Why Are Teens So Stressed Out? Part 2

In the first part of this blog, we looked at how chronic stress is beginning to impact teens in high school. Earlier this month, The Atlantic Magazine addressed this issue in their article “High Stress High School”. Teens are under increasing pressure/stress related to academic performance, intense focus on college applications/decisions, standardized test score performance and balancing their daily activities. In our previous post, we identified signs of chronic stress in teens and here are a few ways teens can cope with stress in a healthy manner. Developing healthy coping skills can be a lifelong goal, but parents can encourage and model good coping skills for their teens, right when they need it most!

One hour to becoming a better spouse and parent.

We all know the importance of good habits. As we head back in to the school year, it’s not uncommon for parents to begin helping their children by establishing schedules that include things like regular homework time or a routine bedtime. However, the start of the school year can be a great time for parents to re-examine their own schedules and routines as well. One area that can be particularly helpful for many couples is to establish some routines or habits around spending time together.

Signs Of Mental Illness in Your College Student

Mental illness can go undiagnosed and untreated in college students, but can have a significant and negative impact on a college student’s functioning; this blog discusses early signs of mental illness in college students.

Supporting your child through their first year of college.

A young adult’s first semester of college, especially if they’re living outside the home, can be fraught with complications, excitement and challenges. Most teens and families are under equipped to deal with all the areas of transition that come with a teen starting college. There are a lot of moving pieces that come with starting college, and this blog seeks to provide a few tips to keep in mind as a teen starts college for the first time.

Homework, procrastination and the teenage brain.

It turns out, your child’s lack of time management might have less to do with laziness or forgetfulness and more to do with how their adolescent brain is developing. Complex cognitive tasks (like planning to complete a long-term or complicated school project) are primarily carried out in a part of the brain called the prefrontal cortex. This part of the brain begins rapidly developing during adolescence. It doesn’t reach full maturation until the early to mid-twenties.

Family Time: Quality vs. Quantity

For many families, schedules start to get busier this time of year. Not only is school starting back up, but so are all of the extracurricular activities that come along with it. Between football practice, piano lessons, AP exams and parents’ increased work schedules, the coming of the school year often means less quality time spent together for many families.

Starting Senior Year Off Right

Your teen’s senior year of high school is full of many experiences and emotions–it can be easy to allow the events, activities and pressures of your teen’s 12th grade year dominate your family’s lives. This blog suggests a few tips for families and siblings to keep stress at bay during their 12th grader’s senior year!

Back to Cool: Helping Your Teen Transition From Summer To School

Growing up, the marketing slogan that I used to hate was called ‘back to cool,’ as a way to get teens on board with leaving their summer activities to return to school. It’s a tough sell, getting kids and teens back to school from a summer of fun, but there are a few things families can do to help ease the transition.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): A Primer

We hear the term ADHD all the time but don’t necessarily know much about it. Here’s some basic information to help you have a better understanding and maybe even determine if your child or someone you know should be evaluated.