One of my teen clients recently did a science lab in which she had to use Lego sets to build something. She told me that she normally hated building, but she loved this project because it made her feel efficient. Efficiency, she said, is the greatest feeling.

The more I thought about it, the more I agreed. In fact, I think that letting teens feel efficient is actually a great self-esteem booster for them. Because I believe that efficiency is so important for teens, I’ve come up with a couple of scenarios where you as a parent can help your teen feel more efficient:

• When doing homework, encourage teens to do the subject they feel most proficient in and can complete most quickly first. They’ll feel less frustrated by the harder, more difficult homework assignments that follow.
• If your teen is feeling down or bad about herself, think of activities that will make her feel efficient and have her do them to boost her mood.

Remember, teens struggle through a lot (homework assignments, boring school novels, SAT/ACT prep), so it’s important to show them—not just remind them—that they can actually zip through certain things. And you can even use your kids’ efficiency to your own advantage—have them wrap some gifts, unload the dishwasher, or fold the laundry for you!

• 	Posted by: Vanessa Van Petten | 0 Comment(s)
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Each day the first thing I ask my son as he walks through the door (after “how was your day?”) is whether he has homework.  Often he will say, “Yes, but it’s really easy.”  He has always been a child who handles his responsibilities so I have never had to come down on him about his school work — until now. 

Yesterday I received a phone call from his math teacher.  She assured me he is doing well on quizzes and tests — but has missed turning in the last two homework assignments. Hmmm, I thought to myself. 

So here I have made sure to ask him about his homework each day and he has confidently assured me he is doing it only to find out the contrary!  His teacher told me that they will have math homework everyday and that he should not be doing it in resource (our version of a study hall).  His teacher also shared that he verbally calculated what his grade would be having received a few 100s on some tests and quizzes combined with 0s on some homework assignments. 

I was on the phone when he first arrived home from school that day and to my surprise, when I came down the stairs, he was diligently doing his homework.  Before I could even spit out the words, “Guess who I talked to today…” he responded with “I know, I know.”  (More…)

• 	Posted by: Tara Paterson | 3 Comment(s)
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