Is your teenager depressed? The symptoms may be harder to spot than obvious blues. The following are some of the signs of teenage depression, and are most significant when they occur in combination and over a period lasting more than two weeks. • First, sadness, anxiety and hopelessness. • Second, lack of interest in food […]
Adults often ask me, “What question do you hear most from teens?” The most frequent concern that teens have, and the one most often voiced by patients, and in letters from readers of our books is, “Am I normal?” This question can be asked in many different ways. One teen might say, “I’m fourteen, but
Has this happened in your house? You ask your kids to do something and they say “in a minute” and you go off like a fire cracker. And if they do something wrong, you don’t just tell them, you yell? If you answered yes then here are some ideas: Physically, try leaving the room immediately,
Eating properly is not only a matter of health, but a life skill that includes social skills which your children must be taught. You can only turn bad eating habits around by making it clear that they must STOP, and by insisting that everyone agree to a consistent plan. Put the plan in writing like
What’s happened? Your sweet little baby just turned two and all of a sudden you hear yourself saying it…No, No, NO. Well, it probably seems like you are “always” saying no because you rarely had to say it before. Now that she is two, it’s a whole new ball game. Your child is mobile, curious,
If you are going through a divorce in your family the best advice is to be honest with your children, share your feelings, and keep explanations very simple. Do not do any blaming! Reassure them though some things in their daily lives will change, many things will remain just the same, such as your love
Don’t ask why–but if a child’s not interested in dinosaurs, you should consider calling the emergency room. Among the new books with dinosaurs, look at the low price Dinosaur Travel: A Guide for Families on the Go, by the skilled writer and artist team Laurie Krasny Brown and Marc Brown (Little Brown, paperback, $5.95, ages
Children are like emotional sponges. They will pick up on your tension and anxiety, even if you say nothing. In many cases this can cause more stress than would the truth, because they may imagine far bigger problems than you have, or may think they are the cause of the tension. Many parents feel uncomfortable
She may call a boy she likes ten or more times a day, perhaps leaving suggestive messages on the answering machine. She may write a boy notes that would make even the most liberal grown Child of the Sixties (or Seventies) blush. She may take the lead in urging sexual activity. She is the central
Competition for admission to top colleges has spawned whole new industries-from individuals who will coach a student and his family through the entire admissions process to firms that prepare students for standardized tests such as the SAT and ACT. Some community centers, high schools and community colleges are getting in on the act by offering
