Being a teenager is tough. Between navigating friendships, managing schoolwork (and pressure about college), and dealing with the endless stream of social media, it’s no surprise many teens struggle with self-esteem. As a parent or caregiver, you play a crucial role in helping your teen build confidence that comes from within—not from likes, followers, or the latest trends. […]
Tag: Teens
Managing Your Child’s Screen Time
Screens today are an integral part of our children’s lives, offering entertainment, education, and connection. Many children get computers in kindergarten. Lots of parents choose to get cell phones for elementary-age children to monitor location and safety. Kids today are “digital natives,” meaning they are born into a time of technology. Screens are all around […]
What We Learn From “Inside Out 2”
Pixar just released “Inside Out 2,” a funny, touching, and sophisticated look at how our emotions and experiences shape us. In the sequel, we once again join main character Riley’s five primary emotions: Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust. However, now Riley is 13 and heading to a hockey summer camp when the “puberty alarm” […]
Helping Your Child Get a Better Night’s Sleep
As a therapist, I understand the importance of a good night’s sleep on mental health. Problems falling asleep or staying asleep are common issues my clients share with me. Children and teens talk about having a hard time falling asleep because of overthinking, worrying, or difficulty relaxing. Parents share concerns about their child’s moods, school […]
8 Ideas to Help Your Child Feel Comfortable with Therapy
These days, a lot of children and teens are asking for therapy. This is usually easy for parents. You find a good therapist and get started. Other times parents might be concerned about their child’s mental health, behavior, or substance use and know that they need more help… but the child does not want to […]
Tips for Talking with Your Teen (Part 2)
Part 1 of Tips for Talking with Your Teen covered ways to create opportunities for connection with your teen. Finding times for talking with your teen can be a challenge. But what do you do or say once you have them in a chatty mood? Read on for some of my favorite tips for talking with […]
Tips for Talking with Your Teen (Part 1)
Recent research shared by the Pew Research Center is that two-thirds of parents in the U.S. believe that parenting today is harder than it was 20 years ago. The majority of parents surveyed reported they believed this was due to the increase in technology, primarily screens and social media. With busy and technology-filled modern lives, many parents […]