More Than Just Bad Grades: When Your Teen’s Academic Struggles Signal Mental Health Decline
Worsening grades, skipping school, and missing assignments are often dismissed as the behavior of a lazy and distracted teenager. But when a once-engaged student no longer hands in homework, retreats from their friends, or stops participating in school activities or projects altogether, it may indicate something far more serious than a lack of discipline. Academic […]
How Grind Culture Harms Our Kids
Mental health issues among teenagers have been rising for more than a decade, and many experts have pointed a finger at social media as one of the culprits. In 2023, former Surgeon General Vivek Murthy issued an advisory in which he wrote that “frequent social media use may be associated with distinct changes in the […]
Balancing Natural and Imposed Consequences in Parenting
Parenting is filled with difficult choices, particularly when it comes to discipline. Do we let our children experience the natural consequences of their actions, or do we impose our own consequences to guide them? This balance is one of the biggest challenges parents face. At Turning Winds, we work closely with families to help them […]
Working With Children in a Therapeutic Environment
At Turning Winds, we believe working with children has to include being supportive and consistent in every situation. When working with a child who has been diagnosed with a mental health condition, particularly if substance misuse is involved, this is even more imperative. A coordinated team effort is equally important. Communication is critical between all […]
Brain Markers Reveal Teens at Risk for Gaming Addiction
Playing video games is a rite of passage for many adolescents, but for some, it becomes the first step to a gaming addiction. “A number one concern for parents of children and teenagers is how much screen time and how much gaming is enough gaming and how to figure out where to draw the line,” […]
The Power of Gratitude on Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is a national holiday celebrated in several countries on various autumnal dates. Traditionally, it is an occasion to offer prayers of thanks and perform special ceremonies after hopefully bountiful harvests before the onset of winter. Today, most Americans connect Thanksgiving Day with Pilgrims and Puritans who brought their Thanksgiving tradition with them to New […]
October is ADHD Awareness Month
About one in nine children in the US between the ages of three and 17 have attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). As we reported on this blog, ADHD diagnoses in US children and adolescents have increased significantly in recent years. A new study published in the Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology last May called pediatric […]
The Price of Teenage Social Media Obsession
Is your teen’s world feeling smaller—shrinking to the size of a smartphone screen? The Impact and Effects of Social Media on Teens For many parents, it’s tough to watch as social media slowly takes over their teen’s life ultimately becoming a social media obsession. Platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat promise endless connection. Yet, in […]
When Teenagers Need School AND Treatment
The summer of 2024 is slowly but surely coming to an end and a new school year is looming for many young Americans. Transitioning back to class can be stressful for children and parents alike. But anxiety symptoms that persist beyond the first few weeks of school and that seem excessive may require consultation with […]
New Minnesota Legislation to Curb Negative Impact of Social Media on Kids
Concerns are rising that social media platforms deliberately target children with addictive algorithms. Social psychologist Jonathan Haidt criticized the significant impact of a “phone-based childhood,” calling for “a dramatic cultural correction” in his new book Anxious Generation. Ravi Iyer shares Dr. Haidt’s concerns. He is the managing director of the Neely Center for Ethical Leadership […]
