nail art

While there are some pretty crazy teen fads out there -- nail art is a trend that's pretty tame -- and really cute. Teach your daughter how to do one of these easy and age-appropriate nail art designs for her next sleepover, school dance or mall date -- and rack up some super-cool mom points.


 

Fresh Pick

DID MY NAILS

From the softball field to the slumber party, this strawberry mani works for whatever upcoming spring plans your girl may have. DidMyNails started with a red base, and then used white and yellow polish applied with a small brush to create the seeds. She dripped black polish on the tips and followed that up with green polish to give the leaves a 3-D appearance. (But honestly, you can skip the black and still get the cute strawberry stem effect!)

Room for Dessert

BLANKET PRINT NAILS

Let your girl show off her sweet side with this cute cupcake mani by Joya of Blanket Print Nails. Choose a neutral base color, then paint a French tip in any shade to serve as the baking cup. Paint stripes in a darker color with a smaller brush on the cup. Top off the dessert by using a bobby pin to create the icing and sprinkles -- and add a dot of red polish for the cherry on top.

Pretty Polka Dots

ONE NAIL TO RULE THEM ALL

She'll swoon over this sassy dot mani. After painting the nails two different colors on top and bottom, Alice of One Nail to Rule Them All used dotting tools -- so easy! -- to create both the dots and the stripes.

Hello Kitty

BLANKET PRINT NAILS

Nail stickers are a cute and convenient option if your girl can't sit still long enough to let the paint dry. But if you really want the DIY challenge, check out how Blanket Print Nailscreated this manicure.

Story Time

THE NAILASAURUS

Your book lovin' girl will go crazy for this mani, inspired by The Very Hungry Caterpillar! Sammy of The Nailasaurus used a white base color and painted the caterpillar and some of his Saturday snacks freehand. If that's too difficult -- or requires patience your girl doesn't have -- try these press-on nails instead.

Lovely Ladybug

LUCY'S STASH

This cartoonish twist on a lady bug design is cute without being babyish. Lucy of Lucy's Stash created this manicure in easy steps: start by painting all nails red except for the two ring fingers, which should be turquoise. Then using a dotting tool, make the ladybug spots. Lastly, use a permanent marker or a black nail pen to draw the critter, and white and red nail polish to fill him in. Or you can skip the drawing and opt for a ladybug nail sticker -- it's just as cute! 

Flight of Fancy

JULEP

This sweet (and easier than it looks) butterfly mani from Julep only requires three colors, an orange nail pen and a small paint brush. Paint the whole nail red, create a diagonal line and a half moon with black, and finish with white dots. Done!

Hoot Couture

JULEP

Keep your night owl on trend with this simple DIY design. These sweet owls can be created with a series of circles, triangles and dots made with an orange stick and a small nail art brush. Get the full tutorial from Julep.

Animal Prints

NAILSIDE

These nails will make your girl the cool cat at school. To pull off this pattern from Jane atNailside, use a blue base color and doodle the critters on with permanent marker or a black nail pen.

Over the Rainbow

NAILSIDE

She's having a rainbow birthday party, complete with a rainbow cake. What's next? Rainbow nails! It's super easy -- start with a white base and paint vertical colorful stripes. And don't worry if the colors blend together, that's part of the allure. (You can check out a full tutorial on Nailside.)

Many Shades of Love

PUPLE CASTLE

If your girl wears her heart on her sleeve, now she can wear it on her nails, too. Blogger Lydia of Purple Castle painted this pretty cursive design freehand, but if that's too hard -- rainbow heart stickers work, too.

Heart to Heart

ONE NAIL TO RULE ALL

Perfect for an indie-rock princess, this mani is cool but still age-appropriate. Alice fromOne Nail to Rule Them All started with a silver glitter base color, and outlined brightly colored hearts with black acrylic paint.

Swarovski Style

NAILASAURUS

For the girl who loves all things glam and bedazzled: Sammy of The Nailasaurus used caviar beads, pearls and glitter to complete this look. 

Geek Chic

NEVERLAND

Superhero style? Give her nails some extra pow by copying this design from Lindsey of Neverland Nail Blog. Start with a white base color and apply bold, dark shades using a dotting tool and striping brush. Then, write expressions like Pow! and Bam! with black polish and a striping brush.

Gingham Style

NAILASAURUS

Sammy of The Nailasaurus created the gorgeous gingham – perfect for school days or picnic parties -- with some bright colors and a few swipes of the striping brush. Start with a white base coat, then add stripes in your favorite shades.

Blow Dryer Mani

NEVERLAND

Here's a fun project for your girl's next sleepover: a mani using a blow dryer! To create this pretty watercolor look, Lindsey of Neverland Nail Blog used crème finish polishes, polish thinner, a small nail paint brush and a blow dryer. After allowing a white base coat to dry completely, thin out your polish color choices then dot them on your nails. Complete the design, by quickly blasting your nail with your blow dryer. Awesome.

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CHALKBOARD NAILS

Zig zags and pastel colors make this mani super sharp. Sarah of  placed striping tape over a white base color in a random pattern. She then used three shades of purple applied with a sponge to create the shading.

What Happens to Teens When They Are Bored?

