January is National Mentoring Month. Mentors are incredibly important to teenagers, and as a result, we felt that it would be a fantastic opportunity to provide our readers with some of the information provided by MENTOR: The National Mentoring Partnership, the lead agency of the National Mentoring Month: In real life, who do you turn to? Nine million kids in
Read moreThe holidays are supposed to be a time of great joy and celebration. However, we all know that that is not always the case when we have teens! We want you and your loves ones to have the best holidays possible, so we offer these recommendations: Get their input. Don’t assume you know how your teen wants to spend the
Read moreAs children grow older, it is all too easy to give up on holiday traditions. Everyone’s busy schedule is crammed with extra to-do lists, parents tend to be feeling a little tired from the pressure, and teens can be less-than-enthusiastic participants in family activities. But, we encourage you to not give up on holiday traditions for two main reasons! First,
Read moreResearch is showing that teens are spending a large amount of time on screens and it’s negatively impacting their overall well-being. According to research from the Kaiser Family Foundation, the typical teen logs more than seven hours a day and more than 50 hours a week in front of a TV, computer, tablet, or cell phone screen. Here are some
Read moreAs the school year approaches, many team sports are already in full swing with tryouts, open gym, and practices. High school sports offer teens a multitude of benefits, and a good coach can really make a big difference in a teen’s life. But, parents don’t always see eye-to-eye with coaches. While one parent may be concerned about a child’s lack
Read moreAs you may already know, communicating with teenagers is not always easy. Their conversations can be filled with one-word responses and plenty of eye-rolling. So, what’s a parent to do if they want to have a strong relationship with the teen in their life? Try to engage your teenager in activities that may naturally create bonds and spark interesting conversation:
Read moreFor many, Memorial Day is the start of summer, and many teens are not sure what they would like to do over this long break. One option would be a summer job. While employment numbers have been low for the past few years, the economy is showing improvement. CBS News just recently reported that employment for teens, between the ages
Read moreMany of us enjoy the Arts – music, theater, paintings and other visual arts. They can make our world seem more beautiful, and bring us joy and new perspective. But, did you know that the Arts can have a big impact on youth development? Research shows that exposure to the Arts can help teens develop many positive skills and capacities
Read moreTechnology has significantly changed the way we do things and the way we interact with those around us. In many ways, it has improved our lives and given us new opportunities, but it also has the potential for dominating our lives and eating up time that could be spent in more productive ways. Pew Research Center recently released a report
Read moreFor many people, a new year feels full of hope and possibility, which is probably why so many of us feel the desire to improve ourselves as the year begins. If your teen is having that urge, Middle Earth is offering our “top ten list” for the best New Year’s Resolutions for youth. Give this list to your teen and
Read moreThe school break for the holidays has begun, and our absolute best tip for surviving it with your teen is to have fun! Here are 20 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. Bake and decorate cookies.
Read moreWith all of the holiday hype, this season is not always easy! There is stress, extra family, teens home from school, demands on your time, financial burden, and unrealistic expectations. We want your family to have the best holidays possible, so we offer these recommendations: Fight boredom. Time off from school with nothing to do increases the chance that your
Read moreResearch shows that teenagers with involved parents are more likely to make better decisions, stay out of trouble, and develop into successful, independent adults. However, it can be difficult for a parent to know how to be involved. When your child was young, you worked to meet all of their needs. As teens take over that responsibility, you may not
Read moreIn our last blog, we talked about how important it is for teens to have work experience to prepare them for college. However, getting a job and working for someone else is not the only option teenagers have. Many clever teens have started their own business, and that type of initiative, creativity and problem-solving are exactly the qualities colleges are
Read moreAs much as kids look forward to summer, a recent survey shows that the majority of teens expect to be bored. And, bored teens spell trouble because they are more likely to engage in risky behaviors. Wouldn’t it be better if your teen could be engaged in activities that would actually improve their skills, broaden their horizons, and fill out
Read moreSo, you have decided your family should go on a vacation. Only problem is that your family includes a grumpy, annoyed teenager who doesn’t want to be within a 10-foot radius of their family. The mere mention of a family vacation induces moaning and complaining. What’s a parent to do? Parents have five options when it comes to vacationing with
Read moreThe arts – visual arts, theater and music – can have a very positive affect on youth that are facing tough challenges in their lives. Research has proven that at-risk students who have access to the arts, in or out of school, tend to have: better academic results, greater likelihood of college enrollment, increased self-esteem and resiliency, better workforce opportunities,
Read moreSomething about the New Year gives us the desire to organize or improve our lives. It’s a fresh start! Even teenagers get the fever to start January with a new attitude. One resolution that all parents want their teens to make is to keep a clean room, but that isn’t a very popular resolution with teens. However, there are some
Read moreIt may be cold outside, but don’t let that stop you from having fun! Here is a list of ideas for activities your teen can do over the winter break. Encourage your teenager to choose a couple of these activities as a family bonding experience or time with their friends. Go ice skating, snow tubing, skiing or snowmobiling. Build a
Read moreGetting involved in extracurricular activities is an excellent way for teens to grow and learn. After-school activities offer a broad range of benefits including: making friends; showing you are well-rounded on college applications; developing creativity and problem-solving skills; encouraging teamwork and respect; learning time management; avoiding risky behaviors (such as drug use); creating self-confidence; and helping teens define who they
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