There’s a new teen drama on HBO that parents will want to know about. Euphoria follows "a group of high school students as they navigate drugs, sex, identity, trauma, social media, love and friendship." Euphoria will no doubt attract a teen audience. JCFS Chicago Response for Teens encourages parents and caregivers to watch Euphoria – and other teen-oriented shows – with your children. Here are some additional tips for talking with your kids about provocative media.

At some point, parents have to set limits on their children's behavior. Children need structure and discipline, but not every kind of parental response is effective. Impulsively, some parents resort to harsh discipline and lecturing to help their children behave, but there are much better options.

Being a parent can be a joyful, rewarding experience, but it also comes with challenges, particularly for parents of children with special needs. Resolving to set aside even 15 minutes per day to recharge can help you regain focus and control and be the best version of yourself for your kids.

Did you know that too many toys in a child’s play environment can have a negative effect on their development? Having access to fewer toys enhances children’s cognitive and neurological development according to the findings of a study conducted by the University of Toledo and recently published in The Journal of Infant Behavior and Development.

No one realizes before they have kids, how many “what do I do now?” moments are involved in being a parent.  There are so many parenting books that it’s impossible to know what to read (if you have the time and energy to read) and too many people are eager to tell you what your family should be doing. 

Encouragement can come in many forms. Sometimes it can be praise – a simple “good job!”  Other times, children need more than a kind word. It may take a hug, a special treat or giving more of your attention by playing a board game, watching a movie together or going to the park. There are hundreds of ways you can encourage a child, which, in turn will improve their self-esteem.

Each fall, my husband and I turn our thoughts to adoption. While adoption is on our minds all year long, we think about it even more at this time of year. In addition to National Adoption Month taking place every November and raising awareness of adoption, each September, our family also celebrates “Gotcha Day” – the unforgettable day our son, Jake, joined our family.

The swimming pool is not only a great place to have fun with your kids, but it is also a great environment to increase attention and build cognitive language skills and body strength.

Warm temperatures and bright sunshine remind us that summer has arrived. With summer comes fun and relaxation and, often, more unstructured time. It’s important for parents to remind children about how to keep their bodies safe and ways of avoiding unhealthy interactions. Having these kinds of conversations help foster strong, open relationships with children that can last a lifetime.

"Parenting is a Journey, Don’t Take it Alone” is the theme that runs through the programming JCFS offers for parents, and one of the key questions being asked this year is “who are these kids – this GenZ or iGen?”