EveryDay Strong

Today’s episode takes a look at the lives of two 15 year olds experiencing chronic stress. Although Adam and Zara's circumstances are polar opposites, the EveryDay Strong resilience framework shows how caring adults could make a difference in both their lives. Listen for ideas on how to use safety, connection, and confidence to help your teen feel less stressed. 

Adam and Zara’s stories are borrowed from the first chapter of The Self Driven Child, by William Stixrud, PhD, & Ned Johnson. 

For the past two years, we’ve heard different versions of this question over and over again. There’s no way to completely shield your child from everything that is going on in the world these days. And if your child is extra sensitive, you may worry that talking with your child about current events may increase their anxiety.

Today, we’ll explain why it’s important to have conversations with your kids about what they see or hear on the news and how you can help them feel safe. We’ll cover five general tips that will help you be there for your kid when something scary has happened. The world may feel like a crazy place at times, but you can prepare your child for a resilient future.

Resources:

https://www.npr.org/2019/04/24/716704917/when-the-news-is-scary-what-to-say-to-kids

https://www.commonsensemedia.org/articles/explaining-the-news-to-our-kids

https://childmind.org/article/helping-children-cope-frightening-news/

https://www.pbs.org/parents/thrive/helping-children-with-tragic-events-in-the-news

You love your kids, so you probably spend a lot of time worrying about them. Not knowing what your child’s future has in store can make you feel anxious and tense. But remember–secondary education and careers rarely go according to plan. Yet things almost always work out better than we could have imagined!

Today’s episode includes a reading from the book The Self Driven Child. The authors, Dr. William Stixrud and Ned Johnson, have spent their entire careers counseling and tutoring gifted and struggling students. You’ll learn that keeping an open mind about the path to a successful life will help both you and your kid feel happier and less stressed.

The Self-Driven Child: The Science and Sense of Giving Your Kids More Control Over Their Lives, by William Stixtrud PhD & Ned Johnson

While growing up in Maine, Dustin Jones was a top student and founder of his school’s competitive robotics team. He graduated high school with plans to become an engineer. After several years of grueling work, his plans came crashing down when his college put him on academic probation.

This episode features Dustin’s personal journey to find a fulfilling and promising career. His experience shows how young people can be resilient in the face of setbacks and what parents can do to help their kids achieve their goals.

Are you having arguments with your child about their participation in a sport or another extracurricular activity? Is your child losing interest or facing a temporary setback? It can be difficult to know whether the right move is to encourage your child to keep trying or support their decision to quit. Both can help your child become more resilient, depending on the situation.

In today’s episode, we’re sharing a really fascinating story from a popular memoir called Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother by Amy Chua. You’ll hear one mom’s take on this dilemma as she raises her two daughters to become talented musicians. The link to the book on Amazon is listed below.

Resources:

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/when-to-let-kid-quit-sports_l_61f18840e4b04f9a12b7cd84

Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, Amy Chua

Families come in all different shapes and sizes. Each child will add his or her own unique personality and influence the shared family experience.

Join us this week as we talk with Ben & Gabrielle Blair, who live in Normandy, France and are the parents of six kids ages 12 and up. They share their personal experiences living abroad, creating a strong family culture, and watching their kids leave the nest.

You can learn more about their family on Gabrielle's Instagram: @designmom

Parenting begins to take on a new meaning when your child reaches the pre-teen years. For both parents and kids, the move to middle school can be a difficult adjustment. Keeping track of a schedule, organizing a binder, and navigating a new campus are challenges for still developing brains.

If you are worried that your child has been thrown in the deep end, this episode is for you. We’ll talk about how the everyday disasters of middle school are actually helping your child become more resilient.

Today’s reading came from Jessica Lahey’s book The Gift of Failure:  How the Best Parents Learn to Let Go So Their Children Can Succeed.

https://www.amazon.com/Gift-Failure-Parents-Children-Succeed/dp/0062299255

Research shows that volunteering can make people feel happier and more confident. Maybe you know and admire a teen who is always willing to help. What motivates these youth to serve? And how can parents help their child become more involved in the community? In today’s episode, we’ll answer these questions and talk about why your teen is probably thinking about how they can make the world a better place.

Dr. Andy Harris is an assistant professor of Human Development and Family Studies at Utah State University. He also works closely with HOBY, a youth leadership group, and the Utah Association of Youth Councils. At Utah State University, Dr. Harris studies the civic attitudes and behaviors of teenagers, especially the community service efforts of young people.

Day to day life can be hectic, especially for teens. Although extracurricular activities are really helpful in a child’s learning and development, kids also need unstructured time to take care of their needs.

In this episode, we’ll describe an activity that will help you reflect on your family schedule to find the balance between active and quiet activities. Prioritizing down time will benefit the entire family’s mental health!

Resources:

https://www.aacap.org/AACAP/Families_and_Youth/Facts_for_Families/FFF-Guide/Afterschool-Activities-Striking-the-Right-Balance-116.aspx

https://instituteofchildpsychology.com/cultivating-resiliency-in-children/

You’ve heard the saying “the family that plays together, stays together” before. But if you’ve ever been on a chaotic family vacation, you may have doubted the truth of that statement. In today’s episode, our guest Dr. Jasmine Townsend talks about the benefits of family recreation and how you can connect with your child–toddler or teen–through play.

Dr. Jasmine Townsend is an Associate Professor in Recreational Therapy within the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management at Clemson University in South Carolina. She has worked in community adaptive sports and therapeutic recreation programs as a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist, as well as in wilderness and residential behavioral treatment programs for adolescents.