In-site links: AP Pre-AP Stress & Depression

Welcome!

I have organized this page into the major issues that concern parents of teenagers rather than details about my class. There is also a STRESS AND DEPRESSION link for the most serious concerns. For information about my teaching, please refer to other linked pages on this site.

Throughout this site, I use the word parent to mean any caregiver. No matter who takes care of the child, that person is parenting.

Please note: I am speaking as a parent and a teacher, not as an expert in psychology or medicine. Please seek help from our counselor or contact me with concerns about your child's well-being, and we can find help together.

This page is organized from most common to least common.

Parental Stress (Take care of yourself)
Fixed Mindset Problems (Giving up when facing obstacles)
Anxiety
Introversion
Communicating with a reluctant or defiant child
Discipline
Possible drug abuse and next steps

****Please know that you can communicate with faculty, staff, or admin. if you have concerns about your child, as well. We're here to be a part of your team.****

Parenting Teenagers - Adolescent Development & Parenting Tips -There is no doubt that for most families, the teen years present a challenge for both parents and children. Middle School is not fondly remembered by most who attend. It is often fraught with scary body changes, bullying by peers and a new surge for independence. This leads to passive-aggressive behavior (“I’ll do it in …

PARENTAL STRESS

WOW, is it stressful being a parent sometimes. We are not perfect, and sometimes we just feel overwhelmed with a lack of confidence or with concern for our children’s problems.

We can only be good parents if we keep ourselves healthy. We have to remember to take care of ourselves.

Stressed Out? Try These Helpful Ways To Ease Parenting StressParenting stress can have a negative effect on your health & mood. This expert article shares the secrets to effective stress management for parents.

Parenting stress: 10 evidence-based tips for making life betterOverwhelmed by parenting stress? Try these research-based tips.

8 Self-Care Tips for Parents Who Have No Time for Self-Care | GoZen!Are you a parent? You definitely have no time to self-care, which is why you need it desperately. Try one of these 8 tips.

FIXED MINDSET CONCERNS

More AP and Pre-AP students are tempted to quit than students who have never been labeled as gifted. The label of "smart" is a burden to students with a fixed mindset who feel their label is threatened when they face a challenge and possible failure. As parents, we want to protect them from this stress, but we need to work instead on changing their mindsets and not letting them quit. Here are some great mindset resources. Reading Carol Dweck's book Mindset: The New Psychology of Success was life-changing for me as an educator and as a parent. Everyone should know more about it.

Mindset Kit - About Growth MindsetLearn what a growth mindset is and why it's important.

Mindset Kit - Growth Mindset for Parents CourseDeveloped in collaboration with Raise The Bar. Parents learn what a growth mindset is, why it’s important, and best practices to support their children in developing this learning belief.

ANXIETY

Anxiety is a life-controlling problem students contend with and one that can lead to depression. Many students feel misunderstood by their parents, which is nothing new. These two resources can help see their point of view.

7 Things Not To Say to a Girl With AnxietyYou might mean well, but these statements can make things worse.

INTROVERSION

Being introverted is not exactly the same as being shy. I am an introvert, yet my class is very social. I do this to help students grow into their voices in a safe space. If your child is extremely stressed in this environment, I can make accommodations that decrease throughout the year as they become more comfortable with taking risks. Please contact me if this is a concern. In the meantime, If your child is an introvert, and you are not, here are some excellent sources for building empathy.

12 Things Every Introvert Wishes You UnderstoodSympathetic articles , books and ...

Caring for Your IntrovertThe habits and needs of a little-understood group

COMMUNICATING WITH YOUR CHILD WHEN THEY ARE RELUCTANT OR DEFIANT

As a parent, I can safely say that sometimes it feels like we don't know how to talk to our children when they are being quiet (or defiant). I also know that it can give parents the feeling that their children don't want them around as much as they used to. As a teacher who reads students' reflective writing and as a researcher on this subject, students need their parents now more than in their younger years and tend to feel like they don't matter anymore while their parents feel like they are just giving them the space they need. The articles below will help reach that balance of respecting their need for independence while still showing you care.

25 Ways To Ask Your Kids How Was School Today25 Ways to Ask Your Kids How Was School Today without asking "How Was School Today?"

How to Talk to a Reluctant TeenSix ideas for starting conversations with reluctant teens

Foolproof Strategies for Getting Kids to Talk

POSSIBLE DRUG ABUSE AND NEXT STEPS

Drug and alcohol abuse are still upsetting student lives, so parents naturally have concerns that their children could be using them when they begin to act differently. How do we know if new behaviors are due to brain and hormone changes or to dangerous influences on their bodies? Hopefully, these resources will help. You might also want to visit the stress and depression page of this website for more possibilities. The following list is for narcotics, but diet pills and prescription drug abuse are becoming more prevalent, so I researched those for this website, as well.

Signs That Your Child May Be Using Drugs

Prescription Drug AbuseWebMD describes different types of prescription drugs that can cause addiction.

The Dangers of Dieting: Diet Pill Abuse and AddictionDiet pills are both addictive and dangerous to your health. Learn more about how diet pill abuse and addiction can affect your health.

Prepare to Take Action - Partnership for Drug-Free Kids - Where Families Find AnswersIs your child using drugs? Use these tips to prepare for the conversation ahead, and lay the foundation for more positive outcomes.

Concerned Your Child Is Using Drugs? Write a Letter. - Partnership for Drug-Free Kids - Where Families Find AnswersConcerned about your child’s alcohol or drug use? Consider writing a letter expressing your thoughts on drinking, marijuana or other issues on your mind.

DISCIPLINE

This is one of the hardest parts about being a parent. I know that I'm still learning as I go. Here are some great articles and resources I found in my research.

The Best Consequences for Motivating TeensThese consequences will cause your teen to think twice about breaking the rules again. They're effective to use and easy to implement.

The article below is an excellent resource for disciplining children who are at-risk for running away.

Parents & Guardians - National Runaway Safeline

How to Go From a Nagging Parent to a Master Motivator - A Fine ParentThe default technique most of us use to get kids to do something is to nag. Seriously, do you respond well to nagging? Isn't it time to be more effective?

Positive Parenting | American SPCCPositive Parenting. American SPCC supports healthy parent-child relationships, and is a strong proponent of non-violent, positive parenting. We hope to break the cycle of child maltreatment and violence, and have a positive effective on the well-being of children and families.

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