Executive Functioning and Learning
Our brains are not fully developed until the mid-20s, so it’s no wonder that our adolescents still need help with the all important executive functioning skills. In this episode, we talk about the often underestimated yet pivotal aspect of cognitive Read more >>
Learning Differences Across the Lifespan
Today’s episode is proudly sponsored by Adobe. We are so thankful for their support of this Voices of Compassion podcast. We often think of learning differences as challenges faced in school. But the reality is that learning differences impact people Read more >>
Nearly half of Americans report feeling left out or alone, and over two-thirds of teens report being lonely. Research shows that loneliness and social isolation are twice as harmful to physical and mental health as obesity. But did you know Read more >>
How to Talk with Teens About Mental Health
Between 2009 and 2019, the percentage of teens who reported having “persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness” rose from 26 percent to 37 percent and, in 2021, to 44 percent. Further, research shows that 1 in 5 youth in distress Read more >>
Launching: Transition Age Youth
Growing up is a process of moving toward independence, becoming your own person and meeting your own needs. “Launching” refers to the parental role in their child’s transition into adulthood. This process looks different for everyone — a bumpier or Read more >>
The Teen Brain: What Are They Thinking?
Our brains develop from the back to the front. The prefrontal cortex — important for impulse control, managing emotions, planning, organization and finishing tasks — is the last to develop, and is not fully mature until our mid-twenties. How does Read more >>
The Teen Brain: 7 Things to Know [downloadable]
Did you know that big and important changes are happening in the brain during adolescence? Here are 7 things to know about the teen brain. Read more >>
NIH Study Links Neighborhood Conditions to Adolescent Sleep Loss
Conditions such as loud noise and few trees in neighborhoods seem to affect how much sleep adolescents get, according to a study in the journal Sleep. In a second study, researchers measured young people’s brainwaves to observe the troublesome effects Read more >>
Why the Preteen Years Are a Critical Period for Brain Development
Aside from experiencing physical changes, preteens also undergo a brain growth spurt much like toddlers. Ron Dahl, who directs the Institute for Human Development at the University of California, Berkeley, argues that adolescence is actually a second opportunity to invest Read more >>
As We Grow…Key Developmental Milestones Ages 1-18 [downloadable]
At each age in a child’s life, there are predictable levels of skill to expect. We have outlined the developmental milestones for ages 1 to 18—a checklist you can use as you observe your child growing up, and a guide Read more >>
