Summer Fun.

Summer Fun.

One benefit of summer was that each day we had more light to read by (Jeanette Walls). The start of summer and an opportunity for teens to unwind, relax, refocus and take a deep breath. For other teens it is racing around at a summer job or a college internship, or...
Summer Fun.

Importance of Reading.

A capacity, and taste, for reading gives access to whatever has already been discovered by others. (Abraham Lincoln). Teens are very comfortable using social media from Youtube, Instagram and Tik Tok. So much so that they do not contemplate reading books. Teens often...
Summer, Screens, and Teen Growth.

Summer, Screens, and Teen Growth.

I’m pickin’ up good vibrations. (Beach Boys song lyric). Yes, it’s summer and that means the rules of engagement around screen time often shift in ways both big and small. With no early morning alarms, no homework looming over them, and more unstructured...
Shifting from Criticism to Critique.

Shifting from Criticism to Critique.

The human tongue is more poisonous than a bee’s sting. (Vietnamese Proverb). Encouraging personal growth is fundamental. As parents, our role isn’t just about setting limits or keeping our teens on track. It’s about helping them grow into the people...
Shifting from Criticism to Critique.

Here is the line!

Boundaries are to protect life, not to limit pleasures. (Edwin Louis Cole). I frequently discuss the importance of setting boundaries with parents, a practice that is relevant for children of all ages. The key difference lies in the specific boundaries and...
Summer Fun.

Building your Teenager’s Self Identity.

We have to really educate ourselves in a way about who we are, what our real identity is. (Deepak Chopra). I am often asked by parents, “How do I encourage or help my teenager build and create their own identity?” That is a complex question with many correct answers....