Parents do you support your teen's activities?  You may not be a big fan of football, but your teenage son may have what it takes to be an all-star.  Support him even if you don't understand the sport or watch it!

Teens need all the support they can get these days.  Unsupportive parents send the message "I don't love you or I don't care" to teens when they don't show an interest in their activities or put them down for their choice.  This can do more damage than you realize.

Teens who play sports keep out of trouble because they're too busy practicing for the big game or their competition.  It doesn't matter what sport they play as long as they're happy.  You may not like track and field but your teen does that's all that matters.

FYI:  Your teen won't stay a teenager forever and soon will leave for college.  Your teen may receive a full scholarship or partial scholarships to the college of their choice.  This will help offset the cost of tuition, room, and board.  Every little bit helps!

Playing a sport means that fundraising is inevitable.  If you can take a box or two of candy bars with you to work then do it.  If not, help your teen figure out a way to sell the candy bars.  There's always the good ol' going door-to-door approach or calling family and friends to help out.  Social media is really big.  Post something on your Facebook page about your teen selling candy bars.  You never know who'll want to help out.

Sports teach teen about discipline and how to focus.  There's nothing wrong with this.  Who knows, you may see a change in your teen because they're playing a sport.  Maybe they're more cooperative and respectful.  Perhaps they're offering to do chores (if they don't already) around the hours.  They'll have to show their coach and teammates respect otherwise they'll be kicked off the team.  Of course, teens need to respect themselves before they'll be able to truly respect others.

Remember that your child came from you and share your DNA but may not share your interests.  Let them chose their own activities.  When they do, show your support by being happy for them and showing up at games and or competitions.  It will mean the world to them that you're in the stands cheering them onto victory.

Parents do their best to raise their teens with morals, values, and ethics.  What happens when you don't practice what you preach?  For example, if you abhor name calling, but you call someone a name, how is this practicing what you preach?  It's not -- you're being a hypocritic.

Teens are smart enough to recognize that parents may say one thing but mean something else.  You tell your teens to be polite and treat people with respect, but you bad mouth people at the office or online, your spouse, your sibling, or friend.  It doesn't make sense to teens.

Practicing what you preach will show your teens that you "walk your talk."  How will teens respect you if you tell them not to do something but you go ahead and do what you told them not to do?  Teens will lose respect for you because you did the opposite of what you expect them to do.

Like it or not, your teens obseve your actions.  This is how they learn.  If you're not kind to someone, they'll pick up on that and believe they can treat people without respect.  If you're negative all of the time, the negativity will rub off onto them.  Before you know it, you're living in a toxic environment that's not safe for anyone.

Teens need good role models in their life so they'll become upstanding and productive citizens.  Moms and dads, you're responsible for guiding their teens through life and shaping their values system.  Do the best you can -- start by practicing what you preach!