The 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
Read moreDuring adolescence, teenagers begin to pull away from their families in order to define who they are as individuals. As a result, teens are extremely sensitive to parental control. It’s easy for them to feel micromanaged, over-lectured, and over-advised. Children who feel they are being controlled either become dependent or rebellious – neither of which is desirable. As a parent,
Read moreWhether you love it or hate it, technology is an integral part of teens’ lives. The Internet, social media, AI, and texting offer wonderful ways to connect, obtain and share information, stream entertainment, and learn. But, they also expose our children to a lot of risk. Since our children are digital natives, it’s important that we teach them how to
Read moreAs a result of adolescent brain development and wildly fluctuating hormones, teenagers tend to experience a wide range and intense level of emotions. As a parent, this can feel frustrating and confusing, but it’s a normal part of adolescent development. However, that doesn’t mean you should just let your teen fly off the handle at every little thing. In fact,
Read moreParenting teens is not an easy task, and with the New Year upon us, you might be considering a resolution to be a better parent. We have the perfect idea for you! Research has shown that improving just one particular thing in your parenting style will improve your entire relationship with your teen. What is that one thing? Better communication!
Read moreYour teen is probably thrilled to have the next couple of weeks off from school! Here are several ideas for fun activities your teen can do over the holiday break to fend off boredom. Encourage your teenager to choose a couple of these activities as a family experience or time with their friends. Middle Earth wishes you and your loved
Read moreA Pew Research Center survey released this month examined teen usage of social media and artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots. The survey, conducted online between September 25 to October 9 in 2025, asked approximately 1500 U.S. teenagers, ages 13 to 17, about their online habits. Pew reported the following results: Parents can use these findings as a way to open conversations
Read moreThe holidays can be very expensive, so we created a list of fun gift ideas that won’t break the bank. You can use them as stocking stuffers for your teen or as suggestions for items your teen can buy their friends or family. Here are our suggestions: Emphasize to your teen that gift giving is about expressing appreciation and/or love
Read moreAlthough the media often portrays the holidays as a happy season, the majority of Americans are completely stressed! In fact, in a 2023 poll by the American Psychological Association, 89% of respondents said that concerns – such as not having enough money, missing loved ones and anticipating family conflict – caused them additional stress during the holidays. And if the
Read moreThanksgiving is a perfect time to reflect on all the things in our life that make us grateful. If you have teenagers in your life, you might be experiencing a wide range of emotions as you raise them, and gratitude might not always be the first one you can think of. Certainly, teens can be frustrating, moody, and push all
Read moreParents juggle many competing interests while raising children, and there’s never one right or wrong way to do things. Parenting is often a balancing act, and it’s hard to know if we are too far in one direction or the other. This is certainly the case in determining what activities we should allow our children to undertake themselves without adult
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