Recent 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 moreResearch has shown that the maintenance of family traditions is far more important to children of all ages than most parents realize. Despite their eye-rolling, teens gain a sense of belonging through family rituals that make them part of a clearly defined unit and create lasting memories. While we often focus on creating traditions for December holidays, Thanksgiving can offer
Read moreSome teens seem to find a hobby or sport that they really love and stick with it. Other teens seem to flit from activity to activity, often losing interest as soon as the hobby gets a bit challenging. As a parent, it’s hard to know whether it’s important to let your teen have control over what activities they pursue or
Read moreThe U.S. Surgeon General recently issued an advisory that social media is hurting our nation’s children. Social media causes teens to lose sleep, withdraw from face-to-face interactions, spend too much time staring at screens, and engage with content that is making them anxious and depressed. Unfortunately, 95% of teens between 13 and 17 have a smartphone, so there’s a general feeling among parents
Read moreSummer is fast approaching and many families are wondering the best use of the school break. Should teens have time to just relax and be free from responsibilities? Should they be working on academics that they found difficult during the school year? Should they be obtaining experiences to develop their resume? There are so many choices that it is hard
Read moreAdolescence is both a time of critical brain development and high social media use. Adolescent brains are going through the most development and reorganization, second only to infancy, making them more susceptible to environmental influences. As a result, many doctors and parents wonder how social media will impact this generation. In today’s blog we examine the results from two recent
Read moreThe school break for the holidays is rapidly approaching, and our absolute best tip for surviving it with your teen is to have fun! Here are several ideas for activities your teen can do over the holiday break. Encourage your teenager to choose a couple of these activities as a family experience or time with their friends. Middle Earth wishes
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 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 moreDo you have a teen who doesn’t ever give their best effort? Do they hide behind screens with no interest in extracurricular activities or finding a job or determining a future path? Many teens seem to struggle with motivation and the confidence to move forward. It could be due to the fact that teens have become more reclusive in their
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 moreYoung children are full of creativity and strong imagination. They explore their world with few boundaries. But as children enter adolescence, they become self-conscious and face intense pressure to conform. Most teens don’t want to stand out, and their longing to fit in inevitably reduces their creativity. At first glance, this might not seem like such a bad thing. After
Read moreThe holidays are normally full of fun social engagements. From New Year’s Eve parties to holiday gatherings with family to outings with friends, this time of year is normally a busy season of close encounters with those we love. Sadly, the 2020 pandemic has made almost all of those activities unsafe. While we could let these circumstances rob the joy
Read moreFor many teens, the pandemic has shut down or cancelled many extracurricular activities that are so critical to the college admissions process. With no school clubs, part-time jobs, volunteer projects, or sports, how are high school students going to get the experience colleges seem to prioritize? Never fear! There are actually lots of ways for teenagers to build their college
Read moreSummer 2020 will be unlike any summer your child has ever experienced. Many plans and activities have changed or been cancelled due to fears of spreading COVID-19. Part-time jobs for teens are in short supply. Parents fret over whether sports, pools, theme parks, and other amusements are safe. Camps and youth programs are cancelled or moved to online. Many vacation
Read moreThere are so many options and activities for teens during the summer, it can be totally overwhelming to choose. Many parents want to know what the “right” option is for their child, but there is no one right way to spend a summer. It completely depends on your teen, their schedule, and their goals. When determining what your teen should
Read moreThe tradition of New Year Resolutions stretches back thousands of years. It’s a perfect time to reflect on what is, and is not, working in our lives and consider how to improve our lifestyle moving forward. If your teen expresses interest in making a resolution, here are a few good ideas: Stay Unplugged After Bedtime Researchers have proven that teens
Read moreThe holidays can be both a joyous and a stressful time for our families. If you have a teenager in your home, here are some tips for helping you and your teen thrive over the holiday break: Fight Boredom Although teens need some downtime, time off from school with nothing to do increases the chance that your teen will be
Read moreExperts believe that extracurricular activities are very important to a youth’s development. After-school programs, sports, part-time jobs, clubs and other activities can offer youth a safe and supervised haven and a chance to learn new skills. These skills can be critical in helping youth prepare for adulthood and avoid behavior problems. There are many benefits to extracurricular activities: Benefits of
Read more