344: The Questions Teens Are Really Asking!

344: The Questions Teens Are Really Asking!

Author: Impactful Parent June 11, 2026 Duration: 30:49
What Teens Are Really Asking In this episode, Kristina Campos and Jenny Colman dive deep into the digital world adolescents navigate today, revealing the unspoken questions and curiosities teens have about relationships, boundary-crossing behaviors, and online content. Rather than looking for ”how-to” guides, data from the What’s Okay helpline shows that teens are overwhelmingly asking ”Is this normal?” regarding things they witness or experience in the digital space [03:01]. They discuss how to spot red flags wh Rate, Review, & Subscribe! ”I love Kristina and all the FREE tips that she has to offer!  Thank you for making my parenting journey better!”  <– If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more people — just like you!!! Rate with five stars, and select ”Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode! Also, if you haven’t done so already, subscribe to the podcast. I’m adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the feed and, if you’re not subscribed, there’s a good chance you’ll miss out. Subscribe now! What to do next: Get The Impactful Parent App! Everything you need in your parenting journey in one spot! Available on the Android Play Store and the Apple Store. Search Impactful Parent (direct links listed above under Links in Episode). Follow The Impactful Parenton social media if you don’t already! Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, & Pinterest Subscribe to the PODCAST  Check out the official website of The Impactful Parent for FREE RESOURCES, parenting classes, mom’s groups, and so much more! Click here to check it out! Discover how you can work with Kristina!  Sign up for a FREE 30-minute discovery call! Click here to find a time that works best for you! Bottom Line... I am here for YOU!  Contact me at theimpactfulparent@gmail.com  ere healthy curiosity crosses into harmful behaviors, the protective boundaries parents can establish at home, and how to debunk the ”internet stranger danger” myth by focusing on real peer-to-peer relationships [16:20]. Jenny Coleman is a clinician, educator, and dedicated child welfare advocate who serves as the director of Stop It Now!, a national prevention program focused on keeping children safe from sexual harm. Driven by the realization that youth frequently have complex, unaddressed questions about their own thoughts and digital exposures, she also directs What’s Okay (whso.org), a pioneering, confidential, and judgment-free national helpline designed specifically for youth and teens. On The Impactful Parent, Jenny reveals that rather than seeking ”how-to” advice, the overwhelming majority of teens reaching out to the helpline are simply asking, ”Is this normal?” or ”Is this okay?”. She explains that because today’s adolescents are heavily inundated with intense digital imagery, social media group chats, and adult content online, they frequently experience a confusing mix of curiosity and distress. Jenny emphasizes that beneath this overwhelming influx of data, teens genuinely want to make healthy, responsible relationship choices, but the fear of shame often drives their concerns underground—making confidential platforms like What’s Okay a vital bridge to credible information and safe adults. #teenmentalhealth #teencopingskills #parenting

Raising school-aged kids and teenagers often feels like navigating uncharted territory every single day. Parenting Tips, Resources and Strategies for Moms and Dads of Children, & Teenagers: Impactful Parenting is here for that exact journey, moving beyond simple advice to explore the real, sometimes messy work of building lasting bonds. Hosted by Impactful Parent, this podcast digs into the unique challenges that emerge as children grow, offering practical strategies and thoughtful resources drawn from real stories and experiences. You’ll find conversations that address those quiet doubts every parent has, wondering if what you’re facing is normal or searching for a better way to connect when things feel chaotic. Each episode serves as a thoughtful resource, transforming common struggles into opportunities for understanding and growth within your family. The focus is squarely on the school years through adolescence, a phase that demands a different parenting toolkit. By listening, you gain access to a supportive dialogue that blends education, relationship insights, and cultural awareness, all aimed at making daily family life feel more manageable and far more connected. This isn’t about perfection; it’s about impactful shifts that help you and your child navigate these formative years together with more confidence and less friction. Tune in for a genuine, story-driven approach that meets you right where you are.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Parenting Tips for Moms and Dads of School-aged Children & Teenagers: The Impactful Parenting Podcast
Podcast Episodes
343: Divorce: What Parents Do Wrong [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:56
Divorce: What parents do wrong! Is your divorce hurting your kids more than it needs to? Divorce is undeniably one of the hardest transitions a family can face, but the real damage often doesn’t come from the split itsel…
342: Supporting High Performing Child Athletes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:52
Supporting High Performing Child Athletes Is your child a ”natural” on the field but struggling to keep up in the classroom? We all dream of supporting our child’s passions, but when ”good” turns into ”elite,” the rules…
341: Emotional Eating in Children and Teenagers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:01
Is your child reaching for the pantry every time they’re stressed, bored, or upset? 🍎🍪 We’ve all been there: seeing our kids finish a bag of chips after a hard day at school and wondering, ”Are they actually hungry, or i…
340: SUMMER BOREDOM BUSTERS: Ways to Limit Screens [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:44
SUMMER BOREDOM BUSTERS: Ways to Limit Screens ”Mom, I’m bored!” — Is this the soundtrack to your summer? ☀️🍦 The sun is out, school is off, and suddenly the lure of the screen seems stronger than ever. But summer doesn’t…
339: Safety Lessons Every Parent S [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:42
Safety Lessons Every Parent Needs To Teach Their Child Is your child truly safe? It’s every parent’s biggest worry, but the answer might not be what you think. 🛡️ In this episode of The Impactful Parent, host Kristina Ca…
338: Understanding Teen Self Harm: Myths vs. Reality [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:00
Understanding Teen Self Harm: Myths vs. Reality Is your teen struggling with big emotions, and you’re terrified they might be turning to self-harm? It is one of the scariest realizations a parent can face. You see the lo…
337: Where To Next? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:42
A raw episode with Kristina as she brainstorms the future of the Impactful Parent. https://theimpactfulparent.com for more. Please subscribe and leave a comment!
336: Difficult Teenagers.  Tips and Advice for Parents [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:39
Difficult Teenagers. Tips and Advice for Parents ”I just don’t know what to do with them anymore.” 😔 Does that sentence sound familiar? If you’ve reached the point where you feel more like a warden than a parent, or if y…
335: Talking to Teenagers About WEIGHT [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:53
Talking to Teenagers About WEIGHT Is your teen struggling with body image, or are you worried about their health but afraid to say the wrong thing? In a world obsessed with filters and ”perfect” bodies, many parents feel…
334: Stop The Medication Guessing Game [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:18
Stop the Guessing Game: Is Your Teen’s ”Broken” Brain Actually a Superpower? 🧠✨ Are you exhausted by the endless cycle of new medications, different therapists, and ”wait and see” approaches that never seem to work for y…