This quarter, in partnership with the Bloomington and Normal Public Libraries, we have been promoting The Strength Switch by Lea Waters, PhD. The “Strength Switch” is a technique utilized in strength-based living that involves switching our focus from the negative to the positive or from weaknesses to strengths. It sounds simple. But is it? And, […]
Our second quarter Parenting Teens and Tweens Discussion Group focused on insights from The Teenage Brain: A Neuroscientist’s Survival Guide to Raising Adolescents by Frances E. Jensen, MD with Emily Nutt. The book, in friendly but scientific terms, lays out how the adolescent brain works and responds to the world differently from the brain […]
“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 […]
Tis the season for gift giving and holiday cheer. It is a time when kitchens are full of wonderful smells and many homes are often stocked with alcohol for the festivities. The problem, underage drinking becomes harder to prevent. To keep your teen safe, and you out of trouble, we have a few suggestions. Have […]
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 […]