Parent Tips

Many people love the holiday season and look forward to its boisterous excesses. Others dread the holidays and simply do what they can to endure them until everything gets back to “normal”. Most of us fall somewhere in the middle, loving some aspects and dreading others, while trying to avoid the effects of sensory overload and the stress of trying to live up to the unrealistic expectations that we often place on ourselves and others.

As we travel through the life cycle – from infancy, to childhood, to adolescence, to adulthood, and then to old age – we are challenged by the transitions that exist both between and within each stage of development.

Perhaps more than ever before parents are asking how they can help their children become resilient and self-sufficient adults, and how to instill the “grit” that is needed to thrive in our increasingly complex world. It is not surprising that parents are confused.

Strong social connections aren’t simply a nice thing to have. They contribute to well-being and to a full and meaningful life.

Parents and educators should not minimize the importance of offering young teens information about the impact of substances on the developing brain and about how to make informed decisions.

The youth mental health crisis has dominated the news in recent years, but American educators and healthcare professionals have also remained vigilant about the risks of substance use and abuse in adolescents.

Self-harm, also known as Non-Suicidal Self-Injury (NSSI), is a serious public health concern for teens and young adults.

Participation in school athletics has a wide range of benefits for kids. For many, playing sports is just plain fun.

No matter when you make a list and consider attending a specific university or college, the process can be both exhilarating and daunting.

Among all the profound transitions in childhood, one stands out as particularly influential on a child’s life: the pivotal leap from elementary school to middle school.