Peer pressure is a normal part of life. Right or wrong, humans tend to compare themselves to each other and pressure kicks in. Sometimes that pressure can be good, such as trying to get straight A’s like the smart kid in class, and sometimes that pressure can be bad, such as trying to be as “cool” as the popular kid
Read moreWhen you first become a parent, your primary role is to take care of your child’s basic needs. As your child grows, your role as a parent is constantly changing – evolving from doing everything for your child to teaching your child how to do things for themselves. By the time your child reaches adolescence, you, in effect, become your
Read moreIf you’re not aware that online gambling has become a huge problem among youth, especially boys, please read our previous blog, Gambling is Rapidly Becoming the Newest Addiction for Teens. Because it’s growing into such a difficult issue for young people, parents should discuss gambling with their children just like they do for other threats to their well-being like alcohol
Read moreThe stereotype of a typical American teenager is not very encouraging. American movies, tv shows, jokes, books, and even social media tend to portray adolescents as moody, irresponsible, lazy, or rebellious. Interestingly, eastern cultures tend to view adolescence more positively and as a time of learning how to become responsible and fulfill family obligations. You might wonder why stereotypes should
Read moreAlthough the media often portrays the holidays as a happy season, the majority of Americans are completely stressed! In fact, in a 2023 poll by the American Psychological Association, 89% of respondents said that concerns – such as not having enough money, missing loved ones and anticipating family conflict – caused them additional stress during the holidays. And if the
Read moreIf you haven’t already, please read last week’s blog article first where we explained what “redpilled” means and why it happens. In this week’s blog, we will be explaining the signs to look for and what you should do if your teen son has been “redpilled.” Signs Your Son Has Been Redpilled No parent can monitor their child’s online behavior
Read moreThe term “redpilled” comes from the 1999 film The Matrix, where the main character, Neo, must choose between a red pill to learn a harsh truth or a blue pill to live in blissful ignorance. This term is now being used online to mean that those who have “taken the red pill” believe they have awakened to the hidden truth that society
Read moreWhen we are confident, we tend to have more success, feel happier, and experience better relationships in our lives. No one is born with confidence; it’s something that each of us must work on over time. Teens are especially vulnerable to self-doubt because their identity is just forming, and they face a lot of peer pressure at a time when
Read moreA study published in June 2025 in the Journal of the American Medical Association was able to determine when youth were at risk of poor mental health related to screen time. Many parents, teachers and psychologists have worried about whether the amount of time kids spend on their phones, laptops and other devices were negatively impacting their mental health. This
Read moreA recent report from Common Sense Media, the nonprofit media watchdog, suggests that companion-like artificial intelligence (AI) apps pose “unacceptable risks” to children and teenagers. Common Sense Media worked with Stanford University researchers to test three popular AI companion services: Character.AI, Replika and Nomi. What are AI Companion Apps? A growing trend among youth, AI companion apps are designed to simulate
Read moreEveryone feels lonely sometimes, but persistent loneliness is a real epidemic among this generation of youth. Teens today are struggling with depression, anxiety and loneliness at higher rates than any previous generation. Young people who have no coping skills for loneliness are more likely to make poor decisions in life. Teens who learn that loneliness is a temporary feeling, and
Read moreRejection can be incredibly painful, especially for adolescents who are developmentally wired to try to fit in and belong. Teens have less life experience to know how to cope with rejection, and are more prone to feel embarrassed about almost anything, so rejection can feel more like an “end of my life” failure. Rejection in a teen’s life can be
Read moreAmerican culture places a lot of pressure on boys to think they need to have a strong physique, hide their emotions, and act in an aggressively dominant way to be considered a “real man.” Our society tends to think that men should not ask for help, always be in control, exert power over others, and avoid expressing any emotion except
Read moreDuring adolescence, youth are trying to figure out who they are, establish their independence, and express themselves all while dealing with significant hormone fluctuations and peer pressure. Every child handles these challenges differently. Unfortunately, in some teens, this process can cause them to act out in an angry, argumentative, withdrawn, or rebellious manner. Parenting a defiant teen is hard, and
Read moreArtificial Intelligence (AI) has made it much easier to produce photos, videos and content online, but that also means that it’s easier to produce fake or misleading content. American teenagers get most of their information online, and especially from social media, which means they are coming across AI-generated content all the time. Recent studies by Common Sense Media (Jan 2025
Read moreNew research published last week in the journal Computers in Human Behavior showed that a short period away from your smartphone can lead to noticeable shifts in brain activity. Scientists discovered that just 72 hours of smartphone restriction altered activity in brain regions linked to reward and self-control. These changes suggest that our constant connection to smartphones may have a more
Read moreTeenagers are frequently stereotyped as moody, rebellious, or lazy, but these preconceptions of adolescence portrayed in the media are often inaccurate. Teenagers, whose brains and bodies are going through rapid development, need more sleep than ever before and are understandably more sensitive to criticism, eager to gain approval, and keen to create their own identity. Their behaviors are more a
Read moreAdolescence is a time of massive change, and it can be very disconcerting to parents. Teens love to shock people with wild opinions, boundary-pushing fashion, and risky behaviors. Parents are eager to protect their children, and some of teens’ behaviors rub against social norms and sometimes safety. So, when confronted with undesirable behaviors, what should a parent do? As a
Read moreWe often have great expectations for the holidays. We want perfect gatherings with all of our extended family, laughing and sharing special moments. The reality is often a bit messier than that, but that doesn’t mean that you have to give up on a great holiday. You just have to make wise choices that prioritize peace. To create family harmony
Read moreBetween school, homework, part-time jobs, social outings, and extracurricular activities, adolescents are always on the go. Sometimes it’s hard to coordinate parents and teens to be in the house together for more than a few minutes! Since our families are so busy, many of us have turned eating into an afterthought. Everyone just grabs what they can whenever they are
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