Supporting Your Teen and Caring for Yourself During Covid-19 Dr. Adams, Dr. Speer, Rebekah Bryson Anxiety in Teens It is natural for teens (and adults) to feel anxious at times. Not only is it natural, it is adaptive and can be helpful in many situations, such as when preparing for a test or being extra […]
I’m glad if the title of this article got your attention, and I want you to know I’m serious. No matter how well-adjusted my kids might be, or how kind and compassionate they are, or how patient I seem at times…we don’t have it all together. If the last three months of social isolation has […]
This last month many of us were unexpectedly thrown into a new endeavor – teaching our children at home. This sudden added role is further complicated by several other factors, including our own work expectations, meeting the learning needs for multiple children, and managing stress levels in this chaotic time. If you have a child […]
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve been forced to take on new and different roles, to change our routines, and to adjust to restrictions that limit our usual activities. Although these changes can be stressful, they also provide opportunities to learn and practice many valuable skills including flexibility, communication, and problem solving. On […]
It’s easy to recognize that a child hiding behind a parent’s leg, trying to disappear from a friendly stranger’s questions, may be feeling shy and a little anxious at that moment. It’s also pretty widely acknowledged that certain scenarios like public speaking, starting a new school, or going away to camp may create a bit […]
I have recently been asked about the following article from Medium.com by multiple parents: “I’m a 37-Year-Old Mom & I Spent Seven Days Online as an 11-Year-Old Girl. Here’s What I Learned.” Parents have asked about my opinion of child social media use in light of this article, and generally how concerned they should be. […]
In fits of frustration, an intense and upset child might exclaim, “I hate my life! I’m so stupid!” These kids sometimes hit themselves, destroy their work, and seem out of control. It can be really hard to listen to your child say terribly mean things to himself. It can be scary to think your child […]
My family did some traveling for Thanksgiving, and we typically use a portable DVD player to keep our 6 and 3-year-old daughters content during longer trips. Before the trip, I took the girls to the library and saw they have tablets with various educational games to check-out. So, thinking that this would be a better […]
Anyone who spends a lot of time with adolescents is used to hearing about the day-to-day “drama” of peer relationships. For teens prone to anxiety and low self-esteem, even relatively minor conflicts with peers can create elevated distress. These are teens who tend to have difficulty accurately interpreting non-verbal cues and who react strongly to […]
In a moment of conflict, frustration, or exhaustion, we can easily lose sight of the impact our words and actions have on our kids. We may be flooded with our own emotions and needs, such that we are not pausing to consider what is happening inside our child. We may be very aware of […]