Vaping is continuing to rise among youth. The Centers for Disease Control report that in 2021, 1 in 9 high school students said they had vaped in the past month. Two recent studies demonstrate the increases. Research from Columbia University found that the frequency of vaping cannabis among adolescents from all demographic groups is reported at six or more times
Read moreSeptember is National Suicide Prevention Month. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that, in 2020, suicide was the second leading cause of death for people ages 10-14 and 25-34. It is estimated that 12.2 million Americans seriously considered suicide, 3.2 million planned a suicide attempt, and 1.2 million attempted suicide in 2020. Believe it or not, all
Read moreAlmost every adult wants a magic formula that will make conversations with teens easier. There actually is one, but it’s likely not what you expected or want to hear. Communication with teens always improves when we practice active listening. Most of us aren’t as good at listening as we’d like to think. Hearing someone talk is different from concentrating on
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 moreClasses, social stress, homework, sports, chores, part-time jobs, after-school activities… teens live busy lives. Does your teen seem to be dragging? Many teens feel tired from their many commitments and look for ways to increase their energy. Some of these ways may be unhealthy. Before your teen gets burnout, it’s a good time to teach your adolescent about how their
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 moreThe school year is soon starting, and with it comes renewed pressure. Teenagers today are under a lot of stress. They feel pressure from parents, teachers, peers, and social media. They worry about their grades, their future, fitting in, body image, getting their homework done, extracurriculars, climate change, racial injustice, school shootings, cultural expectations, and so much more. And beyond
Read moreApproximately half of marriages fail in the United States. This is a difficult statistic to swallow and maybe more so for the children whose lives are impacted. No matter what the marriage situation was at home, no matter how the divorce is handled, no matter where the children fall in the transition – divorce turns a child’s world upside down.
Read moreThe adolescent years are a difficult transition as teens still need close connections with their parents, but are also in the process of developing more independence and creating their own identity. There can be a push-pull effect in the parent-teen relationship. Teens might ask for your advice and then roll their eyes when you make a suggestion. They might launch
Read moreChildren can be excellent manipulators, especially with their parents. Some teens use it like a weapon to cover their mistakes or avoid punishment. Others use it to get what they want or gain attention. Manipulation can provide teens with a sense of power. There are many forms of manipulation, but here are a few of the most common: Repeated Request.
Read moreAccording to the 2020 STD Surveillance Report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cases of gonorrhea rose 10% by the end of the year, and rates of syphilis were up 7%, and both these rates were up approximately 50% over 5 years. More than half of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) reported in 2020 were in people
Read moreHappy Fourth of July! Independence Day is a wonderful time to celebrate with family and friends, but it also poses some risks. Thousands of people are taken to hospital emergency rooms in the United States every year because of injuries from fireworks — including bottle rockets, sparklers, and firecrackers. The most common fireworks injuries involve the hands, fingers, eyes, head, and
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 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 moreThe transition from child to adult is a hard one for parents to navigate. While we all want our children to grow up to become happy, healthy, successful adults, the actual process of changing our parenting techniques as our children mature is quite difficult. One of the most difficult transitions is when our teenagers start to pull away from us.
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 moreAs we wrap up Mental Health Awareness Month, we want to focus on one of the most overlooked influencers of mental health: sleep. There are many studies that connect sleep loss with poor mental health. It is not a coincidence that today’s teens are the most sleep-deprived generation in history and that adolescent mental health is also at its worst
Read moreThe firearm homicide rate in the United States reached its highest level, and guns became the leading cause of death among children and teens in 2020, killing more people ages 1 to 19 in the United States than vehicle crashes, drugs overdoses or cancer. Almost 60% of teen gun deaths are homicides. Data published this month by the Centers for
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 moreSelf-care is a big buzz word thrown around media these days, but there’s a lot of confusion about what it really means and there are many misconceptions about it. Self-care is not self-indulgence or being selfish – it doesn’t mean splurging on a shopping trip or spending all day at the spa. Self-care encompasses activities, practices, and habits that reduce
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