We have high expectations of our teens. They have high expectations of themselves. By the time they’re ready to leave high school they’ve already been put through the wringer emotionally, psychologically and physically as they navigate the precipices and pitfalls of academia alongside the changes in their body and brain chemistry that come with the onset of adulthood. They’ve already heard the wrong words all too often. They’ve had their fill of “Again”, “Could be better”, “Try harder”, “Not good enough”, “Like that, but more!”. With all the ambition and discipline in the world, even the most rugged constitution can crumble under the pressure of expectation. Sometimes the words our teens need to hear are not those of tough love or enthusiastic encouragement but “It’s okay”...

Not everyone gets a college degree. In fact, research shows that in the US only about one-third of people have taken this path. However, that does not means the others are unskilled or unemployed, as there are alternatives to degrees that suit some people much better. If your teen isn’t the academic type and they don’t want to attend college, you really do not have to despair! Here are 4 great alternatives to a college degree.

As a responsible and loving parent, you naturally want to see your child succeed. You may have dreams of seeing them graduate college with an excellent degree, enter into a profession that they love, make an impact in their professional and personal lives, have a family and enjoy an enriching and worthwhile existence. When your little bundle of joy is first welcomed home, you see nothing but an idyllic future ahead of them. The reality is altogether something quite different. In the twenty first century, social media, mental health, and other more negative forces can have a detrimental effect on our children’s ability to succeed. However, as a responsible and loving parent, there are three simple things that you can do to help your little darling reach their full potential.

Ask any child what they’d like to be when they grow up, and they’ll tell you that they want to do something that is in service of others. Yes, most of the jobs they choose - firefighter or doctor - are often obvious choices, but there’s a definite theme running throughout: kids want to help people.

Being a parent is the toughest job in the world. We all know it. However, it’s the most rewarding. So it’s essential that you are able to do your job, enjoy it, and raise happy, healthy children. But it can often seem quite hard. Because, just as you think that you’ve got the hang of it, and you’re nailing parenthood, things change. Your children change and they grow up. And when they hit their teens, you’re dealing with mini adults. So you often need to approach things differently. Because now there are a new set of struggles that your children have to deal with. And not everyone tells you that about raising teens. They can get stressed at school for a number of reasons, and you might want to work on it with them.

think it is important that parents understand exactly what teens are going through.  It makes it a little easier to swallow. When children are young, they tend to get a free pass.  When the two year old colors on a wall, we get upset. However, we know they are growing and learning.  We do not seem as bothered by youngsters misbehaving.

Did you know teens are still growing and learning?

Matter of fact, this is their natural way of preparing for adulthood. Not only are they developing, they are dealing with raging hormones.  These changes are just as hard on them as it is you.

Hormonal changes can begin as early as 10 and go on until around 16 years of age.  Boys tend to start a little later than the girls. They are becoming sexually mature.  A teen’s body is preparing him/her for family life. They have no control over this change.  Not only does it change them physically, but it can interfere with emotions as well. They feel awkward and their peers are a huge influence on them. When they are uncomfortable in their own skin, they assume their friends see this too.  

Not only is this going on, but the brain is still in development.  This is something that we seem to understand better when they are toddlers. This “reworking” of the brain gets extremely intense during the teenage years and will last through the mid twenties.  

Summer is sadly over now that many students are going back to school soon. I have been waiting all summer for the Back to School season, and that day is finally here!

Introducing the 2018 Back to School Summit!

For 4 WHOLE days, I'm bringing you lesson videos with over a dozen expert educators who have tons of valuable advice to share with you all about getting your child or teen to start the school year off on the right foot.

We're going to be talking all about how parents can help their child or teen improve academics and learning right from the start. Some topics include Supporting your child’s inner genius, the importance of study skills, tips to foster the love of reading, from overwhelmed to excelled, and much, MUCH more!

All high school students must have an organization system in place for all their school related documents. But many students that are struggling in school, do not have any type of organization system set in place.

Their view of “organized” is shoving every school assignment or school notes into their backpack, never to be seen again. These students earn more bad grades due to lost homework than due to lack of effort.

Sound familiar?