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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“You aren’t the boss of me!” “I can take care of myself.”

Independence and autonomy are critical to healthy teen development. One of the most important tasks for all adolescents is learning the skills that will help them make healthy choices and manage their own lives. As your young teen becomes more responsible, increase his or her options for independence. Be an eParent®! Work with your child to register […]

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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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Vote for me!

While your child is still too young to vote in upcoming elections, the political season can offer some great topics for you and your teen to connect on. Teens love to have their opinions be known and it isn’t too early to build excitement and encourage your child to become active in civic issues. Be […]

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Were you born digital?

If you’ve known a digital world since birth, then you were “born digital.” Your child, who was “born digital,” is using (and developing) words and symbols that did not exist when we were their age! For instance, #momdadareancient may pop up on their Twitter feed. Conversations with your teen will begin to feel much different […]

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When does life begin? a) after 40, b) after coffee, c) after your kids move out, or d) after your kids who had moved out and returned home, move out for good!

Think that letter “d” can’t happen to you? The number of youth who have left home after high school and are back living with their parents has exploded in recent years. Help your child think about their future options now as this is exactly what is needed for a smooth transition into adulthood. Be an eParent®! Together with your […]

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Ever feel left out when your teen talks about tweets, blogs or IM? Wish you stood a chance playing a video game with your teen?

As parents, we may not understand or even like the activities that capture our teen’s interest, but curiosity and engagement are stepping-stones to learning. By interacting with our teens around their interests, we can support their curiosity and encourage other interests. Be an eParent®! Appreciate your teen’s new skills, interests and abilities. Ask your teen to […]

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