by Dennis Coates | Jun 1, 2023 | Adolescence, Behavior Change, Critical Thinking, Education, Encouragement, Parent-child Communication, Parenting, Parenting Books, Teen Success
As i write this, swallows have built a nest above our front entrance way, and the momma and poppa swallows are busy catching bugs and feeding them to their three hatchlings. On occasion, we see three little heads peeking above the rim of the nest. Before long, the...
by Dennis Coates | May 15, 2023 | Adolescence, Adolescent Brain, Critical Thinking, Parenting, Parenting Books
At puberty, a child’s brain is primed to develop the kind of critical thinking that will make them successful as adults. This fact of adolescence is massively important but all too easy to forget. At puberty, the brain cells in their prefrontal cortex, the part...
by Dennis Coates | Apr 7, 2023 | Adolescence, Parent-child Communication, Parenting, Parenting Books
A friend of mine wanted me to help him with a project. We met and talked about what might work, but we didn’t agree on what to do. I told him, “Why don’t you give more thought to what you’d like to do, and we can meet again to nail down the...
by Dennis Coates | Feb 12, 2023 | Adolescence, Parent-child Communication, Parenting, Rebellion
Both my sons are in their 50s, still pursuing highly successful careers in IT. But I’m still trying to communicate with them effectively, being aware of moments when a particular skill will work best for me — with my sons, my wife, my business partners,...
by Dennis Coates | Jan 22, 2023 | Adolescence, Adolescent Brain, Alcohol, Critical Thinking, Drugs, Education, Parent-child Communication, Parenting Books, Teen Driving, Teen Success
60 years ago, I drove the family car through the heart of Stuttgart, Germany. No one else was in the car. I was a responsible kid, and I was doing my best to stay safe and arrive home without a mishap. But like every young driver, I had a lot to learn. I was ignorant...
