2022-04-25 13:40
It’s normal for tweens, teens or young adults to feel nervous in some social situations. For example, going on a date or giving a presentation at school may cause that feeling of butte… Read More
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Middle Earth Blog
middleearthnj.wordpress.com
Blog for parents, teachers and other community members discussing teen and adolescent issues, ranging from school, drugs, sex, constructive use of time, responsibility and more.
2022-04-18 12:21
Many teens are talented at making their parents feel guilty. Their protests over your actions can be endless… “I have the earliest curfew.” “None of my friends have… Read More
2022-04-11 15:44
If you’re someone whose tweens or teens are being taken care of by other adults – whether that’s an ex-spouse every weekend, a neighbor while at work, or a grandparent for… Read More
2022-04-04 20:33
Everyone has their favorite teachers. Whether it’s the funny teacher who made the class entertaining or that empathetic teacher who made us feel understood, teachers can have a big imp… Read More
2022-03-28 13:44
Teasing. The dictionary defines it as a statement intended to provoke or make fun of someone in a playful way. In some families, members often tease each other, and depending on the personal… Read More
2022-03-21 15:02
Our society has some strong stereotypes about the “type of parent” who raises a teen who is a troublemaker. Our culture implies that kind of kid must belong to a parent who doesn… Read More
2022-03-14 13:43
He, she, they… such small words, but they carry new meaning for Generation Z. Across the country, middle and high school students are talking to their parents in different ways about… Read More
2022-03-07 13:10
If your family has a history of addiction, your child will have an increased risk of developing one too. For example, research shows that children of alcoholics are four times more likely to… Read More
2022-02-28 14:59
Any adult who has a teenager in their life knows that it is not an easy task to get them to talk and share. Conversing with a teen can be filled with one-word responses and plenty of eye-rol… Read More
2022-02-21 14:25
Pornography today is significantly different than in previous generations. Before the Internet, porn was generally limited to pictures in Playboy magazine and renting X-rated movies from the… Read More
2022-02-14 13:20
Body piercings are quite common in the United States, and so it should come as no shock that parents often face that difficult question from their child, “Can I get my _____ pierced?&r&hell…Read More
2022-02-07 16:15
American teens have very different viewpoints on whether their race or ethnicity will help or hurt their ability to get ahead in life, as well as the existence of White privilege, according… Read More
2022-01-30 22:16
There’s been a lot of talk about “mindfulness” in our culture lately, but many people don’t fully understand the term. Mindfulness is when we try to stay consciously… Read More
2022-01-24 13:51
Many parents look toward the teen years with dread. They hear the horror stories of back-talking, eye-rolling, and rebellion, and wish they could just skip the whole thing. If you’re i… Read More
2022-01-17 14:24
Setbacks in life are inevitable. No matter how hard we try, we all fail sometimes. However, even though we all know that failure is a normal part of life, we fear it. We wonder how it will d… Read More
2022-01-10 14:00
Over the last decade, mental health among youth has deteriorated. Unfortunately, while adolescent mental health was already at a very low point, a number of recent social issues – the… Read More
2022-01-02 14:32
The beginning of a new year feels like a fresh start, which is probably why so many of us resolve to improve something about ourselves. Unfortunately, New Year’s resolutions can be har… Read More
2021-12-20 14:02
The holidays are upon us, and many teens want to participate in parties or other social celebrations. It can be really hard to know how best to keep teens safe and healthy – both from… Read More
2021-12-13 15:14
Do you know a teen that has so much potential but just seems to fall short? Sometimes we develop negative behaviors or thoughts that hinder our success or prevent us from achieving our goals… Read More
2021-12-06 16:01
When teens behave badly, it can feel infuriating! Parents are bound to feel frustrated when their teen acts defiant, withdrawn, aggressive, or unmotivated. We might feel that our teen is ung… Read More
2021-11-29 16:12
The gift giving season for the holidays is in full swing. Unfortunately, many families are finding this year’s shopping to be more difficult than usual. The pandemic has caused inflati… Read More
2021-11-22 13:33
This week is Thanksgiving, a time to reflect on all the things in our life that make us grateful. For many of us, family tops that list. Our family members can bring meaning, purpose and lov… Read More
2021-11-15 15:42
Rejection can be incredibly painful, especially for adolescents who are developmentally wired to try to fit in and belong. Research shows that our brains experience rejection in the same way… Read More
