As spring kicks into high gear, many parents struggle with the anxiety they associate with prom and graduation season. Parents of chronically misbehaved kids might wonder, “Does my child even deserve this privilege?” Other parents are nervous that their child might do drugs, drink, have sex—or all of the above. The high cost of prom... Read more »
“My son is dating the most awful girl. Why can’t I get him to see that?” “I really don’t like my daughter’s boyfriend. How can I make her break up with him?” Many parents contact the parent coaching team every week asking questions about how to get their son or daughter to stop seeing the person they are... Read more »
This article is the first in a 3-part series by Kim Abraham, LMSW and Marney Studaker-Cordner, LMSW on the growing problem of adult children living at home. Are you one of the millions of frustrated, exhausted parents whose unmotivated adult child still lives at home with you? Like many in this situation, you might be feeling... Read more »
This article deals with military schools, boarding schools, reform schools, boot camps, wilderness camps and other troubled teen programs intended as an intervention for troubled youths and their families. These programs differ from in-patient substance abuse programs or mental health facilities where children and teens who may be a risk to themselves or others get... Read more »
Does your child ignore your requests to clean his room? Does he seem unable or unwilling to do even the simplest household chores? How do you teach a child to be responsible without nagging and screaming? In addition to being a mom herself, Janet Lehman, MSW, is a social worker who successfully ran residential treatment... Read more »
Does your teen seem completely unmotivated? For parents of teens, the refrains of, "Whatever," and "I don't care," can become all too familiar. In this interview, teenage behavior expert Josh Shipp explains where your child's motivation really lies—and how you can tap into it. Q. What should parents do when their child seems to be unmotivated? I... Read more »
Does your child refuse to take responsibility for anything? Or maybe your teen plays the victim card and is a pro at turning around an argument so that you feel like you're the one to blame. You may not realize it, but your child has thinking errors that justify them getting their way—or getting out... Read more »
Does your child ignore every consequence you give him? James Lehman can help with 10 specific ways to make consequences work—even for the most resistant child. When kids are faced with something unpleasant, they'll often act like it doesn't matter to them. When your child says, “I don't care,” or seems unaffected when you give him... Read more »
If you give in to every little want and need your child expresses, you create and nurture a false sense of entitlement, which can lead to significant problems later on. Almost as soon as your child begins to talk, you'll start to hear him ask for things. For example, when an infant cries, he's asking to... Read more »
You often hear kids say, "I'm sorry, but..." and follow their apology with an excuse. "I'm sorry, BUT you wouldn't let me play my video games." "I'm sorry I kicked a hole in the wall, BUT you told me I couldn't go outside." What your child really means is this: "I'm sorry, BUT it was your fault." Or another... Read more »