About 50% of American adults make a new years resolutions each year; however,
The issue is that most do not know how to set proper goals. Everyone is capable of change—age is not a factor. Here are some tips to ensure goal setting success:
My son is in the 10th grade. During the past year he has become more impulsive and easily distractible. Can students this old, have ADHD?
Adolescents with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) may act impulsively, be easily distracted and have difficulty focusing, but this is not necessarily specific to ADHD. Anxious kids may be hyper and restless, depressed kids may be inattentive and disorganized and typical teens may display all of the above. How is a parent to know if their teen is experiencing turbulent times or engaging in developmentally appropriate activities?
Our daughter is really out of control. My husband and I are considering sending her to a wilderness program or therapeutic boarding school, but we are very hesitant. We really feel we are out of options. How did this happen and what do we do?
This is a difficult question for any parent to ask, but you are not alone. Many families have faced this same concern; however, wilderness programs and therapeutic schools can change lives.
What is an Educational Consultant?
Consultants assist families with locating private residential treatment facilities, programs, and schools for troubled adolescents and adults. Consultants have a unique expertise and knowledge to help families choose a facility or school program that is a good personal match for the identified individual, a program that will foster a particular individual’s growth in all areas of life including academic, social/emotional concerns, and clinical issues.
My son seems to be spending a lot of time playing poker with his friends. He also reads about it on the internet and watches it on TV. Could he have a gambling problem?
Most kids are exposed to gambling long before they reach the adolescent years. They bet with their friends about who can run faster, make a basket, or choose the winning team. They play chance games at fast food restaurants with lucky scratch-off cards or look under the cap of carbonated beverages to win a prize. In fact, I will bet that you have made an innocent wager with your child and didn’t even realize it.
Teenager often experience a “crisis in confidence” when something in their world ignites. This can be as simple as trying a new activity or as complicated as navigating social relationships. And while feelings may be involved, confidence is not about emotions; rather, it is about ability and being good at something. Unfortunately, when anyone lacks confidence, it can lead to negative feelings, situational depression, and undue anxiety.
Some of my daughter’s friends seem to be teasing her a little more than they should. She seems hurt by this but tells me there is nothing wrong. Could she be hiding her feelings?
Girls can be just as aggressive as boys. In fact, some might consider female hostility more dramatic and damaging than boy bullying. Girls antagonize in a covert, complex and long-term manner; boys, on the other hand, are overt, obnoxious, and instantaneous. Girls employ socially manipulative tactics often causing good friends to be instant enemies.
Are we raising ourselves?
This question is the classic nature vs. nurture debate that has plagued man for many centuries. Let’s define these concepts a bit more clearly. Nature is the genetic disposition that we are born with such as hair color, size, intelligence, and even anxiety. Nurture is the idea that we are taught to be the way that we are—our environment impacts how we behave. No matter what side of the debate you are on, the answer to our question is YES—we are raising ourselves.
Many believe that bully behaviors are confined to school yard taunts and teases. This is not always the case. Many children return home to face further humiliation especially if they happen to be overweight. Parents often have difficulty approaching their teenagers about any difficult subject, but weight issues appear to be particularly misunderstood.
I was recently asked by a high school baseball coach to reduce the anxiety of his players, particularly as they step into the batter box. As I reviewed my strategies with the team, it became apparent these ideas were much bigger than the game itself and could be applied metaphorically to everyday life. Check it out and feel free to respond with some anxiety reducing strategies of your own.
