Teen Pregnancy: Risk Factors and Intervention
We like to think of our society as progressive and capable of solving our social ills one problem at a time, but the fact of the matter is that, among industrialized nations, the U.S. leads the way in teen pregnancy. Currently, 4 out of every 10 girls in the U.S. will become pregnant by their 20th birthday. Continue reading
Affirming Your Child’s Voice: How and When to Encourage Your Child to Speak Up
We want our children to be creative thinkers and share their ideas. Yet, we don’t always applaud when they publicly state opinions about school rules or challenge a teacher’s grading system. We want our teens to start thinking for themselves, but we often chastise them when those thoughts reveal beliefs that are contrary to our family morals or societal norms. Continue reading
The Myth of the “Troubled Teen”
Although adolescence is a time of change, it doesn’t’ mean that relationships with teens must change for the worse. When parents invite their children to go through the natural process of growing up and make the time to share in the process, the teen years can be a satisfying and rewarding time for the whole family. Continue reading
A Journey into the Fascinating Minds of Babies
At a recent Ted Global Talk, Alison Gopnik, a professor of psychology and philosophy, takes us into the fascinating minds of babies and children, and shows us how much we understand before we even realize we do. Continue reading
The Nutritional Challenges to Your Children’s Health
With families buzzing around a mile a moment, parents are challenged not only to shop for, but to also find the time to prepare healthy meals at home. It is no wonder that many families find themselves in the drive-thru lane on the way home from work or sports practice. Continue reading
Innovative Shift in Education Taking Place in England
Some kids learn by listening; others learn by doing. Geoff Mulgan gives a short introduction to the Studio School, a new kind of school in the UK where small teams of kids learn by working on projects that are, as Mulgan puts it, “for real.” Underlying it all are the very simple ideas that large numbers of teenagers learn best by doing things, they learn best in teams and they learn best by doing things for real — all the opposite of what mainstream schooling actually does. Continue reading
