswalk.com/family/parenting/things-your-teenager-does-and-doesnt-want-from-you.html Alicia Searl https://www.crosswalk.com/author/alicia-searl/ When emotions run high and answers feel far off, these biblical insights can help you connect with your teenager’s heart. Here’s what your child may be quietly hoping for from you. Wed, 01 Oct 2025 08:00:00 -0400 2026-01-08T03:54:18-05:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/family/parenting/warning-signs-tips-and-5-powerful-prayers-to-battle-for-your-teens-mental-health.html https://www.crosswalk.com/family/parenting/warning-signs-tips-and-5-powerful-prayers-to-battle-for-your-teens-mental-health.html Alicia Searl https://www.crosswalk.com/author/alicia-searl/ Currently, there is a mental health crisis sweeping across the nation, and it is targeting our kids. Tue, 30 Sep 2025 08:30:00 -0400 2026-01-08T03:54:18-05:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/headlines/contributors/guest-commentary/7-productive-ways-to-engage-on-tiktok.html https://www.crosswalk.com/headlines/contributors/guest-commentary/7-productive-ways-to-engage-on-tiktok.html Robert Hampshire https://www.crosswalk.com/author/robert-hampshire/ TikTok isn’t just shaping culture—it’s shaping hearts. Here’s how Christians can use it with wisdom, purpose, and holiness. Mon, 22 Sep 2025 16:35:00 -0400 2026-01-08T03:54:18-05:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/family/parenting/teens/prayers-for-the-heartache-of-a-rebellious-teen.html https://www.crosswalk.com/family/parenting/teens/prayers-for-the-heartache-of-a-rebellious-teen.html Vivian Bricker https://www.crosswalk.com/author/vivian-bricker/ Teenagers are known to be rebellious. While I was not a particularly rebellious teen, my eldest sister was. My other sister and I were around 7 or 8 years old when she was a teen. From firsthand experience, I saw how rebellious teens can become—my eldest sister tried to cause my mom problems at every turn. She wouldn't listen to my mom or respect her in any sense.Most teens do not reach this level, but it is worth looking into. Rather than ignoring your teen's rebellious nature, addressing the situation in prayer is important. This can be a challenging time for you and your family, but rest in the promise that Jesus is with you. He will give you strength and help you through this difficult time.We often think teens are the only ones suffering during this time, but moms, dads, and siblings can equally struggle while someone in the family is going through their teenage years. Pray for your teen, spouse, yourself, and other children through these five guided prayers below.Photo credit: ©GettyImages/franckreporter Thu, 11 Sep 2025 15:40:00 -0400 2026-01-08T03:54:18-05:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/family/parenting/teens/what-can-swifties-teach-us-about-the-importance-of-music-in-bridging-generations.html https://www.crosswalk.com/family/parenting/teens/what-can-swifties-teach-us-about-the-importance-of-music-in-bridging-generations.html Tanita Tualla Maddox https://www.crosswalk.com/author/tanita-maddox/ Music helps the Church sing with one voice. God's people have a rich history of connecting through music. It creates a unique opportunity to unite the church regardless of age or stage. Thu, 04 Sep 2025 08:00:00 -0400 2026-01-08T03:54:18-05:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/slideshows/4-things-gen-z-believes-about-jesus-and-4-things-millennials-believe-about-jesus.html https://www.crosswalk.com/slideshows/4-things-gen-z-believes-about-jesus-and-4-things-millennials-believe-about-jesus.html Britt Mooney https://www.crosswalk.com/author/britt-mooney/ One generation can’t rely upon the faith of the generation before. I can learn from the faith of my parents or grandparents, but their faith couldn’t save me. Therefore, every generation must discover the eternal God for themselves. The truth and Word of God is sure and unchangeable. At the same time, culture and language change, and Christians must find a way to express the immutable Good News to a new generation. The past thirty years have seen revolutionary changes from the internet to the smartphone and all the good and bad these innovations have brought. Gen Z and Millennials grew up during these changes or even after the culture had transformed due to them. Because of these changes, Gen Z and Millennials have their own perspectives and experiences. The traditions or models relevant to Boomers or Gen X don’t have the same impact. Many have prayed for Gen Z and Millennials, often seeking ways to communicate and reach these individuals. Thankfully, God isn’t limited to one style of communication. The Gospel transcends all languages, cultures, and generations, and if we listen and try, we can express eternal truth to these generations. Through this humble seeking, these groups may teach us more about Jesus, too. To help with this, here are 4 truths about the way Gen Z feels about Jesus and 4 truths about the way millennials feel about Jesus.Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Luis Alvarez Mon, 11 Aug 2025 14:10:00 -0400 2026-01-08T03:54:18-05:00