The U.S. drug crisis is evolving in incredibly dangerous ways that parents should be aware of and share with their teenagers. A new wave of ultrapotent synthetic drugs is flooding the illicit market. These lab-made drugs can be exponentially stronger than fentanyl, frequently go undetected by standard drug tests, can come in many forms, and don’t always respond to typical
Read moreSummer is a great time for teenagers to look for employment. Of course, many teens have no idea how to actually get hired. It can be overwhelming to a young person beginning this process, but it becomes manageable if the adults in their lives can break it down for them and offer a little guidance. If you know a teen
Read moreIf you’re not aware that online gambling has become a huge problem among youth, especially boys, please read our previous blog, Gambling is Rapidly Becoming the Newest Addiction for Teens. Because it’s growing into such a difficult issue for young people, parents should discuss gambling with their children just like they do for other threats to their well-being like alcohol
Read moreToday’s children have grown up in a world dominated by technology and as a result have faced pitfalls that many of their parents never had to consider when they were growing up. The latest tempting vice is online gambling. Teens are very familiar with the explosion of apps that make it easy to bet on almost anything, ranging from sports
Read moreCheating is epidemic in high schools across America, making it a common problem teens face daily. A 2020 survey by the International Center for Academic Integrity of 70,000 high school students revealed that: Reasons that Students Cheat in School There are many reasons that high school students choose to cheat in school. Here are just a few: Many of these
Read moreIntegrity is when our conduct is aligned with our values and beliefs. What we do, say and even condone with our silence must match what we believe is right and moral. Our culture doesn’t always encourage integrity; in fact, some of our media almost seems to celebrate dishonesty and hypocrisy. But it’s a very valuable attribute, especially in successful adults.
Read moreTo be successful and happy as an adult, we need to know how to advocate for ourselves – standing up for our right to be treated fairly in a positive and honest way. If we are uncomfortable standing up for ourselves, people tend to dismiss our opinions or ignore our needs. If we are too aggressive in pushing our way,
Read moreBoundaries in a relationship define personal limits regarding your time, resources, emotions, and physical space. Our boundaries teach others how to treat us – what we are willing and not willing to accept in a relationship. Our boundaries help us take care of ourselves and build trust, safety and respect with others. Setting limits allows us to determine how we
Read moreIn February 2026, the Pew Research Center published a report about teens’ views and experiences with artificial intelligence (AI). The Center surveyed 1,458 U.S. teens and their parents online in the Fall of 2025 to develop a better understanding of how youth are using AI and what impact they see it having on their lives. How Youth Use Chatbots While
Read moreFailure is a normal part of life, but we tend to fear it. We wonder how it will define us, what other people will think about us, how we will recover, and whether we will ever be successful. In addition, our culture teaches youth to focus on how they look in the eyes of others. This type of focus causes
Read moreThe average reading scores of American high school seniors has significantly declined over the last two decades. For example, the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) found that reading scores for 12th graders were 10 points lower in 2024 than they were in 1992. In fact, 32% of students scored below the “basic level” for reading, which means that nearly a
Read moreYour teen can code in JAVA, but can’t cook a meal. They have thousands of followers on their social media, but can’t make eye contact with people in real life. If these statements resonate with you, then you might need to develop a plan to prepare your teenager for adulthood. “Adulting” is an informal term used by younger generations to
Read moreIt feels very rewarding and empowering – not to mention financially beneficial – to be able to take on basic do-it-yourself (DIY) projects around a home. But these are not skills that are taught in school or with a special class. Parents should take the time to equip their teens with the knowledge and ability to handle everyday maintenance tasks.
Read moreBeing able to handle emergency situations calmly and confidently is an important life skill and crucial for teens to learn before they are out on their own. Every high school student should know basic first aid. These valuable life skills are the difference between panic and action when something goes wrong, so parents should take the time to discuss the
Read moreThere are some basic things that teens need to know but that adults tend to take for granted and skip for discussion. Hygiene is one of them. We taught our little ones to wash their hands after they use the bathroom and how to wash their body in the bathtub, so we think these skills just continue or translate easily
Read moreThe stereotype of a typical American teenager is not very encouraging. American movies, tv shows, jokes, books, and even social media tend to portray adolescents as moody, irresponsible, lazy, or rebellious. Interestingly, eastern cultures tend to view adolescence more positively and as a time of learning how to become responsible and fulfill family obligations. You might wonder why stereotypes should
Read moreFebruary is National Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, so it’s a great time to talk to the youth in your life about healthy relationships and dating abuse. Adolescence is a time for exploring romantic feelings, but because teens have so little experience, they don’t really know what behaviors are acceptable or unacceptable in a dating relationship. Unfortunately, almost a third
Read moreGood decision-making skills are essential for navigating life’s opportunities and challenges. While developing these skills does not prevent any of us from making mistakes, it does allow us to assess options, weigh consequences, make informed choices, and develop resilience in the face of uncertainty. As a result, teaching teens decision-making skills is essential as they transition from childhood to adulthood. We
Read moreLet’s admit it: teens are not easy to express love to. Between their eye-rolling at things you say and actively avoiding any hugs, you might be wondering how on earth you can genuinely show some love to that child who used to cuddle in your lap. Fortunately, researchers have found an answer: reciprocal self-disclosure. That’s a big phrase, but all
Read moreResearch published in JAMA this month reported that American adolescents, age 13 to 18, spend an average of 70 minutes of their school days on their phones for non-schoolwork activities. The study used an app that tracked how much time students spent on their phones and what platforms they used. Researchers discovered that teens spent most of their phone time
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