On any given weekday during the school year, the average American teenager spends about eight and a half hours sleeping and about six and a half hours in school. This leaves nine hours of their waking time unaccounted for. Which leaves us with an important question: what do our teenagers do during those nine hours? First, let’s take a look at the big-picture data, published by the Department of Health
If you have the winter blahs, they might be more than just a personality quirk. They may well be a specific sub-type of depression. According to the well-known psychiatrist who coined the phrase in 1984, they could be a legitimate psychiatric disorder known as Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5), identifies SAD as an emotional disorder that’s at its peak
Over the River and Through the Woods The holiday season is upon us. Over the next two weeks, families across the country will pack up their suitcases and go traveling. Some will visit friends, relatives, and loved ones. Others will take special holiday family trips together. Wherever you’re going and whatever you’re doing, there’s one thing that just about everyone can agree on: traveling with kids can be challenging. If
When your kids reach high school, family dynamics shift. In elementary school, you take care of almost every aspect of their lives. You get them out of bed, fed, and off to school. Then you ferry them to and from after-school activities. You help with homework, if they had it at all. When they have activities to do, you probably stay and watch. You’re required to stay at most birthday
The Spirit of Christmas Family, friends, food…and gifts. Lots of gifts. That’s what Christmas is about for millions of people in the U.S. Of course, not everyone celebrates Christmas, but if you do – and you have a teenager – you’re probably wondering what to get them this year. And at the same time, you’re probably asking yourself (at least) three primary questions. All three are relevant to your teen’s
Holiday Rituals Matter The holidays are a time meant for love, joy, laughter, shared meals, and time spent with family. This is just as true for non-traditional families as it is for families with both parents living at home. Even for families from cultures where it’s not customary to celebrate the same winter holidays that many families in the U.S. celebrate, it’s impossible to ignore the fact that the period
First of all, congratulations: clicking on this article is a proactive step toward managing any potential problems your teenager might cause over the holidays. You know from personal experience this time of year can bring out the best and worst in people. You know family time can be tough. There’s nothing wrong with admitting that up front. No matter what face everyone puts forward on holiday cards and social media
Talking to your teen can be tricky. If they’ve reached the point where they don’t really love to engage with you about regular day-to-day things, don’t worry: that’s natural. There are, however, ways to draw them out. You can get them talking again, but there’s a catch: though your teen’s world is all about them, getting them to talk is all about you. It’s all about how you behave in
If you’re wondering what to do with your teenager over the winter holidays, you’re not alone. It’s not an easy thing to figure out. Time off school means down time. And down time can mean trouble. Even for teens who have no history of behavioral issues, the temptation to explore and experiment is powerful. It’s also natural: the drive to seek new experiences and form their own personality outside of
The winter holidays mean many things for many people. If your teenager struggles with a mental health or substance use disorder, then this year the winter holidays might mean something you never expected: a realistic window to get your teenager into treatment. Your teen may have fallen into negative behavior patterns this year at school, such as experimenting with alcohol or drug use. Or, they may have a mood disorder
