November is National Gratitude Month. Please take the time to click the link above and read our article on gratitude. It contains useful information about what gratitude is, the benefits of gratitude, the research behind gratitude, and how we can practice gratitude in our lives. Thank you in advance for reading that article – we think it will help you learn the importance of gratitude in your daily life. Now
In the words of the famous Roman orator and philosopher Marcus Tullius Cicero: “Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the mother of all the others.” The ancients knew about gratitude. We know about gratitude today, too. It’s one of the first big lessons we learn when we’re kids. Our parents tell us to be grateful for what we have. They tell us to be grateful for our
by Toby LaPlant Political engagement isn’t just for people above the voting age. Some of the most vocal and respected leaders of efforts to change public policy on education, climate change, LGBTQ rights, and more are people in their teens. Young people like Malala Yousafzai, Greta Thunberg, and Gavin Grimm have addressed governments, organized protests, and founded programs to create the changes their generation want to see in the world.
The list of labels people use to describe their sexual orientation and their gender looks dramatically different than it used to. Surveys on sexual orientation as recent as five years ago included options like gay, lesbian, bisexual, and straight. The acronym LGBTQ, which itself grew from the umbrella term gay, which became GLB, then LGBT, only covers about one-third of the labels that self-described members of the LGBTQ community use
Don’t drink and drive. Don’t text while driving. Don’t get in a car with someone who’s under the influence. Teens have heard these rules over and over. But are they listening? Especially during the free, unstructured months of June, July and August – dubbed the 100 Deadliest Days of Summer – how can you enforce the rules when your child is spending less time under your watchful gaze? Here are
It’s back to school season. Which means, during COVID, back to homeschooling. In many districts, schools won’t open as usual this fall. Due to surging infection rates around the country, many schools will continue the distance-learning model. There’s also no projected date for when in-person classes will resume. And while many adolescents and parents bemoan this decision, there are some adolescents who are, frankly, thrilled. Because for them, school was
On average, teens spend more than 7 hours each day watching videos, reading posts, and sharing information on the internet. Cat videos can be completely harmless and fan forums for television shows and music can be great ways for young people to have fun and connect with friends. But your teen’s favorite apps and social media sites are also highly effective tools for extremist groups to broadcast messages of hate
“Just snap out of it.” “Can’t you just get out of bed already?” “Just decide to be in a good mood, and you will be!” How many times have you uttered these phrases – or similar ones – to your teenager? While you think you’re being helpful, the word “just” invalidates any message you’re trying to give, says Dr. Robyn Koslowitz, PhD, director of the Targeted Parenting Institute. “Just” implies
Recently, Starbucks – yes, the coffee shop – ran an advertising campaign in support of transgender teens. The popular ad, called #WhatsYourName, capitalizes on Starbucks’ well-known custom of personalizing each customer’s coffee cup. The short clip, which won a Diversity in Advertising Award and aired in the United Kingdom, follows a young teen throughout their day: as they pick up the morning mail, wait in the doctor’s office, answer a
If you’re a parent or caregiver of a teen with mental health, behavioral, and/or substance abuse issues, you might be pushing for them to seek professional treatment. However, as you’ve probably seen, this is easier said than done. Evidence shows that most teens resist mental health or substance use treatment. Whether they refuse for practical reasons (they don’t want to miss school or leave their friends) or because they have
