October is Bullying Prevention Month, and while most articles center around how to help victims, it’s equally important that we consider the other side. Could our child be a bully? Every parent loves their children dearly and likely cannot imagine their child intentionally harming someone else. In fact, we can be so blinded by our love that we miss warning
Read moreTeasing. The dictionary defines it as a statement intended to provoke or make fun of someone in a playful way. In some families, members often tease each other, and depending on the personalities involved, it can be a great way to laugh and let off steam. Friends can enjoy fun together with kind and playful teasing. But teasing isn’t always
Read moreOctober is bullying prevention month. Today we will discuss the warning signs that your child is being bullied and what you should do if they are experiencing bullying. The first thing to understand is a definition. Bullying is an intentional, aggressive and repeated behavior that involves an imbalance of power or strength. It’s intentional and repeated, so calling someone a
Read moreDo you know a teen that has so much potential but just seems to fall short? Sometimes we develop negative behaviors or thoughts that hinder our success or prevent us from achieving our goals without even realizing we are sabotaging ourselves. Teens can easily fall prey to self-sabotage because they are under a lot of pressure and/or experience a lack
Read moreSummer is winding down and families are preparing to send children back to school. Teens might be feeling a wide variety of emotions, ranging from excitement to anxiety. Whatever your teen might be feeling, it’s always important for parents to validate their emotions and help them cope with any stress. If your teen is feeling nervous about returning to school,
Read moreLet’s face it: teenagers can be mean sometimes. They know their parents’ buttons and just how to push them. If your teen is lashing out at you, rest assured that you are not alone. Every parent has had their feelings hurt by the sharp tongue of their teenage son or daughter. While it feels absolutely terrible, in truth, this kind
Read moreRecently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released the results of their Youth Risk Behavior Survey, a bi-annual survey that measures adolescent health and well-being. Collected in fall 2021, the survey responses from 17,232 U.S. high school students showed that most of the indicators for teen well-being worsened significantly from past years. The survey showed that experiences of
Read moreWhen our children are irresponsible, disrespectful or disobedient, it’s extremely difficult to stay calm. Teens especially seem to know just the right buttons to push to make us see red. Typically, when we get very angry, our normal reaction is to yell. Honestly, it can feel good to scream at the source of our frustration. The problem with yelling at
Read moreOctober is National Bullying Prevention Month. With so many students learning remotely this school year during the pandemic, bullying is most often taking place online, so today’s blog will focus on how we can prevent cyberbullying. Cyberbullying can be defined as unwanted, aggressive behavior involving a real or perceived power imbalance that takes place over digital devices like cell phones,
Read moreAs school begins, parents are often considering how to ensure their child has a successful school year. Ironically, one of the easiest ways to ensure a child’s success is a factor that is often overlooked: regular attendance. Research shows that consistent attendance at school helps children achieve better grades, develop healthy life habits, avoid dangerous behavior and have a better
Read moreFamily members don’t always get along, and brothers and sisters are no exception. Siblings often experience jealousy, competition, and disagreements. However, there is a fine line between normal rivalry and behavior that is abusive. Today’s blog explains how to tell the difference between sibling rivalry and abuse and how to prevent and address abuse. Our society generally expects fights among
Read moreThere have been multiple studies and reports that suggest social media has a negative impact on the mental health of youth, including poor self-ratings of mental health, increased levels of psychological distress, and suicidal ideation. But those ideas were solidified for many parents when former Facebook employee, Frances Haugen, recently testified before a U.S. Senate subcommittee that internal company research
Read moreYes, teens are moody. They often roll their eyes, act annoyed, and slam doors. This is to be expected, as teenagers are going through rapid hormonal changes, tend to be overscheduled, are dealing with a lot of stress, and are trying to establish their own identity. It’s a lot for anyone to manage and that means that most teens will
Read moreOne of the worst things to hear from your child are the words, “someone is spreading rumors about me.” It’s so hurtful, and you feel so powerless. Gossip is really a form of emotional bullying. The adolescent years, more than any other period in life, tends to be a time characterized by gossip and rumors. As we all know, gossip
Read moreMost of us could probably list ten things that we know would make us better parents, but trying to tackle all of them feels completely overwhelming. Parenting teens is tough! But rather than focus on everything we need to improve and feeling overwhelmed, we suggest that you pick only one thing to work on this year. We believe that by
Read moreIn today’s world of technology, teenagers often connect online. Unfortunately, this reality leaves our teens open to possible scams. “Catfishing” is one such scam where a person creates a fake online identity in order to deceive someone into a relationship. A ‘catfish’ uses someone else’s photo (it might be someone else they know or it could be an image they
Read moreIt’s so exciting when your tween finishes elementary school, but they can become a nervous mess as the school year approaches and the reality of attending middle school sets in. If you have a tween headed to middle school, today’s blog is the perfect guide you need to navigate the many changes and challenges your child will face. Set Your
Read moreIf you’re a parent of a teen who is angry, aggressive, or violent, you may live in constant fear. You may feel like you need to tiptoe around your child to avoid conflict. You may worry every time your teen leaves the house that they could get hurt or hurt someone else. You are likely unsure of how you ended
Read moreIt’s a proud moment as a parent when your child leaves home for college, but it’s also an emotional one for both of you. Your parental role shifts from primary caretaker to proud supporter, at the exact same time that your child is facing new challenges. The first year of college can be a struggle for a lot of college
Read moreMay is Mental Health Awareness Month, so it’s a great time to consider our stress and how we deal with it. “Coping” – or managing our emotions – is something we all do, whether we do it consciously or without thinking. Some ways we cope are healthy and build resilience, while other ways we cope with stress simply help us
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