This is a contributed post from Nik Bowers, a middle school expert teaching parents and tweens to build critical skills now so high school and adulting is easier. Follow her on Instagram Kids often act as expected in front of adults, but when they’re alone, they let their true selves surface. Educators know this about… The post Educator Implores Parents to Focus on Character Not Achievement appeared first on parentingteensandtweens.com ..read more

This is a contributed post by Whitney Fleming, co-owner of Parenting Teens & Tweens and author of the upcoming book You’re Not a Failure: My Teen Doesn’t Like Me Either. We recently received a few reader questions regarding co-ed sleepovers. The situations were different, but the question the same: Should I let my teen attend… The post I Want to Say No to a Co-Ed Sleepover, But My Teen Makes a Strong Case appeared first on parentingteensandtweens.com ..read more

This is a contributed piece by Parenting Teens & Tweens co-owner Whitney Fleming, author of You’re Not a Failure: My Teen Doesn’t Like Me Either. Sometimes, it happens like clockwork. Your teen walks through the door after a long day at school, and you say something like, “Hey! How was your day?” Your teen may… The post Five Critical Tips to Diffuse an Emotional Teen appeared first on parentingteensandtweens.com ..read more

While my friends all thought it was weird, when I was a teenager, I talked to my parents about the boys I was interested in. My extremely patient mom consoled me when one boy or another didn’t seem to know I existed, and my dad and I had long conversations about how one should behave… The post Not Sure How to Talk to Your Teen about Dating? Make Sure You Cover These 5 Things appeared first on parentingteensandtweens.com ..read more

For far too long, women have been significantly underrepresented in STEM fields. Despite progress in various areas of society, women still account for only 35% of STEM graduates—a number that has remained stubbornly stagnant over the past decade. This underrepresentation highlights the need for concerted efforts to address the barriers that prevent women from entering… The post Sure Fire Ways to Inspire Girls Who Stay Interested in STEM appeared first on parentingteensandtweens.com ..read more

As an executive in the education space and a mother of three children now in college, I have always been mindful of the skills my teens were developing, both in and out of the classroom. While raising teens, I understood how essential it was to supplement their education with real-world experience and tools. This approach… The post How to Help Teens Build the Life Skills They Need for School-Life Balance appeared first on parentingteensandtweens.com ..read more

Parenting teens is not for the weak of heart. It can be exasperating, terrifying, and humbling, all in the same day. Their still-developing brains cause teens to be emotional and erratic – sometimes they do incredibly stupid things and their behavior makes us question everything we’re doing. As parents, we only want what’s best for… The post Protect Your Relationship with Your Teen — Don’t Make These Mistakes appeared first on parentingteensandtweens.com ..read more

For decades I was convinced I needed to be needed to be loved—which translated into performance, especially in the tween and teen season. The stories my ego loved to tell all centered around a ‘lovability index’ which was essentially a laundry list of shoulds and comparative shouldn’ts regarding my role as a mom and where… The post Dear Moms of Teens: You Don’t Ever Have to Prove Your Value to Be Loved appeared first on parentingteensandtweens.com ..read more

Inside: stocking stuffers for teen boys and stocking stuffers for middle school boys. Tons of stocking stuffer ideas that are sure to be a hit this Christmas. When our boys are little it can be so much fun to pick out all the small gifts to include in their stockings each year. Watching their eyes… The post Over 100 Of The Absolutely Best Stocking Stuffer Ideas For Tween and Teen Boys appeared first on parentingteensandtweens.com ..read more

Inside: Halloween Boo Baskets can be a fun and simple way to get your teen into the Halloween spirit. Here are tons of fun ideas for filling their boo basket with tricks and treats they are sure to enjoy! Although some teens make it last longer than others, usually at some point in high school… The post Keep Halloween Alive: Easy Ways to Make a Boo Basket for Teens appeared first on parentingteensandtweens.com ..read more