Surviving (Your Child's) Adolescence

Adolescence

How Adolescence Intensifies the Parent-Child Relationship

Carl E Pickhardt Ph.D. on March 13, 2023

Because one function of adolescence is to gradually grow parent and child apart, there can be more times of emotional tension as this necessary separation occurs.

Because one function of adolescence is to gradually grow parent and child apart, there can be more times of emotional tension as this necessary separation occurs.

Adolescence

Parenting Adolescents Through Middle-School Despondency

Carl E Pickhardt Ph.D. on February 27, 2023

There is some necessary pain from becoming adolescent as growing up requires giving up and creating loss.

There is some necessary pain from becoming adolescent as growing up requires giving up and creating loss.

Parenting

Parenting the Adventure-Seeking Adolescent

Carl E Pickhardt Ph.D. on February 13, 2023

Adolescence is a more adventurous age, but it's an anxious time for parents, who need to curb their emotions in order to can help teenagers learn from episodes of hard experience.

Adolescence is a more adventurous age, but it's an anxious time for parents, who need to curb their emotions in order to can help teenagers learn from episodes of hard experience.

Divorce

The Challenge of Co-Parenting an Adolescent After Divorce

Carl E Pickhardt Ph.D. on January 30, 2023

Because parental divorce often accelerates adolescent separation from family, developing a goodwill working relationship with your ex provides necessary adult support.

Because parental divorce often accelerates adolescent separation from family, developing a goodwill working relationship with your ex provides necessary adult support.

Parenting

Thankless Parenting: Managing Authority With Your Adolescent

Carl E Pickhardt Ph.D. on January 16, 2023

It takes parental authority to create and keep family order, and parental understanding of adolescent resistance to work through disagreements that normally arise.

It takes parental authority to create and keep family order, and parental understanding of adolescent resistance to work through disagreements that normally arise.

Adolescence

Managing the Fullness of Time Develops Adolescent Maturity

Carl E Pickhardt Ph.D. on January 3, 2023

Helping an adolescent develop maturity involves encouraging choices based on consulting past experience, present opportunity, and future consequences.

Helping an adolescent develop maturity involves encouraging choices based on consulting past experience, present opportunity, and future consequences.

Stress

Helping Older Teenagers Cope With End-of-Adolescence Stress

Carl E Pickhardt Ph.D. on December 19, 2022

The end of a child's adolescence can be stressful because assuming functional responsibility for independent self-management can be very demanding.

The end of a child's adolescence can be stressful because assuming functional responsibility for independent self-management can be very demanding.

Adolescence

Emotional Crises at the End of Adolescence

Carl E Pickhardt Ph.D. on December 5, 2022

The end of adolescence means assuming adult independence, and this assumption can be emotionally trying to do.

The end of adolescence means assuming adult independence, and this assumption can be emotionally trying to do.

Adolescence

How a Child's Separation Into Adolescence Alters Family Life

Carl E Pickhardt Ph.D. on November 21, 2022

One ongoing challenge when parenting an adolescent is to stay positively connected with their teenager as separation grows them apart.

One ongoing challenge when parenting an adolescent is to stay positively connected with their teenager as separation grows them apart.

Adolescence

Talking With Adolescents About the Importance of Competition

Carl E Pickhardt Ph.D. on November 7, 2022

For the growing adolescent, being able to compete for support, opportunity, and advancement is what the increasingly independent young person must learn to do.

For the growing adolescent, being able to compete for support, opportunity, and advancement is what the increasingly independent young person must learn to do.

Parenting

Parenting Adolescents About Cheating in High School

Carl E Pickhardt Ph.D. on October 24, 2022

It can often turn out that cheating is easier to do at the time than it is to live with later because of encountering unhappy effects one didn't consider or anticipate.

It can often turn out that cheating is easier to do at the time than it is to live with later because of encountering unhappy effects one didn't consider or anticipate.

Sex

Talking About Sex With Your Adolescent

Carl E Pickhardt Ph.D. on October 10, 2022

Personal Perspective: With the entry into adolescence, 3 parental conversations about sex need to begin: about sex as biology, sex as gender, and sex as activity.

Personal Perspective: With the entry into adolescence, 3 parental conversations about sex need to begin: about sex as biology, sex as gender, and sex as activity.

Adolescence

Adolescence and the Growing Power of Earning What One Wants

Carl E Pickhardt Ph.D. on September 26, 2022

Learning to earn what one wants in adolescence prepares the young person for earning their independent way as an adult.

Learning to earn what one wants in adolescence prepares the young person for earning their independent way as an adult.

Shyness

Parenting the Socially Shy Middle School Adolescent

Carl E Pickhardt Ph.D. on September 12, 2022

During the more insecure and self-conscious middle school years, young people can be more prone to shyness. Parents can help.

During the more insecure and self-conscious middle school years, young people can be more prone to shyness. Parents can help.

Adolescence

Why It's Harder to Pay Attention When Adolescence Begins

Carl E Pickhardt Ph.D. on August 29, 2022

Adolescence is a time of growing complexity, and attending to it is what a young person must learn to do.

Adolescence is a time of growing complexity, and attending to it is what a young person must learn to do.

Parenting

How Parents Can Teach Adolescents Responsibility

Carl E Pickhardt Ph.D. on August 15, 2022

One goal of parenting adolescents is teaching them to accept increasing responsibility that must ultimately support future independence.

One goal of parenting adolescents is teaching them to accept increasing responsibility that must ultimately support future independence.

Adolescence

How Parents Can Manage Teenage Resistance and Rebellion

Carl E Pickhardt Ph.D. on August 1, 2022

Some amount of youthful resistance, or even outright rebellion, allows teens' independence to grow.

Some amount of youthful resistance, or even outright rebellion, allows teens' independence to grow.

Adolescence

4 Successive Freedoms That Drive Adolescent Growth

Carl E Pickhardt Ph.D. on July 18, 2022

The push for growing freedom changes with adolescent growth, from separating from childhood, to associating with peers, to claiming independence.

The push for growing freedom changes with adolescent growth, from separating from childhood, to associating with peers, to claiming independence.

Adolescence

How Parental Authority Can Diminish During Adolescence

Carl E Pickhardt Ph.D. on July 5, 2022

Just because parents may lose some command authority with their adolescent doesn't mean they are without influence.

Just because parents may lose some command authority with their adolescent doesn't mean they are without influence.

Parenting

Parenting in an Age of Increased Shooter Violence

Carl E Pickhardt Ph.D. on June 20, 2022

Mass shooter murder in schools creates a challenge for parents, not just to protect their children but also to prepare their sons for living in nonviolent ways.

Mass shooter murder in schools creates a challenge for parents, not just to protect their children but also to prepare their sons for living in nonviolent ways.