by Dennis Coates | Adolescence, Critical Thinking, Education, Inspiring Quotes, Parenting, Personal Strength, Teen Success
Forty years ago, I was in graduate school at Duke University, in over my head, studying hard and learning as much as I could to catch up with my better-prepared classmates. It paid off – I earned my Ph.D. four years later. It was the most intense period of...
by Dennis Coates | Adolescence, Adolescent Brain, Critical Thinking, Education, Parent-child Communication, Parenting, Parenting Books, Teen Success
These days, parents hear a lot about the “teen brain” in the popular media. The message is that the “prefrontal cortex” (PFC), the area of the brain in charge of controlling impulses, is still under construction – that this a big reason...
by Dennis Coates | Adolescence, Critical Thinking, Education, Health & Nutrition, Parenting, Personal Strength, Teen Culture, Teen Success, Work, Youth Athletics
Studying well in school is important. Those 12 years – and university – are important. But along the way, a young person needs to learn many non-academic skills and strengths that are vital for relationships and a career. While some of this can be acquired...
by Dennis Coates | Education, Parenting, Parenting Books
Did you read my review of Reset Your Child’s Brain (2015), by Victoria Dunckley? Dunckley is a psychiatrist who has treated hundreds of young people who suffered from behavior disorders caused by excessive screen time (video games, cell phones, tablets, TV,...
by Dennis Coates | Education, Parenting, Self-Esteem, Work
During the past 30 years, I’ve had the chance to meet and talk with quite a few sons and daughters of wealthy people. It isn’t easy to start a business and make it profitable. The parents of these kids worked hard to earn what they have. In my experience,...
by Dennis Coates | Adolescent Brain, Alcohol, Drugs, Education, Parenting Books, Teen Culture, Teen Success
One crucial step in helping your adolescent child build a superior mind is to protect the prefrontal cortex (PFC) from damage during adolescence – the developmental period for wiring the foundation for critical thinking. To this end, I’ve written a number...