2021-11-08 16:17
Adolescents are not always the easiest people to talk to. They might mumble, roll their eyes, give one word answers or simply shrug when you ask questions. Rather than volunteer to talk, the… Read More
2021-11-01 12:09
American culture does not value sleep. In fact, it almost seems a badge of honor to be slurping down coffee as you tell anyone who will listen how busy you are and how late you stayed up to… Read More
2021-10-25 12:56
All of us struggle with self-doubt from time to time, but adolescents especially struggle with acceptance due to their lack of maturity and perspective, as well as their search for their own… Read More
2021-10-18 12:08
There have been multiple studies and reports that suggest social media has a negative impact on the mental health of youth, including poor self-ratings of mental health, increased levels of… Read More
2021-10-11 11:59
As school begins, parents are often considering how to ensure their child has a successful school year. Ironically, one of the easiest ways to ensure a child’s success is a factor that… Read More
2021-10-04 14:43
The majority of today’s teenagers are struggling with negative self-talk. Negative self-talk is an inner dialogue you have in your own mind that puts yourself down, focuses on weakness… Read More
2021-09-27 15:04
The coronavirus pandemic changed our lives in many ways, but one change that surprised researchers occurred in colleges across the country. College students altered their substance use last… Read More
2021-09-20 14:05
Do you have a teen who doesn’t ever give their best effort? Do they hide behind screens with no interest in extracurricular activities or finding a job or determining a future path? Ma… Read More
2021-09-13 13:52
The new school year has begun. While many teens are grateful to be back in-person, the return to school also brings new stressors. Many youth are feeling a lot of social anxiety after being… Read More
2021-09-06 21:24
Our New Jersey communities have experienced a devastating flood. So many of our families have lost homes and possessions. The recovery to normalcy for some locations, especially Manville and… Read More
2021-08-30 14:37
Teenagers love social media, and they love dares. Unfortunately, sometimes these can mix into a bad combination. Lately, TikTok in particular has had several dares or challenges go viral tha… Read More
2021-08-23 12:15
Eye rolling. Door slamming. Loud sighing. Unexplained yelling. If you have a teenager in your house, you have more than likely experienced the “famous” adolescent bad mood. Every… Read More
2021-08-16 13:00
Your teenager may have over 500 followers on Instagram, but does he or she have a couple of close friends? A report released in July 2021 by the Journal of Adolescence stated that feel… Read More
2021-08-09 13:56
Life is full of changes. Teens have to deal with changing schools, peer groups, puberty, interests, as well as whatever changes are facing the family as a whole, such as moving, divorce, or… Read More
2021-08-02 11:52
Almost every expert in parenting will offer some version of the following advice: set clear rules and consistently follow through on consequences when the rules are broken. This is easier sa… Read More
2021-07-26 12:44
Adolescence can be a difficult time in life for both teens AND parents. If you are the parent of a difficult, defiant, rebellious or troubled teen, you likely go through periods of anger, fr… Read More
2021-07-19 12:37
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 50% of all chronic mental conditions begin by age 14 and 75% of them begin by age 24. That means that the majority of people with mental… Read More
2021-07-12 11:17
Balancing the demands of more than one child is never easy, but it can be especially challenging if one of your children has special needs. Generally the needs of a child with a disability m… Read More
2021-07-05 13:36
As we finish celebrating our nation’s Independence Day, it’s a great time to consider how to instill good citizenship in youth, as the future of our country. While our country is… Read More
2021-06-28 12:20
According to multiple studies and surveys, the majority of youth feel anxious about climate change and feel that their opinions about the climate crisis are being ignored. Teens today are bo… Read More
2021-06-21 12:44
If you’re a frequent reader of this blog, then you are probably a little tired of hearing “be a role model.” It’s usually our first go-to with any behavior we want ou… Read More
2021-06-14 12:24
During the pandemic, many businesses had to close their doors and lay off workers. Now that everything is opening back up, there is a huge demand for labor. However, many adults are still he… Read More
2021-06-07 13:24
Young children are full of creativity and strong imagination. They explore their world with few boundaries. But as children enter adolescence, they become self-conscious and face intense pre… Read More
2021-05-31 13:02
