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There are moments when I look at my teenage daughter and think: "Who is this person, and what happened to the sweet little girl who used to think I was the funniest person on Earth?" There are days when she is thoughtful, funny, affectionate and genuinely wonderful to be around....And then there are other days. Days when I ask a completely reasonable question and receive a look that suggests I have committed a serious international crime.

There are few things more frightening for a parent than realizing that their child has been struggling emotionally and did not feel comfortable telling anyone. Teenagers and young adults may experience anxiety, depression, loneliness, trauma, relationship problems, academic pressure, bullying, substance use, suicidal thoughts, or feelings of hopelessness.

The most effective consequences are those that are predictable, connected to the behavior, consistently enforced, and paired with warmth and coaching rather than punishment. Research from developmental psychology, behavioral psychology, and parenting science consistently shows that children and adolescents are more likely to change behavior when parents combine high expectations with high emotional support (often referred to as authoritative parenting) rather than harsh punis

For many young people, entering the workforce has become less about taking a first step and more about believing they must identify the perfect career before taking any step at all. As a result, they become stuck in what psychologists often refer to as the fight, flight, or freeze response.

As a school psychologist, I've found that many teens and young adults do care deeply about their future—but they don't always know how to show it. Others care so much that they become overwhelmed, avoid thinking about it altogether, or shut down whenever the topic comes up. Understanding the difference can change everything.

As a school psychologist, I've worked with hundreds of children who insist they "hate reading." Yet, after taking a closer look, I've found that very few children truly dislike stories or learning. More often, they dislike how reading makes them feel. For some, reading feels frustrating. For others, it feels slow, boring, overwhelming, or like another school assignment waiting to be graded.

Learn how Authoritative Parenting 2.0 combines empathy with clear boundaries to raise confident, resilient, emotionally healthy children.

Procrastination is one of the greatest barriers for growth and success. Just getting started is often harder than sustaining momentum after the first few minutes!

Data continues to reveal that waiting for children to use social media is often better than allowing them access when they are young

Lying is actually a normal part of child development. It often reflects immature impulse control, fear of punishment, wishful thinking, social experimentation or underdeveloped emotional regulation rather than malicious intent. Understanding why children lie is one of the most powerful ways to respond effectively and build long-term honesty.

As a school psychologist, I have seen how understanding a child’s behavior patterns, recognizing triggers, and teaching coping skills before a child becomes overwhelmed can reduce the frequency and intensity of meltdowns. This article offers practical steps, phrases, and coping strategies tailored to different ages and settings to help parents support their children effectively.

Children do not outgrow fears simply with time or reassurance. They outgrow them through experience—specifically, repeated experiences of facing something difficult and discovering

Sleep is one of the most underestimated pillars of child development. In clinical practice, I routinely see children referred for attention problems, anxiety, mood instability, or behavioral outbursts—only to discover that chronic sleep deprivation is a central driver.

If you had to hire someone for your company, would you hire the Harvard grad with poor social skills and an inability to collaborate with others or the community college grade who is relatable, socially mature and flexible? Unless those traits don't matter (think of professions with limited social interactions) you're going to want someone on your team who can get along with others, compromise and read the room.

Parents today are surrounded by apps, tablets, and “educational” digital toys promising to boost children’s learning and attention. But research increasingly suggests that many traditional toys are actually better for developing children’s emotional regulation, focus, and executive functioning. In my work with children and families, I often recommend going back to the basics.

This article focuses on how parents inadvertently reinforce dependence in children and teens

Parenting is a journey filled with joy, challenges, and countless learning moments. As someone who has spent years exploring effective ways to foster communication, healthy development and social/emotional growth, I understand how important it is to adopt approaches that promote positive change and connection. One of the most impactful ways to achieve this is through positive parenting techniques. These methods improve behavior and strengthen the bond between parent and child

The basic developmental architecture of children's brains has NOT been radically transformed over the past few generations. Children still need attachment, play, movement, sleep, social interaction, challenge, exploration, responsibility, novelty and opportunities to solve problems. What has changed dramatically is the environment in which children's brains are developing.