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...
by Dennis Coates | Oct 5, 2022 | Parent-child Communication, Parenting Books
In Chapter 4 of Connect with Your Kid, I explain how to summarize what you think you’re hearing, so your child can confirm whether you really understand what they’re trying to express. The skill of listening to understand is powerful, and the impacts are...
by Dennis Coates | Sep 18, 2022 | Adolescence, Critical Thinking, Education, Health & Nutrition, Parent-child Communication, Parenting Books, Parenting Videos, Peer Pressure, Teen Culture, Teen Sex
Some pretty awful things can happen during adolescence. One of these tragedies is an unwanted pregnancy. I believe that parents need to “get real” about the risk that their child could get involved in an unwanted pregnancy. Think about it: At puberty, kids...
by Dennis Coates | Sep 12, 2022 | Adolescence, Behavior Change, Education, Encouragement, Parent-child Communication, Parenting, Parenting Books, Strong for Parenting, Teen Success, Teen Suicide
Truth-telling time. The most common mistake parents make when interacting with their child is failing to recognize when they should be listening, and they miss the opportunity. I call these opportunities listening moments. Here are some of the most common parent-child...
by Dennis Coates | Aug 15, 2022 | Adolescence, Adolescent Brain, Critical Thinking, Education, Parenting Books, Teen Success
When asked about teen brain development, I’m challenged to boil a huge amount of research down to a few facts. Here’s how I explain it: At the onset of puberty, a child’s body and brain are flooded with growth hormones. The resulting changes in the...
by Dennis Coates | Jul 22, 2022 | Adolescence, Behavior Change, Encouragement, Parent-child Communication, Parenting, Parenting Books, Teen Suicide
A hard truth: One of the toughest things about being a parent is the mistakes we make. When I was a parent, I got lucky. I followed my best instincts and made some good things happen. But nobody’s perfect, as they say, and I also lost my temper quite a few...