Research shows that teenagers with involved parents are more likely to make better decisions, stay out of trouble, and develop into successful, independent adults. However, during adolescenc… Read More
2021-05-24 12:49
Everyone needs a way to cope with their emotions when we face very difficult feelings, painful memories, or overwhelming situations. Hopefully, we find healthy coping skills, but sometimes… Read More
2021-05-17 13:12
Today’s teenagers are more stressed and anxious than ever before. Big life transitions, such as attending college, can place additional stress on a still-developing adolescent brain. A… Read More
2021-05-10 13:49
Anxiety is very common among teens. In fact, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) states that nearly one in three adolescents (31.9%) meet the criteria for an anxiety disorder. Researcher… Read More
2021-05-03 13:18
There are lots of good reasons for tweens and teens to see a therapist. Your son or daughter may struggle with an issue, such as defiance, anxiety, depression, anger, self-harm, an eating di… Read More
2021-04-27 11:49
Peer pressure is a common part of life for adolescents. Humans tend to compare themselves to each other and pressure kicks in. Sometimes that pressure can be good, such as trying to get stra… Read More
2021-04-19 12:25
When we imagine sexual assault, we tend to think of a stranger jumping out of a dark alley to attack an unsuspecting woman. However, that is rarely the case. Nearly 85% of all victims of sex… Read More
2021-04-12 14:38
The month of April is Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month, so we will be posting a series of blogs the next couple of weeks that deal with preventing sexual assault among our youth… Read More
2021-04-05 13:06
Our culture doesn’t value asking for help. People tend to feel ashamed if they can’t do something themselves or embarrassed that they don’t have all the answers. Some have… Read More
2021-03-29 12:55
When your student enters high school, college seems like a long way off. You think, ‘we have four years to think about college!’ In reality, your student has three years to creat… Read More
2021-03-22 11:55
One of the most important skills we can instill in teenagers is financial wisdom. If we want them to develop into successful adults, our youth need to learn fundamental concepts, such as sav… Read More
2021-03-15 13:39
The majority of parents would agree that they want to treat everyone in the family the same. We want to be fair and consistent with each of our children so that they feel valued and loved an… Read More
2021-03-08 16:15
As children enter adolescence, significant changes begin. Developmentally, teens are trying to create their own identity and cultivate independence. As a result, youth naturally begin to pul… Read More
2021-03-01 14:22
No one particularly likes conflict, but disagreements are a natural part of any relationship, and two people are never going to agree about everything. Children need to know how to han… Read More
2021-02-22 14:55
Today begins a national awareness week for eating disorders. It’s estimated that 30 million Americans (20 million women and 10 million men) have struggled with an eating disorder at so… Read More
2021-02-15 13:50
Many high school students are currently in the process of choosing their courses for the next academic year. High schools offer many course options for students, including several that allow… Read More
2021-02-08 16:20
According to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), the most common crimes committed by youth from 2015-2020 were theft, simple assault, and property crime. Unfortunately, these types of deli… Read More
2021-02-01 16:12
February is National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month, which makes it a perfect time to promote safe, healthy relationships to youth. Teens should know that the term… Read More
2021-01-25 16:06
Ever had that moment where you want to ask your teen, “What were you thinking?!?” As teens take the journey of becoming independent adults, exploring their limits and abilities i… Read More
2021-01-18 16:35
Today begins No Name-Calling Week, an awareness week organized by K-12 educators and students to end name-calling and bullying in ... Continue reading Read More
2021-01-11 14:25
Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce recently put out a report in 2020 called Workplace Basics: The Competencies ... Continue reading Read More
2021-01-04 14:45
With the start of a new year, many people are making resolutions, and the most common resolution is to eat ... Continue reading Read More
2020-12-21 13:59
The holidays are normally full of fun social engagements. From New Year’s Eve parties to holiday gatherings with family to ... Continue reading Read More
2020-12-14 13:49
The pandemic has impacted almost everyone’s mental health in some way. American teens are no exception, and many in the ... Continue reading Read More
2020-12-07 14:22
For some teens, standing up for oneself is intimidating. They might worry that they will lose social status or that ... Continue reading Read More
