It’s easy for adults to believe that because children are small, their emotions are also small or somehow less real.
Over the past few weeks, we’ve faced drastic changes and heartache as a result of the novel coronavirus pandemic. On a grand scale, both the residents of Idaho and our global society have have struggled to adjust to a new norm—a "stay-at-home era" as schools and businesses close, and those not considered "essential workers" face layoffs and work-from-home orders while we wait for COVID-19 to pass.
When is it Time to Ask for Help?
A Parent's Guide to Teenage Behavior
It can be hard for a kid to admit when things aren’t okay. If your teen is displaying negative patterns of behavior, they may be trying to communicate through their actions, instead. Research shows that upsetting experiences and stress are often the culprits behind behavioral issues in teens, and just because you can’t always see an underlying cause, doesn’t mean there’s nothing wrong. This guide offers some helpful ways to identify problematic behaviors, understand the effects of highly stressful situations, and help your child cope and move past their experiences in a healthy and proactive way. This assessment is intended for educational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for medical advice or treatment.
Understanding Teenagers and Mental Health
It is a common misconception that mental health is only relevant to adults. Kids and teens are often left out of the conversation and their needs are frequently written off or dismissed as unimportant.
Research shows that a person’s mental state can affect every aspect of their life, but when it comes to conversations about mental health and illness, public opinion and scientific fact can be very confusing.
In this digital age we now find ourselves in, it is easier than ever for kids and teens to bully their peers. In this digital world, bullies can say something harmful without having to see the physical reactions of their victim or visually experience the effects of their words. To understand the injustice more fully, we first have to admit it exists, educate ourselves, and then take actions to prevent and protect the children in our care.
No one likes a micromanager--and that includes kids! Adults can understand how frustrating and damaging a micromanager can be, yet most parents micromanage their children heavily and fail to see why kids grow up to be resentful in the aftermath.
"My parents don't understand what it's like to be my age."
“They just don’t get it!”
Sound familiar? At the Idaho Youth Ranch, we hear these phrases often. And the truth is, they’re true!
If the idea of trying to fit in homework, meals, down time, extracurriculars, and more--not to mention leaving enough time for 8-10 hours of sleep--feels overwhelming, you’re not alone. Creating a schedule that’s comfortable and functional for both parent and child can feel like a major feat, but it’s also one of the best ways you can help children of all ages succeed.
Setting--and following through with--goals is an important way you can help your kids succeed. Learning how to determine what they want, lay out a path to achieve it, and celebrate the results is a skill that they’ll use throughout their lives in school, work, and relationships.
As Pokemon Go continues to sweep the nation, it’s inspiring more than Pokemon masters to take notice. Parents everywhere are starting conversations about whether this latest game craze is good--or bad--for kids’ health and development.
Some parents fear that the app is a poor excuse for quality time. Others simply worry about the sheer amount of hours their kids are spending hunting Pokemon!