Many parents of teens face summer with uncertainty. What should their teen do during these hot months? Should they have time to just relax and be free from responsibilities? Should they be enrolled in lots of programs or get a part-time job? Should they be working on academics that they found difficult during the school year? Should they be obtaining
Read moreApril 21 – 27 is National Volunteer Week. It’s the perfect time to talk to your teen about volunteerism! To develop into healthy, responsible, productive adults, youth actually NEED the opportunity to make a difference. America’s Promise, the Alliance for Youth, lists the chance to help others – whether in their families, schools, communities, or the larger world – as
Read moreApril 25th is Take Our Daughters And Sons to Work® Day. This program was designed to educate children about the endless possibilities and wide variety of jobs for their future, teach them about the realities of work, and give them a glimpse of what the adults in their lives do during the day. The program provides adults the opportunity to
Read moreEarth Day, an international celebration to increase awareness of Earth’s environment, is April 22. Started in 1970, it is celebrated today by more than 500 million people in 175 countries. One of the latest trends to hit the current teen generation is sustainability, or creating and maintaining the conditions in our environment under which humans and nature can exist in
Read moreOur culture is a fast-paced, multi-tasking society. It’s demanding and exhausting, and our young generation has been sucked into it as well. Learning time management skills now will serve our youth well throughout their lives. Studies show that the most successful students are effective time managers. Additionally, proper management of time reduces stress and allows you to accomplish more. So,
Read moreSummer is a great time for youth to get some much-needed relaxation and down time. Unfortunately, although summer goes by too quickly, it is long enough for teens to experience learning losses when they don’t engage in educational activities. Research shows the following problems: students typically score lower on standardized tests at the end of summer vacation than they do
Read moreSummer is upon us and that means no school for teens. While these months are important downtime for children, do not think for a moment that they want to just sit back and relax like we, as adults, dream of doing. Teens can quickly become bored. Instead, they are looking for adventure and excitement. If teenagers can’t find a positive
Read moreIn this era of social networking and online connections, many teens want to start blogging. Blogs have been around for about 10 years. The word ‘blog’ stands for ‘web log’ and essentially refers to online diaries, though people blog about a wide variety of topics. Blogging can be an entertaining and educational hobby, so do not immediately discount the idea
Read moreResearch clearly shows that teens who read (and we mean books, not texts) are more successful. A person who can read well is more likely to perform well in school, graduate from college, and get a higher paying job. Think about it – reading expands a child’s vocabulary, introduces them to different writing styles and techniques, requires them to process
Read moreParents are often looking for that magic answer to difficult parenting questions. They wonder which parenting technique will keep their child on the right track or which method of control will ensure that their teen will not make risky decisions. Unfortunately, it’s not that black and white. Every child is different, as is every situation, as is every parent. While
Read moreMany of us want our holidays to be something like “Miracle on 34th Street,” but somewhere along the way, it becomes more like “Nightmare on Elm Street.” Instead of experiencing the joy of giving, we find ourselves in debt. Instead of roasting chestnuts by the fire, we find ourselves too busy and stressed out to sit down. Instead of being
Read moreAhhhhhhhhhhh, summer. Remember those relaxing, carefree days of your youth? Summer brings a lot of potential for fun and rest after a busy school year, but without any parental guidance, teens can easily fall into unhealthy behaviors. It could be as simple as sleeping half the day away or playing video games too much, but it can also mean engaging
Read moreSo, your teen is finally ready to enter the job market, but they don’t know how to actually get hired. It can be overwhelming to a young person beginning this process, but it becomes manageable when you break it down. If you have a teen in your life who would like to find work, then print out the advice below
Read moreNew Year’s Eve can be a fun, celebratory holiday… unless you have teenagers. Then, New Year’s Eve becomes a night filled with anxiety. Teens are eager to be involved in the festivities of the event, but it opens the possibility of underage drinking and the fear of car accidents involving drunk driving. Is there a way for adults to encourage
Read moreThe holidays are experienced by families in so many different ways. Some families keep very busy, running from one event to another. Other families slow down and enjoy the peace and quiet for relaxation. Some families are filled with joy, excited to see each other and for the activities they have planned. Other families are filled with stress, either from
Read moreHave you made eye contact with the teens around you lately, or are their eyes glued to their phone? Texting is a teenage craze. The Nielson Company estimates that American teenagers sent and received an average of 2,272 texts each month – or almost 80 messages per day – during last year. A study conducted by the American Public Health
Read moreFriends. Everyone needs a buddy to lean on. Whether child or adult, studies consistently show that good friendships help us fight illness, promote brain health, slow aging, avoid depression, and prolong life. Not to mention they just generally make us feel happier. Friendships are also very important to teens. As they prepare to pull away from their parents, youth need
Read moreSummer! You can almost hear the teens squealing with delight at the thought of no school and no responsibilities. It is an excellent time for your child to rest and recover from the regimented school schedule. However, parents need to guard against boredom. Summer can be a risky time for teens as well. Teens with more downtime run a higher
Read moreEveryone can agree that school is important for youth. But what about extracurricular activities? Is football really making a difference in a young man’s life? Is playing in a band something nice for an adolescent or something more? Is going to the local community center really good for my child? After-school programs and extracurricular activities can offer youth a safe
Read moreThe school bell rings and adolescents rejoice! Whether it’s Winter or Spring Break, teenagers are thrilled to have a little free time! Not all parents rejoice, however. Working parents are concerned about unsupervised time. Parents in the home are dreading the constant requests to go places and do things, the fighting among siblings, or the whining about nothing to do or
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