2The adolescent years are often challenging for young people. As they embark on the transition from childhood to adulthood, many changes naturally occur in the mind and body. These changes often upset the balance within the family. Many times parents wonder what happened to their once amiable children who now seem emotional, distant, or even disgruntled. Academic grades sometimes suffer as adolescents being to turn their attention away from schoolwork and onto more social activities. The intent of this handbook is to help parents better understand their adolescent children. Suggestions, tips and guidelines are offered as a way of helping parents lead their children to more personal and academic success during these challenging years.