Each year, 5,000 young individuals (those between the ages of 15 and 24) die by suicide in the U.S., making it the third leading cause of death among young people. If you’re worried your teen may be suicidal… 1) Validate their pain. If your teenager tells you they have suicidal…
The teen years are characterized by significant developmental changes that often make this time difficult. It’s important that parents keep their teen’s struggles in mind and do their best to understand what they’re going through. First, teenagers struggle with the journey of self-discovery: they’re trying to understand who they are…
The teen years are characterized by “rebellion,” which can make this stage tough on teens and parents. Fortunately, parents can take action to make these years a little easier on themselves and their teen—and it all starts with accepting rebellion as necessary to their growth and development. Parents should also…
Teenhood is characterized by awkward, confusing changes that can make or break one’s mental health. A key to thriving during this time is understanding self-esteem and self-awareness and taking the necessary steps to develop a healthy degree of both. Parents can help their kid do so by first praising their…
The teen years are characterized by developmental changes—both physical and mental—that can make this time difficult for teens and parents. Fortunately, parents can make this time a little easier on everybody by parenting their teens with love and logic, according to mental health professionals. Parents should maintain open and honest…
The teen years are difficult enough, but when you factor in the high susceptibility to and prevalence of mental illness, these years become even tougher. Fortunately, parents can help their teens cope with mental health conditions. It all starts with educating oneself and knowing the warning signs pertaining to negative…
It’s often scary to be diagnosed with depression or experience depressive thoughts, but it can be especially frightening for teens. Fortunately, there are helpful resources readily available to teens on their smartphones. Resources include depression discussion guides, crisis text lines, and an app that comes with a depression test and…
You can set your child up for success by teaching them how to live a happy, healthy life and equipping them with beneficial tools. One parenting technique that can help you accomplish this mission is simply being honest with yourself—are you being the supportive parent or the pushy parent? Practicing…
When I was in high school, I befriended a girl named Anna in the grade above me. We met in a journalism class, which was comprised of freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors—an unusual dynamic for sure. We were all grateful for the opportunity to branch outside of our grades and…
A new study “Very young infants learn abstract rules in the visual modality” says that babies as young as three or four months can learn abstract rules simply by watching others and observing all that’s around them. While previous research found that babies could only do so from speech and…
Parents often worry about their kid’s behavior and performance in school—especially when they reach the teens. This is typically the time when kids fall out of their routines, and as a result, their academic success hangs in the balance. In hopes of keeping them on the right track, parents oftentimes…
Parenting Expert Julia Cook understands just how difficult parenting can be at times—especially if/when your child has a temper tantrum. She explains that a child’s increasing anger is comparable to a shaken soda: “Think of anger as bubbles inside of a two-liter bottle of pop. When the bottle is shaken,…
