Student Well-Being & Social-Emotional GrowthA Parent’s Guide to Adolescents
Why do they act that way? That is the question all parents of teenagers have asked themselves at one time or another. Understanding those not children, but not yet adult humans that take over the house is no easy feat. They have bad manners, contempt for authority, disrespect for elders, and spend all their time sleeping and playing video games. This course addresses what modern teens face today and delves into physiological and psychological issues that turn our loving kids into surely teenagers.
Course details+
Why do they act that way? That is the question all parents of teenagers have asked themselves at one time or another. Understanding those not children, but not yet adult humans that take over the house is no easy feat. They have bad manners, contempt for authority, disrespect for elders, and spend all their time sleeping and playing video games. This course addresses what modern teens face today and delves into physiological and psychological issues that turn our loving kids into surely teenagers.
After completing this course, you should be able to:
- Describe adolescent brains
- Identify physical changes in the teen brain
- Identify differences in the male and female brains
- Explain the importance of connecting and guiding teens to adulthood
- Identify the symptoms of teen mental illness
Syllabus & lessons+
Module 1 - Adolescent Brains & Impulsiveness
Module 2 - Communication & Sexual Identity
Module 3 - Media, Sleep, & Mental Illness
Module 4 - Psychological & Social Dimensions of Adolescence
A Parent's Guide to Adolescents Module 1
Adolescent Brains & Impulsiveness
In Module 1 we will explore the gap that forms between adolescents and their parents. We will delve into the adolescent brain and identify how teens change physically, mentally, and emotionally during the adolescent years.
- Making Sense of Adolescence
- What Adolescents Face Today
- The Gap Between Parents and Their Kids
- Appreciating Adolescents
- Physical Changes in the Teen Brain
A Parent's Guide to Adolescents Module 2
Communication & Sexual Identity
In Module 2 we will focus on communicating with the adolescent. Tips and tools for learning good communication skills will be shared. Also, we will identify the trials teens face while exploring his or her sexual identity during adolescents and list some effective tools for addressing sexual identity with teens.
- Parent-Adolescent Miscommunication
- Good Communication Skills
- Male and Female Brains
- Sexual Stereotyping and Identity
- Love, Sex, and the Adolescent Brain
A Parent's Guide to Adolescents Module 3
Media, Sleep, & Mental Illness
Module 3 describes the physical changes in an adolescent’s body and addresses why teens sleep patterns tend to change during these years. Another important topic discussed in this module is mental illness in teens. How to know if your child is testing his or her boundaries or if there may be an underlying factor that may require intervention.
- Adolescents and Media
- Media Use
- Media in Teens’ Lives
- Sleep and the Teen Brain
- Adolescent Mental Illness
A Parent's Guide to Adolescents Module 4
Psychological & Social Dimensions of Adolescence
Module 4 will define how teens react to the physical changes that take place during adolescents and give parents/adults some guidelines on the best way to help teens through these changes. Emotional changes are also discussed and finally, peer relationships and the important influence friends have on the adolescent.
- Four Major Changes
- Reactions to Physical Changes
- Reactions to Emotional Change
- The Shift of Influence from Parents to Peers
- The Search for Identity
Instructor+
Robert Webster
Robert has over 20 years of combined leadership, education and human services experience. He has a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Education from SUNY Cortland, a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from SUNY Oswego, and an M.S. in Mathematics. He has an extensive background in education, coaching, leadership and health services.
Prerequisites+
No prerequisites required.
Instructional materials+
All materials included in course.
System requirements+
Internet Connection
- Broadband or High-Speed - DSL, Cable, and Wireless Connections
*Dial-Up internet connections will result in a diminished online experience. Classroom pages may load slowly and viewing large audio and video files may not be possible.
Hardware Requirements
- Processor - 2GHz Processor or Higher
- Memory - 1 GB RAM Minimum Recommended
PC Software Requirements
- Operating Systems - Windows 10 or higher
- Microsoft Office 2019 or higher. Also, you could use a general Word Processing application to save and open Microsoft Office formats (.doc, .docx, .xls, .xlsx, .ppt, .pptx)
- Internet Browsers - Google Chrome is highly recommended
- Cookies MUST be enabled
- Pop-ups MUST be allowed (Pop-up Blocker disabled)
- The Kindle Reader App or VitalSource Bookshelf App are needed for many of our courses (No special equipment needed. This can be downloaded for FREE onto your computer.)
- PowerPoint Viewer (if you do not have PowerPoint)
- Adobe PDF Reader
- QuickTime, Windows Media Player &/or Real Player
MAC Software Requirements
- Operating Systems - Mac OS version 11 or higher
- Mac office programs or a Word Processing application to save and open Microsoft Office formats (.doc, .docx, .xls, .xlsx, .ppt, .pptx)
- Internet Browsers - Google Chrome is highly recommended
- Cookies MUST be enabled
- Pop-ups MUST be allowed (Pop-up Blocker disabled)
- The Amazon Kindle Reader App or VitalSource Bookshelf App are needed for many of our courses (No special equipment needed. This can be downloaded for FREE onto your computer.)
- PowerPoint Viewer (if you do not have PowerPoint)
- Adobe PDF Reader
- Apple QuickTime Media Player
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