When your teen starts focusing on their peer relationships it can be painful and confusing. But I promise you, it's not rejection.
The teenage brain is wired to focus on new relationships and to use this stage of life to begin the process of a deeper and more specific self identity.
They need us to remain calm and do everything we can to understand what they are feeling and not take it personally.
Because those peer relationships are complex and will come with their own set of pain and disappointment for our children. They need us sturdy and available as a secure base to return to when the weather out in their world gets stormy. It's not helpful if we are another storm they have to weather.
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Learn the benefits of playing make believe with your kids, how it helps their brains and your bond with them, and get fun ideas for make believe scenarios to try, including playing wild animals on the way to lunch and defending a castle against stinky underwear, in this insightful video.
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In this video, you'll learn how to guide children when they have hurt someone, by connecting with them about their feelings, modeling empathy for the person impacted, and collaborating with them to make repairs, as empathy is learned through receiving empathy and being surrounded by empathetic models.
Learn how to navigate the difficult terrain of adolescence by positioning yourself as a collaborative guide, rather than a control-focused dictator, and taking the time to truly understand what is happening for your teen in this video.
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