Young adults have a lot of options and should use their high school years to figure out what they may want to do next — keeping in mind that may change over time. In , nearly For many teens, academic expectations are compounded by other pressures, including extracurriculars, part-time work, volunteer hours, family life and social life — not to mention social media. As a parent, you can support your child academically by being involved, sharing information and academic resources. Be accessible and make it a regular practice to check in on their wellbeing.

As a therapist and the mother of three teenagers myself, I know firsthand that the more you push your kids, the more they get defensive and dig in their heels. They become reactive in the form of explosiveness or shutting down and ignoring you. Clamming up or exploding are both ways your teenagers attempt to manage their stress and defend themselves. In fact, these may be the only ways your teen knows how to communicate when things get intense—which of course only causes more conflict.

Want to prevent teen smoking? Understand why teens smoke and vape — and how to talk to your teen about nicotine. Teen smoking might begin innocently, but it can become a long-term problem. In fact, most adult smokers started smoking as teens. To help your teen avoid getting hooked, follow these tips.