Barbie gets a bad rap. She’s been the prime suspect in crimes against girls’ and women’s self-esteem, followed closely by fashion designers and Photoshop artists. But is she solely to blame? It’s complicated. Yes, society’s expectations and pop culture play a role, but for […]
Ages & Stages – Tweens & Teens
Ontario teens need to get moving
Canadian teens need to increase their physical exercise every day for a lifetime of good health. Research from ParticipACTION, the national voice for physical activity and sport participation in Canada, shows that only four per cent of Canadian youth aged 12 to 17 […]
Sex, drugs and awkwardness
Get your kids ready for their teen years with a frank chat about these sensitive topics. Derek Abma explains what parents should keep in mind. Those who remember sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll being a part of their adolescence can […]
Mental Health & Depression
Watch for the four symptoms of youth depression The school year can be a stressful time for parents and youth alike. In Canada, data show approximately five per cent of males and 12 per cent of females aged 12 to […]
Teens & prescription drug abuse
It can happen to anyone, and is more common than you think …
Building the ‘Gratitude Muscle’
There are concrete blessings for kids who learn to count their blessings …
Justin Bieber and the ‘emerging adult’ crisis
Research shows young adults ages 18-25 commonly act out …
20 wacky ways to tell your teen you love him
Even though they won’t tell you so, teenagers still want to know they are loved …
Talking teen driver safety
Project Gearshift campaign aims to raise awareness of three key issues for teens: distracted, impaired and emotional driving By Andrew Wong Turning 16 is an exciting time for Canadian teenagers, as it was for my friends and me. We would […]
Role models inspire youth to “be the change”
Back in 1995, Thornhill, Ont.’s Craig Kielburger, 12, was so outraged by a newspaper article about the death of Iqbal Masih, a child labourer in India, that he was moved to begin fighting child labour. He has been actively making […]