Social & Emotional

Balancing act: -n 1.a circus act in which a performer displays his or her balancing ability 2. a situation requiring careful balancing of opposing groups, views, or activities

Your relationship with your tween can be a balancing act. Your tween’s behavior can trigger many emotions in you. By managing your own impulses, you can avoid giving your tween all the control. Know when to step in or get out of the way! Fighting over little things can lead to constant bickering and negative […]

Do you feel like 007 or is it more like Mission Impossible?

Monitoring your tween’s activity is important for his or her well-being (and your peace of mind). As tweens becomes more independent, ask where they are going, what they will be doing and who they will be with when they leave the house. Help your tween understand that these questions aren’t intended to be an invasion […]

“There cannot be a stressful crisis next week. My schedule is already full.”

As teenagers mature, they experience increasingly complex life situations that often lead to stress and frustration. Teens need to learn how to adjust to having more pressure and responsibility in their home lives and at school. Be an eParent®! Humor is an important coping skill. Snapchat your teen with a photo of yourself making a […]

“What did you just call me?”

You may increasingly find yourself in situations where you feel angry or afraid of your teen’s intense emotional outbursts and respond by shouting back, punishing or avoiding the situation. While these are perfectly natural responses, they generally do not help to resolve conflict situations. Teenagers require the support of their parents and others to learn how […]

How connected is your (parent) network?

As tweens develop their own identities, they often push away from their parents. The connections involving you and your child are important! Networking with other parents can help you find resources that can provide positive relationships, guidance and activities for your tween. Be an eParent®! Create or join a social media group with the parents […]

Gracias! Danke! Merci! Your teen deserves a thank you! Do it in style – find out how.

Has your tween become more moody, intense and critical in the last few years? This is normal! Understand that your tween is changing in so many ways – much like when she went from a baby to a toddler. Letting your tween know that he is terrific means a lot, especially when he isn’t feeling […]

Don’t be the “missing link”… stay connected!

Avoid gaps in communication with your tween. Track your teen’s activities. Whether it is an organized event or a social outing, knowing where they are, who they are with, and when they will be home helps ensure their safety and wellbeing. Be an eParent®! Set up an online calendar, such as Google calendar, for the family […]

Don’t laugh at a youth for his affectations; he is only trying on one face after another to find a face of his own. – L. P. Smith

Figuring out “WHO AM I?” is an important piece of teenage development. This identify formation is a time when teens “try on” new ideas, experiences and beliefs. The things your teen likes or dislikes are often the face he chooses to show the world as he figures out his personality. Be an eParent®! Spend time […]

What to do when a hug becomes uncool.

Although your tween may no longer be looking to you for hugs (at least in public), your continued relationship and communication with your teen is still very “cool” (and important)! One reason many teens find hugs to be “uncool” is because teens are busy seeking their own independence. Public hugs can make a teen feel like […]

Why is spending time with your 9-14 year old like cleaning your bathroom?

Spending time with your 9- to 14-year old and cleaning your bathroom can both have instant benefits! If you ignore doing either, messy situations can result. And if you do both on a regular basis, the results are obvious! Be an eParent®! Make time to interact with your child. FaceTime or Skype your child when […]

◄ Older Entries

Newer Entries ►