by Chris Jones | Jun 6, 2016 | Parenting Skills, Parenting Tips, Preteens & Teens
Many parents experience such dramatic changes in their child between the ages of 11 — 14 that they feel like an alien has taken residence in their home! When a child goes through puberty and enters the adolescent years, the physical and emotional transformation can...
by Chris Jones | Mar 9, 2016 | Parenting Skills, Parenting Tips, Preteens & Teens
Adolescence is a time when children and parents begin to spend less time together. It is a time when teens begin to develop their independence, understand their place in the world, and begin to work out their own values and beliefs. It can be especially challenging to...
by Chris Jones | Jun 1, 2015 | Leisure & Vacation, Preteens & Teens, Toddlers
Everyone needs downtime. Children and teens today have such busy, stressful lives that summer becomes not just a welcome break in their routine, but a vital one for recharging. The warmer days and increased daylight are more conducive to relaxing. Consider letting...
by Chris Jones | May 5, 2015 | Discipline & Behavior, Preteens & Teens
OMG, who am I? The tween and teen years are a time for seeking answers to this universal, developmentally appropriate and daunting question. The common belief that peers are the truth-tellers and parents are the ones who don’t understand is pervasive. They see...
by Chris Jones | Apr 22, 2015 | Discipline & Behavior, Preteens & Teens
By all accounts, Micah had a great freshman year—good grades, a nice mix of extracurricular activities, and some new friends who shared his passions for music, soccer, and anime comics. But by October of his sophomore year, Micah had lost interest in school, sports,...
by Chris Jones | Feb 2, 2015 | Leisure & Vacation, Parenting Skills, Parenting Tips, Preteens & Teens
For parents, January is the month when we begin planning for activities for our children for the rest of the school year and for summer. It is the time to register for classes, sports teams, and summer camps. It is also a great time to evaluate our children’s...
by Chris Jones | Jan 20, 2015 | Discipline & Behavior, Parenting Skills, Parenting Tips, Preteens & Teens, Toddlers
Hitting, biting, spilling, pushing, yelling, and fighting, followed by scolding, correcting, apologizing, teaching, guiding—again and again. This pattern is one parents know all too well. The pattern is simple. The child makes a mistake, acts out, does something she...
by Chris Jones | Jan 5, 2015 | Discipline & Behavior, Parenting Skills, Parenting Tips, School Challenges, Toddlers
Trying to get our kids out the door on time in the morning can be a frustrating and exhausting endeavor. Even when we start off determined to make THIS morning better, we can still end up with arguments and tears. What to do? One of the themes I keep coming back to...
by Chris Jones | Dec 29, 2014 | Parenting Skills, Parenting Tips, Preteens & Teens, Toddlers
Go to Bed Happy, Wake Up Happy Developing a harmonious and rewarding bedtime routine results in a happier family — day and night. One of the most essential ingredients to happiness and health, especially for developing children, is getting enough sleep each night. In...
by Admin | Dec 2, 2014 | Education, Parenting Tips, Preteens & Teens, School Challenges
For many high school seniors, December marks the end of the marathon college application season, an event that can span several years. Choices have been winnowed, tests have been taken, and essays have been written and sent. It’s a time to celebrate getting...
