Becoming a Tuned In Parent

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By Jayme Waddell, MSW, LSW – January 29, 2025 –

Have you ever asked your child what they were thinking, only to get the response, “I don’t know?”

As frustrating as that answer is, it is probably true! The areas of the brain that handle planning and impulse control do not completely mature until about age 25. Therefore, while adults may see an unsafe behavior and avoid it, adolescents can’t always recognize the risk.

Without that impulse control, children are more likely to make quick decisions without thinking through the consequences. This is especially true when they see the behavior as something their peers or others on social media or video games are doing.

Staying connected with your child, knowing who and what they are involved with, and staying up to date about adolescent behavior trends will help you recognize signs your child may be engaging in something unsafe. Below are some tips to keep you “in the know” with your child.

  • Talk openly, talk often, and start now.

If you start talking with, and (most importantly) listening to, your child about things like peer relationships, substances, and personal safety at a young age, your child will know you are open to hearing what they have to say. Be careful that your words do not come across as a lecture. Instead, use open-ended questions to allow your child to talk freely. Remind your child it is safe for them to come to you about any topic.

  • Have clear family values.

What is important to you as a family? Does your child know what these values are? Make sure you are modeling family values and not just preaching them. Do not drink and drive, practice a positive online presence, and treat others with respect and kindness.

  • Have clear rules and consequences.

If you wait for a situation to arise to put rules and consequences in place, you are waiting too long. Work with your child to clearly define rules and consequences for breaking them. This encourages your child to follow them. Take time to redefine these with your child as they mature and are ready for more responsibility.

  • Monitor your child’s social interactions.

This applies to interactions both in person and online. Know who your child is spending physical time with and who the parents are. Take time to monitor your child’s social media, gaming, and texting interactions, as this is where some of the riskiest behaviors can occur. There are so many apps available to help in these areas. Make it an expectation that you are aware of these things.

  • Be a safety net when it comes to peer pressure.

If your child feels peer pressure to do risky things or is placed in an unsafe situation, help them think of ways to opt out. Develop a code word your child can text you that lets you know they need to be picked up immediately. Let them blame you for not being able to go somewhere they do not feel comfortable. Help your child come up with creative ways to respond when pressured.

  • Be a constant presence throughout the years.

We are sometimes fooled into thinking our teenagers no longer need us, a message that can be reinforced by their behavior. However, teens often need us even more as they navigate the world and are faced with more opportunities. Continue to check in, stay involved, and stay available throughout high school and beyond.


Adolescence is a time of exploration. Our children are trying to discover who they are, what group they belong to, what they like and do not like. Following these tips can help you be more tuned in to your child’s behavior and increase your success as a parent.

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Effective Communication with Your Teen

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By Staci Chambers, MSW, LSW – January 23, 2024 –

For parents and caregivers, it’s often challenging to find a balance between keeping the door open for communication with our children and being overbearing. Fostering a compassionate, protective, and comfortable relationship with our kids is the key to maintaining that positive bond that allows us to communicate effectively with them. 

The following are some tips to help establish this type of relationship with your adolescent or teen.

Providing love and support establishes the foundation of a healthy relationship with your child to keep the lines of communication open. As we all know, ways of showing love and support vary from person to person. However, consistent expressions of love, care, and concern demonstrate a deep bond and unconditional love toward your child.

Taking interest in their activities can help the bond with your child grow. Taking time to truly check in with your child about their latest goals, accomplishments and their personal interests is a way to show care and connection.

Consistent communication is quite possibly the most imperative component of connecting with your child. Opening doors for communication with frequent check-ins as part of your daily routine can help encourage the line of communication to remain open. Consider finding time in your family’s daily schedule to engage in these conversations to stay up to date with your child.

Dinner time, car rides to and from school, a phone call when they get home from school, etc. are examples of easy ways to consistently check in and have these conversations with your children.

A willingness to be open with your child about your strengths and challenges can also help establish a level of comfort with communication. Helping our children learn alongside us can be beneficial for both parent and child.

Maintaining clear rules and boundaries with your child can help set them up for success. Allowing them to take part in establishing some of these expectations and answering questions about why certain rules are set in place helps encourage children to follow established rules.

Give grace when grace is needed. Understand that children are going to make mistakes and staying consistent in your responses and follow through can be key. Non-judgmental and minimal reactive responses can help encourage your child to be more open and willing to share. Responses that communicate support and willingness to help resolve an issue encourage children to open up more to their parents with positives and when challenges arise.

Finding ways to effectively support, encourage, and protect our children will always be a challenging task for parents. Understanding that there is no “one size fits all” approach to parenting is key.

Taking the time to communicate regularly and understand your child for who they are is the best way to work towards protecting your child. Utilizing outside resources may also be necessary and helpful to protect your child. Be open to suggestions from professionals in the community and schools to help improve your communication with your child.