You know that leaving a toddler to his own devices can be disastrous, but a teen with nothing to do can turn into a ticking time bomb, too. An increase in independence during the teen years can leave your child unsure what to do, according to an article at Psychologytoday.com. Understanding the potential trouble your teen could encounter can help you teach him to manage his time and stay engaged with activities to counteract boredom.

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Substance Abuse

Boredom is a driving factor in experimenting with drugs and alcohol. Teens with little to do are more likely to try drugs, cigarettes and alcohol than teens who are busy, according to an article in "USA Today." Consistent communication with your teen about the dangers of these substances goes a long way toward helping him abstain, even if he is bored, notes Steve Pasierb of Partnership for a Drug-Free America. Get your teen involved in sports or after-school clubs if he complains of boredom when you're still at work.

Boredom Habit

You probably can't understand why your teen is so willing to stay bored. Being bored becomes a habit over time and reduces your teen's willingness and motivation to try new experiences, according to the Women's and Children's Health Network. Even if an activity is potentially interesting, your bored teen might avoid it just because he's gotten into the habit of being bored. Help your teen find activities that match his skills and interests so he's more willing to give them a try.

Weight Gain

Bored teens are more likely to eat, particularly junk food, according to the Women's and Children's Health Network. As they sit around wondering what to do, they might mindlessly snack, which combined with a lack of exercise can result in unhealthful weight gain. Being overweight increases the risk of several health problems, including heart disease, diabetes and cancer. Encourage your teen to choose healthful foods, even if he's bored, to fill him up without filling him out. At the same time, help him find exercise that he enjoys so he's motivated to get out there and burn calories and stay fit.

Conflict

As the parent of a teen, you've probably encountered the resistance from a bored teen when you suggest a possible activity. Boredom can make a teen feel angry, which he then takes out on you because he's out of sorts and doesn't know what to do with himself. Suggest inviting a friend over, teach your child to cook a meal or take him to a movie, when you can. With time, he'll learn to find himself something fun to do when boredom strikes.

how to be a normal teen

1. Do well in school. No matter how boring it is now, education will help you be a productive member in society. Strive for excellence in school; try your best, listen to the teachers, do your homework, study, and get good grades. Doing so will help you get into a better college/university, which will enable you to get a great job in the future. School sets you up on the right track!
   
   
   
2. 2
   Do good in your community.Volunteering can not only improve your community's status, it could make you happier. Studies show that people who volunteer are less likely to developdepression and other emotional issues than people who don't. Find volunteer opportunities that interest you, for example, if you love animals,volunteer at an animal shelter. If you like helping people,volunteer at a soup kitchen. If you love helping theenvironment, plant trees or pick up litter. When you help others, it will make youfeel better about yourself. You're making a big difference in the world, and to top it all off, having lots of volunteer hours will look good on your resumé!
   
   
   
3. 3
   Figure out your goals in life and work toward them. Start thinking about careers you would like to be in, but make a good choice based on your interests and strengths. This could be your job for the rest of your life! You could also work towards non-career-related goals, such as creating your own fundraiser, getting good grades in school, joining a team sport, etc. Challenge yourself and you'll be surprised what you can accomplish!
   
   
   
4. 4
   Don't get into any trouble, legal or otherwise. It could ruin your future plans. Avoid the peer pressure and ditch the cigarettes, alcohol, and drugs. Abide the law and avoid ending up in the back of a police car. If you're being pressured into anything, walk away. If you can avoid these things during your teen years, they're a lot easier to avoid once you're out of high school and away from peer pressure.
   
   
   
5. 5
   Be nice to your parents and teachers. Remember, they're there to help you be the best that you can be. Respect them and value their opinions, even if they annoy you sometimes. Keep in mind that they do the things they do because they care about you and want you to succeed in life. You don't get to choose your teachers or your family, but you still have to put up with them. Learn how to deal with people now, because when you're an adult, you don't get to choose your boss or your co-workers, so learn how to respect them now.
   
   
   
6. 6
   Have good friends to help you out! Friends are there to support you and lift your spirits. Be with people who make you happy, and ditch the ones who don't. Create a group of supportive, loving friends that can help you succeed in life and live your dreams. Find a few really good friends that will stick with you once you leave high school.
   
   
   
7. 7
   Get active! Join a sports team at school or out of school. Go for a run around your neighborhood. Take your dog on a nice, long walk. Join a yoga group, go swimming at the local recreation center, do sit-ups during commercial breaks on TV - anything! Just exercise! It helps you feel better, mentally and physically. Studies show that people who get active in their child/teen years will be more active when they're adults, so start getting active now.
   
   
   
8. 8
   Do what you love. Adopt a hobby; reading, writing, sewing, singing, dancing, playing a sport, making pottery, etc. It will pass time and help you develop your personality. Experiment and discover new things; you might be surprised to find that you really like them!
   
   
   
9. 9
   Believe in something. Start believing in a cause, whether it is a social or environmental issue, or even a religion. You will start forming your own ideas this way. Form your own opinions and stand by them. Stand up for what you believe is right.
   
   
   
10. 10
    Live life to the fullest! You're only young for a short time, and before you know it you'll be an adult that will be lying around saying, "I wish I had done this when I was younger." Be daring, go out into the world and live life! Life is short, so enjoy it while you can.