TV, computer games, music, blogs, radio, smart phones . . . to say the average American adult consumes a lot of media is an understatement. America’s youth are no different. With so many media sources …
The Diverging Paths of Parents and Teens
We usually think of the teen years as a period of major changes in our children. Often overlooked is the fact that parents are also experiencing significant changes of their own. One of the things …
Fighting the fair fight: How to constructively disagree with your teen
Occasional fights and disagreements with your teen are pretty much the norm for most families. While such conflicts can be annoying and emotionally draining they can also be beneficial, especially if you understand the reasons …
Parenting from the Sidelines
Have you ever been to a sporting event or performance where the parent behind you is shouting out instructions to his teen or berating the other youngsters participating? As the competition increases in middle school …
Helping Teens Discover Values to Live By
“How would you describe your family in three words?” asked blogger Joanna Goddard. What core values rise to the top when you think about who you are, who your family is, and who you hope your …
Be the Positive Voice for your Teen
A parenting and human development buzz word for the last 30 years, self-esteem is a person’s evaluation of his or her own worth. A person with positive self-esteem has a positive attitude about his or her self. Do …
How Much Financial Responsibility is Enough?
To start 2018 we bring you an article about the benefits of discussing money management with you child. Read this week’s Parenthetical post for talking points and strategies on teen financial responsibility that many parents might …
5 Things I Do Differently at Holidays with Teens
As the holiday season is rapidly approaching, some of us might be feeling a bit overwhelmed by the length of our “to-do” list. While this feeling is common, it is also important to examine why the …
Burning Out: Adults Who Work With Youth Feel Stress Too
In the past, Parenthetical has focused on why parental self-care is important and what it can look like in practice. This week we’re extending the self-care conversation to teachers and practitioners who work with youth …
Parenting Procrastinators
At times, the last thing any of us want to think about are the grades that come at the end of the school year. Maybe last year wasn’t so successful for your teen, and you …