The number of young adults in the United States who are living with a parent has increased significantly over the past couple of decades. In July 2022, half of adults ages 18 to 29 were living with one or both of their parents. While this was slightly lower than a recent peak in 2020 as a result of the pandemic,
Read moreHigh control groups are organizations that entice unsuspecting individuals to commit to, and comply with, the group’s way of thinking, acting and believing. Cults are an extreme form of high control groups, but there are many other types, such as political groups, religious groups, gangs, multi-level-marketing (MLM), conspiracy theory communities, self-help groups, activist groups, and lifestyle groups. Some psychologists even
Read moreAs the holidays approach, many of us feel a mixture of excitement and anxiety. While holidays have the potential for fun and special memories, they also have the potential for stress and family conflict that can take the joy out of the season. If one of the reasons for your holiday anxiety is because you dread your teen’s possible behavior,
Read moreWhen teens are ready to enter the job market, many run into a big problem right away. They have no idea how to actually get hired. It can be overwhelming to a young person beginning this process, but it becomes manageable if the adults in their lives can break it down for them and offer a little guidance. If you
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 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 moreThe holidays are upon us, and many teens want to participate in parties or other social celebrations. It can be really hard to know how best to keep teens safe and healthy – both from COVID and from typical risky behavior – while still allowing them to enjoy time with their peers. With that in mind, here are some tips:
Read moreDo you know a teen that has so much potential but just seems to fall short? Sometimes we develop negative behaviors or thoughts that hinder our success or prevent us from achieving our goals without even realizing we are sabotaging ourselves. Teens can easily fall prey to self-sabotage because they are under a lot of pressure and/or experience a lack
Read moreAs we finish celebrating our nation’s Independence Day, it’s a great time to consider how to instill good citizenship in youth, as the future of our country. While our country is far from perfect, there are many things to appreciate about living in America, such as the freedom of speech and religion, the ability to vote in our democracy and
Read moreDuring the pandemic, many businesses had to close their doors and lay off workers. Now that everything is opening back up, there is a huge demand for labor. However, many adults are still hesitant to return to the workforce, either because they have health concerns, difficulty finding child care, decided to retire, or are trying to find higher wages to
Read moreOne of the most important skills we can instill in teenagers is financial wisdom. If we want them to develop into successful adults, our youth need to learn fundamental concepts, such as saving, compound interest, credit, budgeting, and consumer rights. Not all high schools cover this material, and even if they do, they don’t always make it relevant to teens
Read moreGeorgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce recently put out a report in 2020 called Workplace Basics: The Competencies Employers Want. A person’s qualifications for employment are generally defined by a combination of their education, their experience, and their competencies. Competencies are the knowledge, skills, and abilities that workers use in their jobs and are essential to an employee’s
Read moreSetting goals is an important skill that can help anyone be more successful in life. Goals can provide direction and purpose in our lives. Learning to set goals takes practice, so it’s a great idea for parents and teachers to teach this skill to teens now to help them to become more successful in adulthood. The beginning of a new
Read moreAccording to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there are more than 2 million injuries from motor vehicle crashes in the U.S. every year. The risk of motor vehicle crashes is higher among 16-to 19-year-olds than among any other age group. This means that, sadly, there’s a fair possibility your teen could be involved in a car accident before they
Read moreWe all want our teenagers to have good judgment. Every parent hopes their child will make positive choices that demonstrate respect and responsibility, that protect their safety and well-being, and that lead them to future success. So the question becomes this: how do we develop good judgment in our youth? Judgment is the ability to analyze and evaluate situations in
Read moreTo develop into a productive adult, teens need to learn to do things on their own, but it can feel hard for parents to give them that chance. Sometimes we think it will just be easier to get chores done ourselves, sometimes we don’t want to let go of control, and sometimes we don’t feel confident that our children are
Read moreIt’s a proud moment as a parent when your child leaves home for college, but it’s also an emotional one for both of you. Your parental role shifts from primary caretaker to proud supporter, at the exact same time that your child is facing new challenges. The first year of college can be a struggle for a lot of college
Read moreIn several recent surveys, employers have complained that entry-level workers lack the necessary “soft” skills needed for success in the workforce. Just to explain, “hard” skills are job-specific knowledge an employee needs to perform a certain job. Unlike hard skills, soft skills are not about the knowledge you possess but rather the behaviors you display in different situations or the
Read moreAdolescence is a stage of development where children begin to separate from their parents, find their own identity, and think independently. This is a natural and important process so that teens can mature into responsible adults. Teens must learn to solve problems, establish their own set of values, and take on more responsibility. While this process is normal, it tends
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