Family by God&#039;s Design

Benefits of Early to Bed, Not So Early to Rise

As I write this blog, I feel the need to apologize to all the teens whose parents might read it. Breaking a cardinal rule of a good apology, let me say I truly apologize, but sleep matters. (Never include a “but” in the apology. Oh wait, never say never. Anyway, back to the topic of...

adolescence cognitive health parenting sleep

June 16, 2025

Just Something to Consider

A study involving close to 2,000 children offers an interesting finding. The researchers examined children’s exposure to violent television content at the ages of 3.5 and 4.5 years. Screen violence included physical aggression, verbal aggression, and relational aggression intended or attempting to cause harm to others. When the same children were 15-years-old, the researchers interviewed...

adolescence parenting screen time violence

June 10, 2024

Five Things Teens Want You to Know

Ellen Galinsky, author of The Breakthrough Years, surveyed over 1,600 people between 9 years old and 19 years old and their parents. She collated their answer into five important messages teens want adults to know about them. One, teens want adults to understand their development. All too often adults view teens as “deficient adults”–immature, moody,...

adolescence parent child relationship parenting teen

May 20, 2024

The Long-Term Impact of Junk Food on the Teen Brain

Family life is busy these days. Families run from activity to activity stopping to grab something quick and easy to eat on the way. Unfortunately, those “quick and easy” meals are often high in fat and sugar. A University of Southern California study found that a high-fat, sugary diet during teen years may contribute to...

adolescence family meals healthy development parenting

February 19, 2024

The Key to Emotional Health in Adolescence

Adolescence is a time of challenge and opportunity, a time of growth for parent and child. At times you and your child may feel like pulling your hair out during their adolescent years. And, at other times, you may feel like pulling one another’s hair out. But there is a key that can help nurture...

Family Shepherds Honor

adolescence emotional health healthy development limits mental health parenting

October 16, 2023

Boost Your Teen’s Brain Power…But Start Early

If you want to boost your teen’s brain power, start when they are children, before the time of the teen push for independence. Really, this way of boosting teen brain power is quite simple. Encourage them to read as children. A study of over 10,243 teens found reading for pleasure during childhood contributed to improved...

adolescence healthy development mental health reading teen

June 24, 2023

Your Child’s Dating Journey AND You

The time arrives in every parent’s journey when our sons and daughters start to date. Deep in our souls a twinge of excitement peaks out from behind the walls of our apprehension and protection. We look forward to the joys and the fun our children will experience as they date…but we also recall the pain...

Family Shepherds Honor

adolescence date family intimacy parenting

May 13, 2023

A Happier, More Satisfied Teen

No…it is not an oxymoron to say a “happy, satisfied teen.” Teens often get the bad rap of being moody, full of angst, and complaining about everything. But it’s more myth than fact. Sure, they have times of moodiness (as do most adults). They may even complain…but I know many adults who do the same...

Family Shepherds Honor

adolescence parenting purpose teen volunteering

January 31, 2023

Surviving the Roller Coaster of Adolescence

Your teen’s brain is changing. It’s maturing and slowly (sometimes it seems painfully slow) becoming more efficient. But parents don’t get to see the actual changes in the brain. Instead, we see the behaviors that result from the ever-changing brain—behaviors that include, among other things, risk-taking, a growing and improving ability to argue, and mood...