Parenting the Big Kids
Parenting workshops, parent coaching, and resource support for parents of 10-18 year olds.
The goal of the I am more than my grades project is to start a conversation about mental health and wellness among teens in high achieving schools, and to highlight and support efforts towards positive change.
The Problem: Teens in high achieving schools are at risk for high levels of chronic stress that can affect their health and well being. Levels of anxiety and depression are on the rise in teens all over the USA but especially in high achieving communities. Youth suicide rates are on the rise in the U.S. Suicide is currently the second leading cause of death among young Americans age 15 to 24 (National Center for Health Statistics and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
The solution: There's no one easy answer but we hope that we can be a part of the solution by talking about the problem and helping to move the needle from a hyper focus on grades and college resumes, to a broader definition of a successful student and successful adult.
More information can be found in these resources:
BOOKS:
ARTICLES:
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Youth suicide rates are on the rise in the U.S., PBS News Hour October 18, 2019 "In 2017, it was the second leading cause of death among young Americans age 15 to 24, according to new data released Thursday from the National Center for Health Statistics and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention."
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High-Stress High School: What’s the balance between preparing students for college and ensuring they aren’t killing themselves in the process? The Atlantic, October 9, 2015: ."So how can administrators and parents start to change the culture of stress while still pushing kids to reach their full potential?"
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Students in high-achieving schools are now named an ‘at-risk’ group, Washington Post, Jennifer Breheny Wallace, September 26, 2019: "Luthar’s studies have found that adolescents in high-achieving schools can suffer significantly higher rates of anxiety, depression, substance abuse and delinquent behaviors, at least two to three times the national average."
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Teenagers Are More Stressed Than Ever. Who’s to Blame? Philadelphia Magazine, Tom Mcgrath, 2/4/2019: "The struggle is real. In a recent national poll of more than 35,000 teens, 45 percent said they were stressed “all the time.” According to the Centers for Disease Control, the suicide rate for 10-to-19-year-olds rose 56 percent between 2007 and 2016."
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Ease Up On Asking About Seniors' Plans For College, Hartford Courant, April 14, 2018: "And we can stop asking about their plans for the coming year."They feel judged," my wise friend adds. "Know that they feel the pressure not to disappoint parents, and that quite often the question comes at least in part from a desire for an adult measuring stick. How does my kid measure up, and therefore, how do I measure up"
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Teen Stress: What Parents Need to Know, GrownandFlown.com: Research shows teens feel even more stress than their parents so it is crucial that teaching them to cope is a major part of parenting adolescents."
Podcast episodes:
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Speaking of Psychology: The mental price of affluence, American Psychological Association: Episode 18
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Why Are More American Teenagers Than Ever Suffering From Severe Anxiety? Parents, therapists and schools are struggling to figure out whether helping anxious teenagers means protecting them or pushing them to face their fears. The New York Times Magazine, Benoit Denizet-Lewis, October 11, 2017
ORGANIZATIONS:
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Challenge Success is a nonprofit with this mission: Challenge Success partners with schools, families, and communities to embrace a broad definition of success and to implement research-based strategies that promote student well-being and engagement with learning. On the website, they have research papers and great resources for students, schools and parents
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Girls Leadership is another nonprofit working specifically with girls: "We equip girls with the skills to exercise the power of their voice.We structure our work around four central values: Authentic Communication, Courageous Growth, Equity, and Play."
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