At the White House, the Clintons today convened the latest in a series of special conferences, pulling in experts from academia, community grassroots programs and Hollywood to chew over ideas on getting parents in better touch with their children.
Citing a recent survey conducted by the YMCA, President Clinton called it “stunning” that something as simple as sitting down together at meal time could have enormous impact.
“The report found that teenagers who had dinner with their parents five nights a week were far more likely to avoid smoking, drinking, violence, suicide and drugs,” he said.
Mrs. Clinton reminisced about their daughter Chelsea’s teen years, confiding, “The three of us made it a priority to share at least one meal together a day” in a small kitchen in the White House family quarters.
“We wanted to convey to our daughter a simple message,” the first lady added, “that whenever she does need someone to talk to or ask advice or just wants to say hello, we will always be available and eager to listen.”
Making Time for Teens
President Clinton also signed an executive order making the federal government a better boss to parents who need time off with their children. The order prohibits discrimination against employees just because they have children at home.
“The goal of this order simply says no glass ceiling for parents. The job they’re doing at home’s more important anyway, and if they can do your job you ought not to stop them,” President Clinton told the conference.
The daylong session featured child development experts, community organizers who work with troubled youth, and a few movie celebrities who are known for their attention to children’s causes. Actor Danny DeVito and his wife, actress Rhea Perlman, parents themselves, made a pitch for better after-school programs to keep young people out of trouble.
“They need places where they can feel good about themselves,” Perlman told the audience.
There was also new scientific research presented on the brain development of young teens. An earlier White House conference on infants three years ago promoted findings that showed the most critical time for brain development is in a child’s first three years. The new evidence at this conference suggests there is another burst of brain development, in language and associative thinking, just before age 15.
Been There, Done That
Mrs. Clinton used the White House conference to announce two Web-based initiatives for teens: within six months, a task force will create new Web page that will offer a one-stop information site for parenting help, and a portal for teenagers, free of advertising.
Mrs. Clinton also offered her own tips for raising teens. She recalled the frustrations she and her “co-parent” felt when Chelsea showed typical teenage ambivalence toward them.
“You want to hang around just in case they’ll deign to say something to you,” she told a laughing audience.
The Clintons spent years juggling a two-career family and a teenager, but they said they have passed that milepost. Chelsea turned 20 in February.