Summer is fast approaching and many families are wondering the best use of the school break. Should teens have time to just relax and be free from responsibilities? Should they be working on academics that they found difficult during the school year? Should they be obtaining experiences to develop their resume? There are so many choices that it is hard
Read moreNext month, July, is UV Awareness Month. With summer in full swing, it’s important to educate teens about the dangers of sun exposure. Exposure to ultraviolet (or UV) rays, from either the sun OR from tanning salons, can cause wrinkles, blotchy skin, cataracts, and skin or eye cancer. The important thing to teach youth is that their sun exposure now
Read moreWith summer rapidly approaching, many teens are considering part-time employment. A first job for a teen can be a really exciting and positive entry into the adult world! A job can help teenagers develop responsibility, gain confidence, learn new skills, obtain increased autonomy, achieve new accomplishments, and build their resume. Having part-time employment demonstrates that a student has a good
Read moreSummer is rapidly approaching, and many of us are considering vacations. The only problem for many families is that parents aren’t sure they want to spend an entire week traveling with an eye-rolling, attitude-copping teen. Don’t bail yet! Traveling with your teen can be a great experience, if you just follow a few guidelines: Let your teen have input. From
Read moreSummer 2020 will be unlike any summer your child has ever experienced. Many plans and activities have changed or been cancelled due to fears of spreading COVID-19. Part-time jobs for teens are in short supply. Parents fret over whether sports, pools, theme parks, and other amusements are safe. Camps and youth programs are cancelled or moved to online. Many vacation
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 moreDuring the pandemic, many businesses had to close their doors and lay off workers. Now that everything is opening back up, there is a huge demand for labor. However, many adults are still hesitant to return to the workforce, either because they have health concerns, difficulty finding child care, decided to retire, or are trying to find higher wages to
Read moreAs many students head back to school, we are facing a possible teacher shortage. Between the pandemic and recent political attacks on curriculum, teachers are stressed and considering different careers. Many teachers have already quit, and a recent teacher survey by Merrimack College discovered that 44% of teachers were likely to leave the profession within two years. Every parent wants
Read moreAs our nation deals with extreme weather, heat deaths in the U.S. have increased 56% from 2018 to 2021. The high heat and humidity across our country are a danger to all of us, but particularly athletes who are participating in sports outdoors. High school sports practices are either underway or starting now, and youth are at a high risk
Read moreThere are so many options and activities for teens during the summer, it can be totally overwhelming to choose. Many parents want to know what the “right” option is for their child, but there is no one right way to spend a summer. It completely depends on your teen, their schedule, and their goals. When determining what your teen should
Read moreMiddle Earth partners with local schools to guide teens toward responsible adulthood. Research and studies say that children who participate in structured afterschool programs are more likely to: Middle Earth provides these school-based services to local youth: 21st Century Community Learning Center The 21st Century Community Learning Center (CCLC) is a comprehensive afterschool program, which supports students’ academic, behavioral, emotional
Read moreMany families with rising high school seniors will spend part of their summer touring college campuses. The college application process has become a source of intense pressure for many young people, often driven by what the students understand to be their parents’ and society’s expectations. In addition, tuition rates have soared, and student loan debt has become a huge debate
Read moreConnect with hundreds of thousands of Somerset County residents through Middle Earth’s unique array of community-building initiatives. Middle Earth provides corporate partners with a powerful means to reach their target audience through on-site promotions, sampling, product placement, signage, the web and advertising. Packages are completely customizable. Our annual events include: Somerset Patriots Ballgame – Summer We will cheer on our
Read moreOne of the many things a child needs to develop into a responsible adulthood is a caring person who can see their potential. Studies consistently show that mentoring teens really works. The reported benefits of high quality, one-on-one mentoring are that youth: were less likely to initiate drug and alcohol use, were less likely to hit someone, skipped fewer days
Read moreWe believe all children have amazing potential, and it is our honor to help every person who walks through our door to discover their unique path to success, meaning, and responsibility in their life. We recently had the privilege of working with Jayden (name changed for privacy). Jayden was referred to our Station House Adjustment Program (SHA), which provides mandatory
Read moreYouth sports have been proven to offer teens substantial benefits. Unfortunately, almost half of youth stop playing sports by the time they get to high school. The way our nation currently views youth sports doesn’t set most teens up to participate. This article will examine the reasons sports are invaluable for our teens, the reasons more teens aren’t participating in
Read moreFor many teens, the pandemic has shut down or cancelled many extracurricular activities that are so critical to the college admissions process. With no school clubs, part-time jobs, volunteer projects, or sports, how are high school students going to get the experience colleges seem to prioritize? Never fear! There are actually lots of ways for teenagers to build their college
Read moreMany teens are torn about whether they want to get a summer job. Some want to earn their own money, while others would rather spend their summer focusing on extracurricular activities or downtime. Some worry that they simply won’t be able to find a job. While every family’s situation is different, there are some very good reasons for us to
Read moreTypically each Spring, high school seniors respond back to colleges letting them know if they plan to attend in the Fall. But 2020 isn’t a typical year. In light of the pandemic, many colleges have extended their acceptance deadlines, waived deposit requirements, and have offered more spots to students on wait lists. Colleges are facing big drops in enrollment and
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
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