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Winter Wellness: How to Encourage Physical Play in the Colder Months

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By Katie Cox, MSW – January 15, 2025 –

As the temperature drops and the days get shorter, it’s tempting to avoid physical activity and stay cozy indoors. But cold weather doesn’t have to mean the end of active playtime for children.

In fact, winter presents opportunities for unique, creative ways to encourage and facilitate movement for children. Whether they are bundled up outside or busting out their best dance moves indoors, physical activity can be fun while still making a positive impact on their health. Encouraging physical activity is not only important for physical health, but it also helps to boost mood, support social and emotional wellbeing, and keep energy levels steady.

In this article we will explore exciting ideas and strategies to make sure your child stays active, engaged, and healthy all winter long!

Outdoor Adventures: Embracing the Winter Weather

While temperatures may be chilly, winter also brings a host of exciting outdoor activities that are impossible to replicate in warmer months. Outdoor play in the winter boosts vitamin D levels, strengthens the immune system, and invites children to use problem solving to explore the different conditions. Your children may enjoy playing in the snow, building snowmen, sledding, or having a classic snowball fight. These are all free activities that will not only keep your child moving but incorporate all members of the family, allowing extra time for bonding.

Indoor Activities: Staying Active When it is Just Too Cold Outdoors

When the temperatures are just too frigid for outdoor play, here are some ideas for keeping children active indoors. Dance parties are an engaging way to keep children moving. YouTube can be a great resource for this type of activity with channels such as GoNoodle and Danny Go. Another indoor option is creating obstacle courses using furniture, pillows, and blankets to create tunnels, balance beams, and jump stations for your child to race through. You can turn this activity into a challenge by using a timer to see how fast they can go.

Tips and Tricks to Encourage Engagement

The key to encouraging physical activity for children is to make it fun and engaging. They are more likely to be engaged if they are truly having fun. Some ways to make activities more engaging are to set up challenges or create goals for play. Children love to “win” and complete challenges. Some examples include challenging them to complete a certain number of jumping jacks or cartwheels or to hop on one foot for one minute. Getting the entire family involved can also boost engagement. When children see parents and siblings joining in the fun, they are more likely to stay motivated and engaged in the activity.

Beyond just burning off extra energy, staying physically active during the winter boosts endorphins, which improves mood, reduces anxiety, and helps fight off the winter blues. Physical activity has also been linked to improved focus, memory, and cognitive functioning, which can boost academic performance.

Winter doesn’t have to be a season of hibernation for children. With a little creativity and planning, physical activities can help children thrive. Whether you are embracing the cold outdoors or keeping warm inside, the winter months offer plenty of opportunities to stay active, healthy, and happy. Let’s bundle up, get moving, and make this winter your most active one yet!

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The Negative Impact of Social Media and Electronics Use

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By Audrey Bowlds, MSW, LSW – January 8, 2025 –

It is no secret that access to technology has grown exponentially in the last decade. The internet holds a vast amount of knowledge on many different topics, and technology has invaded every aspect of life.

While advancements in technology can be valuable to us, electronics can also be harmful to adults and children. We use technology when playing video games, video chatting with others, watching videos and movies, researching, calculating the tip at a restaurant, setting an alarm, and using the GPS app for a road trip. Children as young as preschool age are using iPads and laptops.

So, what do parents need to be aware of?

Social media can be a way for people to interact with each other in creative ways. People can also use social media as a platform to spread awareness on a topic they feel passionate about or educate and exchange knowledge with one another. Social media can also be used to spread awareness about mental health and what resources are available for those who are struggling or looking for help.

However, studies have also shown that social media can cause mental health issues, especially in children and young adults. The danger of being exposed to content that is not age appropriate combined with the negative impact of social media can cause addiction, depression, cyberbullying, self-esteem issues, and social isolation. According to the National Institutes of Health, social media and excessive screen usage can cause mood changes, trouble sleeping, physical changes in overall brain function, and “tuning out” when having conversations with others.

Research tells us how harmful technology and social media can be for a child’s growing brain. It is important to be aware of your child’s screen time and what they are using it for. Setting a screen time schedule for your child can be difficult at first, but it will be worth it for their mental health and brain development in the future.

A screen time schedule includes setting limits on how long, and when, your child can use their device. You can use technology for this with a parental control app to help monitor your child’s screen time. Encourage your child to do other activities outside of electronics, such as social interaction, hobbies, physical play, relaxing or even napping.

Creating tech-free zones around the house that your child knows are “technology free” can be a tremendous help in cutting down their electronics usage. Most importantly, stay consistent with a screen time schedule if you decide to implement it. Consistency is key with any new routine presented to a child. Show them you are consistent and eventually they will be too.

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