MORE KIDSPEAK!

Ryce , 13, West Point, Ms.

I love this website! It's a wonderful way to tell people what you feel like! Most teens have problems with sexuality. Our hormones destroy us! Our parents get mad if we sleep around, but it is our young, brainy, youthful hormones that are in charge. We can't help but to smart off .I know I try hard but I just can't do it! All you teens need to listen! As long as we do badly, the longer it'll take for our parents to understand!

Courtney  Campbell Middle School, San Jose, Ca.

I think this is a good web page because teens and kids can speak out.

EE , Port Hardy, Canada

In my town of 6000 in Canada, we only have elementary and high school which starts in grade 8... I'm really nervous about my first year! If you can help me, Attention: EEf. Thanx!

Trina., Juan Crespi Jr. High

Teens should not do things jus' cuz some of there friends are doing it. I have been pressured to be in a clique, do crank (weed) and other similar things. I am glad that i did not take their offer cuz now my friends regret doing them.

Lenny  (wit.edu)

I believe teenagers need their parents to know some of the reasons why they have changed. For example, my mother comments that I sleep longer than I used to, but I do not think she knows that I am going through changes that I am going through. Maybe there can be an afternoon special for parents to inform them why their children are changing. Besides that, my mother is a wonderful mother.

Delores, 13, Hamilton Township, NJ.

I think that politicians like Dole and even Presdent Clinton doesn't care about our safety. All they care about helping other countries and being the heroes. Let me know what you think.

Kit and Lillian  & Lauren, Wildwood

We think that the most important thing that kids need from their parents are support in the things we do, independence to be by ourselves, and committment to be open-minded to new things.

Emily AKA "Gopher Freak," 13

What kids need most from adults (I believe) is attention. I think that we need our ideas to be taken seriously--just because we're young doesn't mean that we're stupid. We have good ideas about many issues. We're usually smarter than we appear. I know that sometimes we appear certain ways just to "fit in." That means that we're just putting on an act to be accepted by our peers.

Kelli 13, Huntsville, AL

I think children and teens around the world should play a big role in the family and the government. Most childen don't get the respect or time to tell their feelings or ideas. If more children were able to speak out and be heard by people in the government there might not be as many fights, gangs, or drugs in schools today because everything has a begining and all the anger and hate had to come from somewhere. If people would listen, they might understand the kids a little more.

Beth , 13, Hamilton Hgts School, Cicero, In

Kids need LOVE the most. Sometimes when parents totally ignore their kids, it makes the kid feel like they're not loved. If parents abuse their kids, the kid knows their not loved. I know I wouldn't feel loved if my parents abused me!! Sometimes, parents have to ignore their kids because they're getting on their nerves, but DON'T ignore your kids all of the time.... And most certainly DO NOT abuse them. My advice to parents, is to LOVE your children, even if they get on your nerves sometimes, or cause trouble. Even good kids do... And kids should remember that no matter (hopefully) what you do, your parents still love you. :-)

Matt, 14, Fredonia, NY

What I would like to tell to people, is treat others the way you would like to be treated. The reason is, I know a lot of people who get hurt by others, And I don't think it is fair. If someone is saying something to you, then just walk away and ignore them. If the person consistently bugs you, tell the principal or the person in charge of your school. If that doesn't work, tell the teacher or their parents. But don't give up!

Heidi r, Tucson, Az

I go to Palo Verde High and I think this page is cool!

Bridey, 17, Eugene, OR

I'm a sophomore at Lane Community College.

Something that I think about - it is an issue I can not avoid - is the issue of poverty. My mother raised my three siblings and I by working full-time minimum wage jobs that left her in tears and with no energy for us. Still she tried to make things as best for us as possible, scraping money up for music lessons, sports and books.

Through these years of raising us, she has been scorned, ridiculed,c alled a madwoman and a bad mother. Who is doing the name calling? Couples with one child and nice houses, stable incomes. People who have no idea what it is like to live in such a state of agony...

With this I think of a bumper sticker I see around Eugene, It Takes a Village to Raise a Child." I wholeheartedly agree. What can my mother give, with no energy? Why can't people stop looking through muddy eyeglasses and see that they have no right to judge,l ess than no right to judge. What prevents them from taking thet ime they are using judging and gossiping to taking the poor, hungry children out on a walk or for a sandwich?

As my mother said about the man who killed sixteen children in Scotland - it is the fault of the man and the country. When people are not cared for, who is to say what will come of them?

We need to take care of our children.

