Routines, Rituals, and Families: Staying Grounded There’s an interesting paradox that’s central to teaching and parenting. In order to do either one effectively, it’s important to keep kids interested in what’s going on by offering new takes on old lessons, inventing fun ways to do mundane things, and finding fresh approaches to regular daily activities. In short, to keep kid’s attention, you always have to be ready to change it

Adolescence is a challenging time for almost all teenagers. Puberty launches their bodies and brains into a radical series of changes during this pivotal transition from youth to adulthood. Powerful new hormones course through their bloodstream as the part of their brain responsible for rational decision-making and impulse control – the prefrontal cortex – develops the capacity to manage the intense drive to seek out new experiences, feel new sensations,

A recent article in the Washington Post written by parenting journalist and survivor-of-the-teen-years mom Kathryn Streeter discusses some common mistakes parents make when raising teens. We found the article full of good, solid advice, but we’re going to reframe the content in much the same way a therapist might teach a teen to do during a CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) session. The original title of the article is “Seven Mistakes

Question: Should teenagers go trick-or-treating on Halloween, or are they too old for it? For most people in the U.S. the debate is open. The answer clearly depends on the teen, what their actual plans are, and the group of friends they’re planning to celebrate the holiday with. In the state of Virginia, though, there are several towns where the question is not up for debate: trick or treating for

How Teenagers Hear Criticism Parents often find it challenging to offer constructive feedback or criticism to their children. Especially when those children enter their teenage years. Though it’s not a universal absolute, the following pattern is familiar to almost all parents of teens. It goes like this: a parent attempts to initiate a conversation with their teenager. As soon as the subject turns to anything that approaches negative or unfavorable,

How to Get Kids on Track Once children reach school age, one of the first questions on a parent’s mind is this: how do I get my kids to do what I want them to do? The answer to this question gets even trickier when kids become adolescents. Whether it’s cleaning up their rooms, chewing with their mouths closed, doing chores around the house, saying “please” and “thank you” both

The Reset Button Family life in the 21st century can be very busy, especially for families with children. No matter what the situation, schedules fill up quickly. Regardless of the number of children, the location, or the economic situation, every day gets jam-packed with activities. Parents often feel like life is too hectic. Everyone runs around like a bunch of high-strung barnyard chickens all the time. When you consider after-school