Category Archives: Teen Brain

Is it hormones or mental health? What every parent needs to know.

Posted on March 5, 2018 by Nicole O'Donnell, RN

Updated: January 14, 2025 I heard shouting down the hall… then crying. My daughter entered the room with an empty mug in her hand and she’s sobbing. “She spilled my hot chocolate.” So we are crying over…. spilled hot chocolate? … Continue reading →

Posted in Children & Tweens, Emotional Well-Being & Mental Health for Your Child/Tween, Emotional Well-Being & Mental Health for Your Teen, Keeping Your Child/Tween Safe, Keeping Your Teen Safe, Parenting, Parenting Your Child/Tween, Parenting Your Teen, Teen Brain, Teens | Tagged development, emotional, emotions, hormones, Mental Health, Mental Illness, relationships, stress, Teen Brain, tweens, youth | 3 Comments

4 ways to inspire your teen to give back

Posted on January 10, 2018 by Tamara Kraszewski, RN

When our sons were about 14 and 16, their lives revolved around friends, food, sports and girls. Pretty typical, right? They were kind, compassionate kids who had done some mandatory volunteering, but as their parents we wanted them to see … Continue reading →

Posted in Children & Tweens, Emotional Well-Being & Mental Health for Your Child/Tween, Emotional Well-Being & Mental Health for Your Teen, Parenting, Parenting Your Child/Tween, Parenting Your Teen, Teen Brain, Teens | Tagged community, developmental assets, family time, giving back, teenagers, volunteer | 2 Comments

How to help your teen make big decisions

Posted on December 5, 2017 by Nicole O'Donnell, RN

“I need to decide what to do after high school!” This is the big topic of conversation in my house these days. It seems to be a cruel joke of nature that as teenagers approach one of the first big … Continue reading →

Posted in Emotional Well-Being & Mental Health for Your Teen, Parenting, Parenting Your Teen, Teen Brain, Teens, Transition to High School | Tagged after high school, college, high school, how to support, post-secondary, school, school health, stress, Teen Brain, university | 1 Comment

Baby you can drive my car… I think

Posted on October 17, 2017 by Nicole O'Donnell, RN

Handing the car keys over to my 16 year-old is one of the most difficult parenting moments I have yet to encounter. Putting her on a 10 hour flight as an unaccompanied minor had caused me angst and kept me … Continue reading →

Posted in Keeping Your Teen Safe, Parenting, Parenting Your Teen, Teen Brain, Teens | Tagged cellphone, decision making, distracted driving, driving, impaired driving, learning, role model, rules, Safety | 3 Comments

Our kids make great teachers

Posted on January 23, 2017 by Halton Guest Blogger

My tween and teens are a lot more tech-savvy than I am. They are naturally adept with today’s technology and have a skill for trouble shooting. I frequently find myself asking to draw on their expertise when I am learning … Continue reading →