Allison,16, McLean, VA

Dear KidSpeak,

First of all, thanks for putting this program on the Web. It's a great way for kids to get what they think out in the open.

One big reason for low self-esteem in teenagers today is the huge emphasis on looks and weight. According to the media, girls are supposed to be as thin as Kate Moss, never get any zits, have perfect hair, cute little noses and a perfect, blushed complexion. Teens look in those magazines, like Seventeen and 'Teen, they see those picture perfect models and think, God, look at them. I will never be as pretty as those girls."

Teens need to realize that those models have their hair styled and makeup put on by experts. The lights around them are designed so the models look perfect. And afterwards, pictures are retouched so there is not one visible flaw. This is not real! Teenagers need to realize that there are other things in life that count much more than their appearance, such as their personality, mind, and athletic ability. Focus on those more than your looks, because they count so much more.

Sarah  14, Madison, OH

I'm in the ninth grade at. I think that alternative music is good for teens. Teenagers have to deal with their anger music is an outlet for us and all that moshing takes the anger off our minds.

Caitlin  11, Bethlehem, Pa

Kids can make their country better by just being kind to other people.Kids can read a book to someone who has trouble learning, or eat lunch with someone who doesn't have any friends. Kids could be a listening ear to someone with problems, or it could be a simple as saying hello to someone, or giving someone a compliment when they are feeling down. This is what kids can do.

I'm a 17 year old girl. The advice I would give to a younger teen is this: Never give up. I know it sounds cheesy, but I know the teen years can be hell and you can't let it get you. Sure, it may get depressing, but don't give in to what you want to do be it drugs, dropping out suicide, because you will survive it. None of that crap is worth it. One big mistake can lead to even more problems and nobody wants that. Just find something to hold on to and you'll make it, trust me, I know what it's like.

Miriam , 12, Germantown,TN

The things kids need most from adults is love and attention. Without this they would die from no affection. We all need love so we know someone cares.

Cheris , 17, Dana Point, CA

As teenagers, we have to make many life changing decisions that will have a huge impact on our future. Often times we're pressured into making certain choices that aren't exactly what we want for our futures! Adults can help us make the decisions by guiding us in the right direction and opening the right options for us to choose from. As long as the decisions are healthy and good for our future, we need support from the adults around us. To know that there is someone who cares enough to let us choose our paths in life is what every teenager needs. It is hard to make decisions and having supporting parents helps the process of being an adult to become much easier! So stick by our sides and let us know that you are interested in our futures and that you support the decisions we make.

J. , Maritime Provinces, Canada

I think kids need love most from adults. I mean, some of you parents are terrible! Some of you go out partying, having the time of your life while your child or children are home alone. They suffer, they need you. If they aren't home alone, do they have a babysitter? Are they going to grow up knowing a teenage babysitter rather then there mother or father? And some of you are just plain ALCOHOLICS. Do you have the children to love, or to just use as a rag doll that you can beat when you're drunk. THESE KIDS ARE PEOPLE TOO. THEY HAVE FEELINGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just treat your kids with respect. Be kind to them. LOVE THEM!I really get ticked off when I hear about some of you guys. STOP IT! Stop the beatings, stop the harassing!  JUST STOP IT! Do you love your kids? You probably do, and you probably think they know it too. But you know what? They don't! so start showing it!

Emily , London Ontario, Canada

I would like to tell you what teenagers and kids can do to make the world a better place. 1) They can help stop pollution (recycle, reduce etc. ) 2) to stop Referendums from happening in Quebec again. If you know a person who wants to change something that people have been doing for years ask them why they are doing it and to please stop (unless you like what they are planning to do).

Jarad, 13, Oceanside, N.Y.

I would like to see music without head-banging mosh-pits and screaming.

Leah, 13, Kelowna, B.C., Canada

My advice is never do drugs or anything like that. Its just not worth it. Sure you get a 5 minute buzz but what happens after is just not funny. Your friends don't respect you anymore and your grades go way down. Trust me, it's not a pretty sight, especially when your addicted.

Russell  11, Houston, TX

I would like to see more thought being put into today's movies. Too often my trips to the movies are failures because directors today are more interested in special effects and salaries than plots and scripts. For instance, about 5 months ago, I went to see Stallone's most recent film Judge Dredd. It was a visual masterpiece with great special effects. Unfortunately, there were no actors. Stallone and Rob Schneider! This was not an isolated incident. At least one movie out of every 6 is a mindless, big-budget, no plot flick. And that is what's wrong with movies today.