2020-11-30 15:47
Every year since 2013, teens have consistently reported higher levels of stress than adults in the American Psychological Association annual ... Continue reading Read More
2020-11-23 14:04
2020 might seem like an inappropriate year to be talking about gratitude. So many things have gone wrong this year, ... Continue reading Read More
2020-11-16 16:53
The pandemic has stolen so many rites of passage from our teens – and our families – this year. From ... Continue reading Read More
2020-11-09 13:34
“Self-awareness” is the ability to accurately: recognize and identify your emotions, thoughts and values; judge your own performance, strengths and ... Continue reading Read More
2020-11-02 13:48
Family members don’t always get along, and brothers and sisters are no exception. Siblings often experience jealousy, competition, and disagreements. ... Continue reading Read More
2020-10-26 09:48
Most parents work really hard to raise their children in the best way that they can. Circumstances can make that ... Continue reading Read More
2020-10-19 13:55
October is National Bullying Prevention Month. With so many students learning remotely this school year during the pandemic, bullying is ... Continue reading Read More
2020-10-12 14:31
Generation Z (or Gen Z), people born between the years 1995-2012, are digital natives, meaning they’ve been raised with computers, ... Continue reading Read More
2020-10-04 19:39
The population of the United States is very divided along political lines, and the current political climate is volatile. In ... Continue reading Read More
2020-09-28 13:14
Homework has always been disliked by students, but with many American students attending school online, homework encompasses more than ever. ... Continue reading Read More
2020-09-20 13:26
As confirmed COVID-19 cases rise across the United States, parents might feel confused by or frustrated with teens who don’t ... Continue reading Read More
2020-09-13 13:06
Parenting doesn’t come with an instruction manual, and there’s not one “right” way to do it. However there is scientific ... Continue reading Read More
2020-09-07 14:01
Setting goals is an important skill that can help anyone be more successful in life. Goals can provide direction and ... Continue reading Read More
2020-08-31 13:46
As schools begin to reopen or start their school year online, Americans have a wide range of passionate opinions on ... Continue reading Read More
2020-08-23 13:15
The school year is beginning, but it’s never looked so different. Many schools across the world are turning to online ... Continue reading Read More
2020-08-17 14:45
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there are more than 2 million injuries from motor vehicle crashes in ... Continue reading Read More
2020-08-09 13:35
For those of you with college freshmen headed to school this Fall, packing for a dorm room is a daunting ... Continue reading Read More
2020-08-03 12:28
New college students have always faced an increased risk of illness from the flu, meningitis, mononucleosis and colds. But the ... Continue reading Read More
2020-07-27 13:24
Purpose can be described as a goal that is both personally meaningful and makes a positive difference in the world. ... Continue reading Read More
2020-07-20 12:36
With our nation experiencing intense divisions ranging from politics to face masks to racial injustice, developing empathy in the next ... Continue reading Read More
2020-07-13 12:45
During this difficult time of upheaval, when the news is focused on the pandemic, racial unrest, economic difficulties, and political ... Continue reading Read More
2020-07-06 12:53
Many high school students are pushed towards college as the logical next step in their life’s journey. However, college is ... Continue reading Read More
2020-06-29 13:09
For many teens, the pandemic has shut down or cancelled many extracurricular activities that are so critical to the college ... Continue reading Read More
2020-06-22 09:43
Having honest and uncomfortable conversations is a healthy part of growing up. There are some conversations, however, that parents may ... Continue reading Read More
2020-06-15 16:51
The year of 2020 has brought a host of losses to everyone worldwide in a variety of ways. One loss ... Continue reading Read More
2020-06-08 10:37
As protests take place around the United States, worried parents of all ethnicities struggle with what to say to their ... Continue reading Read More
2020-06-01 12:40
Summer 2020 will be unlike any summer your child has ever experienced. Many plans and activities have changed or been ... Continue reading Read More
2020-05-25 12:44
Rude behavior is fairly common among adolescents, but with so many families locked down in their homes during the pandemic, ... Continue reading Read More
2020-05-18 10:18
When asked what characteristics in people create success, experts often include ‘resilience’ on their list. Resilience means coping with adversity ... Continue reading Read More
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