A lot changes when your child turns 18-years-old, and it can be difficult for parents to know how to adjust their role. Technically, your teen has become an adult, and many of our systems – from medical practices to government offices – will no longer speak to you without the permission of your child. And yet, it’s not like a
Read moreMany parents don’t know when to begin discussing sex with their children. Some parents worry that if they bring up the topic, their child will be more likely to want to have sex or engage in sexual activities earlier. This is a myth; studies have shown that the opposite occurs. When parents are involved in their teenagers’ sexual education, teens
Read moreLet’s face it: teenagers can be mean sometimes. They know their parents’ buttons and just how to push them. If your teen is lashing out at you, rest assured that you are not alone. Every parent has had their feelings hurt by the sharp tongue of their teenage son or daughter. While it feels absolutely terrible, in truth, this kind
Read moreThere has been an uptick in teens posting about difficult experiences, challenging feelings, or emotional topics. For some teens, this is a way to be authentic or raise awareness about something they care about. For others, it can be a cry for help as they struggle with mental health issues. And for some, it can simply be attention-seeking behavior, which
Read moreWhat your teen sees when they look in the mirror can impact their mental and physical health, including how active they are and their risk for an eating disorder. According to the National Institutes of Health nearly half of children and teens have body image issues. And it’s no wonder since our society has an image-driven culture that focuses on
Read moreIt is very unfortunate that school shootings and gun violence have become so common that a majority of teenagers have felt some anxiety about the possibility. And as with any increasing safety risk for children, parents should talk to their teens about the facts and how to stay safe. Difficult conversations with teens – whether they are about drugs, sex,
Read moreOur culture does not always seem to value integrity, and our youth receive a lot of mixed messages about the merit of having good principles. Some teens have seen too many adults acting unethically to believe it’s important. Meanwhile, media subtly communicates to teens that the ends justifies the means – to get ahead, do whatever you need to do
Read moreAccording to a new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), most teens who use drugs are searching for calm and trying to relieve stress. Mental health challenges among teens, which have been increasing over the last decade, seem to significantly influence substance abuse. The study used data from 15,963 health assessments of 13- to 18-year-olds evaluated for substance
Read moreAlmost every athlete experiences some nerves before a big competition, but some athletes, especially youth, are prone to competition anxiety, when the nerves start to negatively impact their performance. A young athlete might feel like their thoughts are racing, or their stomach feels upset, or they just can’t seem to focus. Competition anxiety is even more prevalent in athletes who
Read moreThe majority of teens today struggle with poor self-image. Our culture and media are constantly feeding them messages that imply they are not enough – not good-looking enough, not cool enough, not smart enough, not rich enough, etc. Social media, in particular, encourages teens to compare themselves to everyone else’s highlight reel. Inside, many teens wonder if they are valued
Read moreRecent studies and research have demonstrated that too much screen time has a negative impact on our youth. Unfortunately, with over 95% of teenagers having a smartphone, screens are simply part of their daily lives. Even more disheartening, technology platforms are specifically designed by companies to maximize the amount of time we spend on them; in other words, they are
Read moreExperts believe that extracurricular activities are very important to a youth’s development and offer many benefits to teens. (You can learn more about the benefits in our previous blog.) However, not every teen is excited to engage in extracurriculars. If your child is resistant to participating in activities, should you force them? The short answer is no. Teens are never
Read moreLast month, the National Institutes of Health released national survey results on teen drug use in 2023. Overall, the news was positive with 2023 data showing either stable or declining trends in the use of illicit substances among middle and high school students. However, at the same time that drug use is declining overall, it has become more dangerous. There
Read moreCritical thinking skills are the ability to imagine, analyze, and evaluate information in order to determine its integrity, importance and validity. Critical thinking is an important life skill that is necessary for a person to succeed at school, in the workplace, and while living independently. Students with this skill are more successful academically. Employers value this skill because it helps
Read moreAnxiety is an epidemic among today’s youth. While it’s always a good idea for anyone with anxiety to seek counseling, mental health professionals are unfortunately in high demand and expensive, so that’s not always an option. If you have a teen who is suffering from anxiety, and you haven’t been able to get them into therapy, this blog is for
Read moreAt a time when many have made New Year’s Resolutions to lose weight, it might seem odd to be promoting weight gain, but pediatricians say it’s an important message for parents of adolescents. American culture clearly values small bodies and weight loss. We are bombarded with unhealthy messages about body image. And at the same time, we have heard there
Read moreThe beginning of a new year feels like a fresh start, which is probably why so many of us resolve to improve something about ourselves. If your teen is considering making a New Year’s Resolution, encourage them to make a “no texting behind the wheel” resolution. This resolution will keep your teen, and those around him/her, safe! Distracted driving is
Read moreAlthough our culture pushes the holidays as a joyous time, the reality can sometimes be different. Hectic schedules can make us feel stressed. There is pressure to spend money we don’t have for gifts. A change in the family, from divorce or death, can rekindle grief during this time. The winter weather can give us the blues. The change in
Read moreLosing a pet, friend, family member, or other loved one is heartbreaking, and the emotional rollercoaster that follows can be overwhelming. Grief is a natural process and a necessary part of healing, but that doesn’t make it easier. The holidays can be an especially difficult time to deal with grief. If you have a teen who is grieving, it’s important to remember
Read moreHousehold chores are a perfect way to teach youth responsibility and communicate that everyone in a household is expected to chip in to help the family. We cannot raise teens to become competent adults if we are always doing everything for them. Instead, we must equip them with the skills they need to take care of themselves and contribute to
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