Teenagers are frequently stereotyped as moody, rebellious, or lazy, but these preconceptions of adolescence portrayed in the media are often inaccurate. Teenagers, whose brains and bodies are going through rapid development, need more sleep than ever before and are understandably more sensitive to criticism, eager to gain approval, and keen to create their own identity. Their behaviors are more a
Read moreThere are tons of homework helpers available online that are using Open AI’s technology, allowing students to use artificial intelligence to complete assignments with just a few button clicks. It is estimated that approximately half of high school students use artificial intelligence (AI) in their studies and homework. The new access to this technology raises many questions about the education
Read moreWhen a child goes off to college, parents are left with an empty nest. For them, everything stayed the same, but there is an empty space left by their child’s absence. They miss them deeply. When school breaks come, parents are excited to see their student and for everything to feel normal again. Imagine their disappointment when their student acts
Read moreAdolescence is a time of massive change, and it can be very disconcerting to parents. Teens love to shock people with wild opinions, boundary-pushing fashion, and risky behaviors. Parents are eager to protect their children, and some of teens’ behaviors rub against social norms and sometimes safety. So, when confronted with undesirable behaviors, what should a parent do? As a
Read moreIt can be a shocking experience if your teenager comes home smelling of alcohol, marijuana, or cigarette smoke. As a parent, you will likely feel a mix of worry, anger, surprise, and maybe even failure, guilt or betrayal. You will probably feel unsure of the best way to handle the situation. While there is no “one size fits all” approach,
Read moreEvery time a new year begins, many of us join in the ritual of making resolutions. Humans have an innate motivation to mark the start of something new with hopeful goals. Coming up with resolutions isn’t always easy, and the common goals to quit some bad habit or lose weight can sometimes create a negative mindset. If you want this
Read moreWe often have great expectations for the holidays. We want perfect gatherings with all of our extended family, laughing and sharing special moments. The reality is often a bit messier than that, but that doesn’t mean that you have to give up on a great holiday. You just have to make wise choices that prioritize peace. To create family harmony
Read moreAlthough it might seem counterintuitive, giving to others makes us feel good. Whether it’s spending our money, time, or energy on someone else, research is consistently finding that acts of altruism increase our happiness and well-being. Helping others is actually fundamental to being human! With so many adolescents struggling with depression and anxiety, it’s a good idea to share with
Read moreWhen a child exhibits unwanted behavior – whether it’s rebellion, substance abuse, aggression, self-harm, or falling grades – parenting can feel overwhelming. It’s very common for parents to feel stressed, anxious, and exhausted when dealing with a difficult teen. You might find yourself consumed with worry and tracking your teen’s every movement and mood. If that’s you, it’s important to
Read moreYour teen’s body image is not about the shape of their body, but rather, how they VIEW the shape of their body. How a teen perceives the way they look has a powerful influence on their life and self-esteem. Adolescence is a stage in life where teens begin to care a lot about how others view them, and your child’s
Read moreRaising a teenager with a spirit of gratitude, or who is thankful for the good things in their life, is a worthy goal. Years of scientific research has proven that grateful people are happier and more satisfied with their lives. Experts say that one of the best ways to encourage genuine thankfulness in our children is to role model it.
Read moreBetween school, homework, part-time jobs, social outings, and extracurricular activities, adolescents are always on the go. Sometimes it’s hard to coordinate parents and teens to be in the house together for more than a few minutes! Since our families are so busy, many of us have turned eating into an afterthought. Everyone just grabs what they can whenever they are
Read moreParenting advice comes from all sorts of sources and often feels contradictory. Be involved in your children’s lives! But not TOO involved! To be honest, it’s a fine line that’s hard to find. Both consistent under-involvement and over-involvement in a teen’s life can be detrimental to their mental wellbeing and academic performance. It’s best when parents can find that sweet
Read moreEven in the best of relationships, conflict is inevitable. Whether it’s a best friend, a dating partner, a parent, a classmate, a difficult teacher, a sports teammate, a college roommate, …well you get the point, every relationship has the potential for challenges. Conflicts by themselves are not the problem, but rather how we deal with them. One of the best
Read moreChildren, especially adolescents, are masters of pushing boundaries. It’s actually a normal part of development for children to test limits, break rules, rebel against expectations, and do anything to avoid punishment. Although this behavior is irritating for parents, it’s important to realize that children are actually learning through this process. By recognizing this is a normal part of childhood, parents
Read moreHumans love to label things. We have a deeply ingrained tendency to classify and categorize objects, situations, and even people. On the one hand, labeling helps us to make sense of the world. Without this ability, we’d quickly get overwhelmed in every new encounter. Unfortunately, our tendency to label people can be very limiting or damaging to others, especially to
Read moreHave you ever noticed that we are quicker to notice the negative than the positive? Your teen might be having a great day at school when a classmate makes an insulting comment. Even though their day was overall quite good, they tell you it was terrible because they are still stewing over that one negative incident. Or maybe your teen
Read moreNot all abusive relationships are romantic. Not all abuse victims are women. Not all abuse is physical. Abuse is a pattern of behavior used by one person to gain and maintain power and control over another person. Friends can be just as likely to abuse their peers as love interests, and manipulation and harsh words can be just as likely
Read moreWhen your adolescent child acts defiantly, rebels, or withdraws, it is normal to feel angry, worried, upset, hurt, frustrated, or a mix of many emotions. In many ways, it’s so much easier to raise younger children because you are more in control of their lives. Parents of teens quickly realize that they have very little control over their teen’s behavior,
Read moreA deepfake is a video, photo, or audio recording that has been manipulated using artificial intelligence (AI) to appear real, but has been altered to replace a person’s face or body with someone else’s. While deepfakes are a problem worldwide in creating and spreading misinformation, today’s blog will discuss them in the context of an epidemic facing teen girls in the United
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