Whether 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
Read moreThere has been a large amount of success around the “Don’t Drink and Drive” campaign. While people still make the mistake of driving while drunk, the numbers have declined, and most people know they shouldn’t drive while under the influence of alcohol. Unfortunately, there’s a new problem that has arisen, of which the majority of people are not aware. Nearly
Read moreTraditional romantic relationships among high school students are not very common nowadays. Today’s youth are opting for a no-label, low-commitment, casual, but often emotionally stressful arrangement called a “situationship.” While people’s definitions of situationships vary quite a bit, it typically refers to a romantic or sexual relationship that doesn’t have a label because it’s not a committed relationship. In fact,
Read moreIf you haven’t already, please read last week’s blog article first where we explained what “redpilled” means and why it happens. In this week’s blog, we will be explaining the signs to look for and what you should do if your teen son has been “redpilled.” Signs Your Son Has Been Redpilled No parent can monitor their child’s online behavior
Read moreThe term “redpilled” comes from the 1999 film The Matrix, where the main character, Neo, must choose between a red pill to learn a harsh truth or a blue pill to live in blissful ignorance. This term is now being used online to mean that those who have “taken the red pill” believe they have awakened to the hidden truth that society
Read moreThis article was written and published by the Partnership to End Addiction, a great organization focused on preventing and addressing substance use disorders by providing families, communities, and professionals with practical knowledge they can trust. We are sharing their article on our blog because we believe the information they provide is valuable. Teen substance use trends are always changing, and
Read moreSexual assault is any unwanted and forced sexual behavior that happens without a person’s consent. It can include any form of touching, and does not have to include intercourse. Anyone, regardless of gender, race, age, or socioeconomic standing, can become a victim of sexual assault, and it can happen between romantic partners, friends, family members, acquaintances or strangers. Sexual assault is very traumatizing,
Read moreAny parent with a teenager in their home knows that it is not an easy task to get them to talk and share. Conversing with a teen can be filled with one-word responses and plenty of eye-rolling. But if you feel that your teen is particularly remote or resists almost any positive communication with you, you might be making some
Read morethe trend of honey packs
Read moreWhen we are confident, we tend to have more success, feel happier, and experience better relationships in our lives. No one is born with confidence; it’s something that each of us must work on over time. Teens are especially vulnerable to self-doubt because their identity is just forming, and they face a lot of peer pressure at a time when
Read moreA study published in June 2025 in the Journal of the American Medical Association was able to determine when youth were at risk of poor mental health related to screen time. Many parents, teachers and psychologists have worried about whether the amount of time kids spend on their phones, laptops and other devices were negatively impacting their mental health. This
Read moreHumans do not become responsible or mature until they are forced to deal with the consequences of their choices. Although this makes logical sense, it’s really hard as a parent to let your child suffer when they make a mistake or bad decision. The desire to protect your child from emotional pain or damage — even when resulting from their
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