When it comes to parenting teens, our role as parents can be challenging and a bit blurry. We move away from the safety zone of knowing our child is being supervised to respecting they are developing as independent individuals away from our watchful eyes. You may have heard it said, parents provide the “guide/guard […]
For those that haven’t heard, “vaping” is the new cigarette disguised in language and fueled by misunderstanding and strong appeal to the youth market. In the spring of 2018, 26% of our local high school seniors reported vaping in the last 30 days but less than 4% reported using traditional tobacco cigarettes. By […]
“How to Talk So Teens Will Listen and Listen So Teens Will Talk” by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish starts off with a quote that lays a foundation for understanding many of the communication problems parents have with their tweens and teens.. As parents, our need is to be needed; as teenagers, their need […]
We are heading into graduation season and you don’t need to have a grad to worry about safety. Where there is a party and teens are involved there is always enhanced risk. The good news is that you can make a difference. To help ensure your teens safety during graduation season and throughout the year […]
Boy, the laws have changed since I was a teenager. The problem is, lots of people don’t know about them. And, it is important as a parent you know and understand them to both protect yourself and your child. We could go into all of the brain science and data that supports why they […]
Kristy Braun, Nurse Practitioner from OSF Pediatrics, spoke to a group of parents and teachers this month at the first BN Parents’ Speaker Series Event hosted by OSF Center for Healthy Lifestyles. The conversation was two-way and, the information shared, valuable. For those not able to attend, here are the basics on Adolescence as shared […]
A few years back, an article in National Geographic caught my attention. In it, the author suggested teens actually “court risk” more than at any other time in life and view risk and reward differently than adults. Did you catch that? DIFFERENTLY than us! What is key in understanding the way teens think and act […]
Parenting is a challenge. Each stage requires something different. As soon as you think you have this parenting gig down, the next stage comes along and you start to ask, “Am I doing this right?” Because there is so much change happening during the teen years, it can be particularly difficult. To help parents of […]
Five years ago we started working with children and adolescents in the community to identify individual strengths. We do this with an activity called the “Tree of Strength.” The activity involves placing a personal strength on a leaf and placing it on our tree. Reinforced is the idea that what makes you strong, makes your […]
Transitions are high risk times. They are filled with the excitement of newness but what they open the doors to can vary. As parents, it is an important time to stay connected with your teen and gauge how things are going. The support you provide during this time can encourage young people to keep making […]
