So much has ailed us over the past year and just in the past 5 days. Name your poison: illness, loss (of too much to list), injustices, and most recently, violence on our democracy. It has been overwhelming to our […]
Continue Reading Q. What is one of the most powerful tools to change behavior in teenagers? Punishment Reinforcement Critical feedback Encouragement The answer is reinforcement, or reward. Its power is often overlooked by parents, teachers, friends and coaches. Let’s look […]
Continue Reading Working with and parenting teenagers brings challenges to even the most experienced of us. Risk-taking, underdeveloped judgment, and an outsized desire to be accepted by peers contributes to poor decision making and potentially dangerous behaviors. What works to keep kids […]
Continue Reading Most of us are experiencing changes to our routines and behaviors that are unprecedented in our lifetimes. As adults, we may have some context and personal experiences to provide a template for coping (think 9/11 or other catastrophic events). Kids […]
Continue Reading I know it is not what any of us thought it would be pre-virus. There are lots of things teens don’t have this summer; bar-b-ques, sleepovers, camp, parties, crowded pools, summer jobs and internships. While we do need to be […]
Continue Reading Teens today are experiencing an unprecedented level of uncertainty and stress. They are living through a global pandemic, experiencing economic uncertainty not seen since the Great Depression, witnessing civil rights unrest, and participating in demonstrations reminiscent of the 1960s. All […]
Continue Reading May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Last week was Teacher Appreciation Week. Today is Mother’s Day! Here is a Newsletter for it all! To Our Incredible Teachers: Who could have thought that for months now you would be teaching and […]
Continue Reading Teenagers are currently living through their generational crisis, many unaware of the gravity and historical relevance of current events. Consider the impact on a young person’s life: Schools are closed and academic instruction is abbreviated online Sports are cancelled, personal […]
Continue Reading One of the core skills we advocate in working with and raising teens is Predictability. We know that predictability creates a sense of safety and reduces anxiety and therefore increases innovation and positive risk taking. So… what do we do when something […]
Continue Reading Much has been written about bullying and the impact on adolescent development. We know that it just takes one friend to increase the sense of safety and inclusion and reduce the impact of bullying on vulnerable youth. Teens have been […]
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