Just because you can do it doesn’t mean you should!

You might know that your tween’s brain is under major construction. But did you know that physical coordination is one of the first skills the brain and body master? As your child’s confidence in her physical abilities grow, she may want to test the boundaries of what she can do. Be an eParent®! Join your […]

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“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 […]

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But my friends dress like this!

In the quest for independence, tweens push to be more like their peers and less like their parents. And in today’s digital world, tweens have “peer” examples everywhere from social media posts to school hallways that are often hypersexual and overly mature. Be an eParent®! While watching TV, movies, or advertisements ask your child why […]

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But we always do that! It’s our tradition!

Has your tween ever given you a hard time when a family tradition changed? Traditions and rituals make family life more predictable and give tweens a sense of security.  Maintaining or establishing family, cultural or religious rituals and traditions is one key to building strong families and helps build a sense of identity for your […]

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What do chocolate, exercise, and technology have in common?

Chocolate, exercise and technology – all can be too much of a good thing!  It can be easy to forget that tweens look to us for clues about how to use digital media. The more we bring technology into our lives, the more they notice our escalating use. This makes it important to model healthy […]

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Ox·y·mo·ron: noun, a figure of speech indicating a seemingly self-contradictory effect, as in “jumbo shrimp” or “wise child.”

While it might seem like a contradiction, children’s thinking skills are growing in their preteen years. Provide opportunities that help your preteen or teen practice decision-making. Be an eParent®! Involve your teen in making rules when using digital media such as the amount of screen time or the selection of video games. Digital media is […]

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S.W.A.K.

Sealed with a kiss. We may not send many cards by snail mail any more, but sending cards and notes is still a good way to remind people we don’t see often of our love. Be an eParent®! Help your child send free e-cards to all of his or her grandparents and encourage the grandparents […]

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“It’s alright to cry.”

Dealing with emotions can be challenging (even for adults!). It is important that children feel comfortable sharing their feelings and showing them in socially acceptable ways. As a parent, listening to and supporting your child is essential for helping them learn about coping skills. Talk with your child about what sorts of items or activities […]

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