Last updated 16:38, Tuesday, 16 September 2008

Teenagers obsessed with social networking sites could soon be having the tables turned on them by their parents.

At Parentline Plus, we have launched a new website dedicated to parents of teens called www.gotateenager.org.uk

The website is the first of its kind in the country and encourages parents of teens to communicate online by sharing experiences, swapping ideas and supporting one another.

We decided to develop the website to provide help and support to parents of teens as we hear from more than 50,000 of them on our free Parentline – 0808 800 2222 – each year.

Many parents of teens we hear from are experiencing isolation and loneliness and can feel as though they are the only ones experiencing particular problems with their kids. As parents, we tend to get lots more support when our children are younger but this isn’t the case as they get older and make the transition to secondary school.

We don’t see other parents at the school gate and often don’t even know the parents of our children’s friends once they reach high school.

Gotateenager.org.uk plugs that gap by creating an online community for parents of teenagers.

The social networking element is crucial and runs throughout the site, encouraging parents to interact, share tips and strategies and gain confidence to tackle issues. A ‘teen speak’ jargon buster has proved incredibly popular with teen phrases like ‘butters’ – ugly ‘blud’ – friend ‘kotch’ – relax being translated for the benefit of bewildered parents.

Parents are being encouraged to contribute to the jargon buster when they hear their kids coming out with words or phrases they don’t understand.

Other features include e-learning modules which enables parents to complete online courses such as getting on with your teenager or dealing with drug and alcohol use and an online comic book covering storylines and scenarios that will be familiar to many families with teenagers.

Parents visiting the site will also find blogs, message boards, web TV shows and articles, tips and stories from other parents of teenagers.

During its development we talked to many parents of teens to ensure that we cover all angles and topics include boundaries, school issues, gangs, health and wellbeing and risky behaviours.

The site also includes a texting service where parents can have tips and information texted to their mobile phones.

Parentline Plus 24-hour free, confidential Parentline 0808 800 2222, email help parentsupport@parentlineplus.org.uk , website www.parentlineplus.org.uk

The Parentline Plus message boards can be accessed via www.parentlineplus.org.uk

www.gotateenager.org.uk