Parenting

People new to or considering homeschooling often wonder what it takes to become a homeschool teacher—what makes a mom or dad qualified to teach their children? I believe any parent willing to invest their time and energy into their children’s education can successfully homeschool, but are there traits or actions…

As schools prepare to reopen in September, the uncertainty of what to expect raises a myriad of questions and feelings for parents and students alike. What will the procedures be like in schools? Will children be asked to wear masks and social distance? Will full classroom learning continue, or will…

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation (or HRC Foundation) and the University of Connecticut conducted a vast survey of over 12,000 LGBTQ+ teens across the US, revealing prevalent mental health challenges among this group. They feel depressed, worthless, and hopeless—additionally, they face rejection and feel unsafe as well as unsupported. Survey…

Click here to schedule online counseling at Thriveworks. Hi, my name is Crystal Smith. I’m a Licensed Professional Counselor with Thriveworks and I’ve been asked to spend a couple minutes today addressing the question, “How can I best co-parent with my ex during COVID-19?” I think this is a really…

Click here to schedule online counseling at Thriveworks. Hey there, I’m Joy. I’m a Licensed Professional Counselor at Thriveworks in Chesterfield, Virginia. I absolutely love working with families. Families have drama and excitement. Highs and lows in the context of family is where we really live, where our true self…

Cyberbullying has become increasingly common in recent years, with 59% of American teens facing some sort of online harassment during 2018. Despite this, around 15% of parents still haven’t heard of cyberbullying, and some of those who have don’t really understand what it entails. With this in mind, we’ll share…

Many of us have a love-hate relationship with social media: We’ve got accounts on every platform there is, but we debate whether using these accounts is good or bad for our health. Some decide they’re better off without social media; some cut back and find a sweet spot; and others…

Traumatic stress leaves you feeling terrible. When you’re experiencing traumatic stress, your body tenses and gives in to physiological changes that can lead to digestive issues and headaches. When children experience this kind of overwhelming emotion, it limits their ability to engage positively in learning. Curiosity is a result of…

Older brothers and sisters push around their younger siblings. But parents can put an end to this sibling bullying by spending more quality time with their firstborn. A University of Warwick study found that giving the eldest child more attention will prevent them from feeling threatened by and bullying siblings….

When my parents decided to divorce, I was 19 years old and a sophomore in college. Fortunately, because I was 19, I was able to cope (mostly). I was able to understand and adjust accordingly. I also had distractions aplenty, being that I was away at college. My kid brother,…

Dealing with an angry child can lead to all sorts of frustrations—however, it’s important that parents address these angry outbursts properly. Fortunately there’s a 3D model that works to build a child’s self-esteem, encourage their healthy expression of their feelings, and cultivate a healthy parent-child relationship. First, parents should cast…

New research shows that if parents want to successfully reduce their children’s screen-time, they should cut back on their own screen-time. Kids are spending more and more time playing on iPads and sitting in front of the TV, which feeds an increase in obesity among children. The researchers sought to…