Category: Parentally Speaking

Every September we acknowledge National Recovery Month to educate that substance use treatment can enable those with disorders to live healthily.

As children become teenagers, one of the more difficult adjustments for parents is figuring out when to hold on and when to let go. Teenagers naturally want more freedom to spend time with friends, make their own plans, travel without their parents, use their phones privately, and make more decisions for themselves. Parents, meanwhile, are…

Parenting is a mix of big, life-changing decisions as well as tiny, daily ones. The parenting style you take on will have long-term consequences for your family’s future. Learn more about the four types of psychologist-accepted parenting styles to determine which would be the best option for your family. 

Here are some back-to-school tips for parents looking to help their children prepare for the new school year.

Summer break can be a welcome reset for students and families. After a long school year, many young people are ready for slower mornings, more time with friends, outdoor activities, and a break from homework. But the shift into summer can also be an adjustment. School provides more than academics. It creates a daily rhythm,…

Many parents today are trying to raise children differently from how they were raised. They want to stay calm during conflict, listen to their child’s feelings, avoid harsh punishment, and build a stronger emotional connection at home. That is a good goal. Children and teens benefit from parents and caregivers who are warm, responsive, and…

As the school year ends, many New Jersey families expect summer to feel like an automatic reset. Students may have fewer assignments, no early morning bus rides, and, for some families, days spent at the shore or in community summer programs. But for some young people, the shift into summer can reveal how exhausted, disconnected,…

Peer Pressure Doesn’t End When Kids Go Home Peer pressure used to feel more contained. It showed up at school, at practice, or during a hangout, and then kids came home to a break from the social noise. Today, that “off switch” is harder to find. Group chats keep going after dinner, photos and comments…

The purpose of Alcohol Awareness Month is to point out the stigma that still surrounds alcoholism and substance abuse in general.

Why Communication Is One of the Most Powerful Protective Factors Many caregivers worry they need the “right” rules, the strictest limits, or the perfect consequences to keep their teen safe. That desire makes sense, especially when adolescence can feel unpredictable. But in many families, what makes the biggest long-term difference is not control. It is…

It’s common for a parent to think, “That doesn’t sound like my child,” after hearing what happened when their teen was with friends. Maybe your child went along with a prank, stayed out later than planned, tried something risky, or made a comment they wouldn’t normally make at home. When teens make choices around peers…