Friday 5: Kids & Teens
Check out what we’ve been reading to support your child’s mental health:
I love this “Ask the Expert” article about helping teens develop the ability to share their political opinions respectfully while not disrespecting others’ viewpoints; a skill even many adults don’t master. As parenting coach, Meghan Leahy puts it, “there is a line between interest and harassment, and you (as parents) must draw it.” (Washington Post)
Looking for guidance on how to talk with your kids about puberty, sex, pornography, and relationships? Check out the website, amaze.org. It’s a great resource for age-appropriate information, including animated videos for tweens/teens and parent tips for having those all-important, but sometimes awkward conversations! (amaze.org)
One of the most important tools parents has in their toolboxes to support their children’s emotional growth is… LISTENING. In this article, clinical psychologist, Michael Reichert, author of “How to Raise a Boy: The Power of Connection to Build Good Men,” shares what parents and teachers can do to strengthen boys’ emotional resilience, and in turn, improve learning. (Mindshift)
Want a behind-the-scenes look at what your teen’s social media world? In this article, high school senior Lauren Ofman shares tips for keeping up with our teens on social media, the problems they may face in their virtual world, and what you can do to keep the lines of communication open so that you can best protect your teenager online. (Raising Teens Blog)
In 1993 Denmark, consistently ranking as one of the “happiest” countries in the world, implemented a program to teach “empathy” in the classroom. Students spend an hour a week discussing their problems, sometimes school-related, sometimes not, and the whole class, together with the teacher, work to find a solution based on REAL listening and understanding. If there are no problems, the class spends time practicing “hygge,” which roughly translates into “intentionally created intimacy. There is real POWER in connection 💕 (brightvibes.org)
