Using Spark as a Family
Here’s a little-known fun fact about Lucero: Long before we built an app, we created Quest Cards: a conversation card deck with questions that youth and families could use to spark conversations around the dinner table. With prompts like, “If your personality were a color, what would it be?” and “Tell a story about one […]
How Can I Nurture My Youth’s Self-Discovery Journey?
Self-discovery is the mission of every adolescent’s journey from childhood to adulthood. A strong identity helps tweens and teens develop self-awareness, self-regulation skills and confidence, and it guides them to make healthier choices and to grow into resilient adults. How can parents and caregivers make sure young people get the most out of their self-discovery […]
Raising Your Teen to Embrace Vulnerability
When parents are asked what qualities we hope for in our teens, we use words like kindness, courage, resilience, and purpose. Vulnerability probably doesn’t make it onto many lists, but maybe it should. According to clinical social worker and researcher Dr. Brené Brown, embracing vulnerability – including our imperfections, mistakes, and difficult emotions – is […]
Why Connection With Others is So Important for Teens
Connection with others is important at every age, but it’s critical for teens. Research shows that positive relationships with family, friends and others build teens’ self-esteem, increase their resilience, lower their risk of anxiety and depression, and even help them be more physically healthy. Connections give teens a support system when they’re facing challenges and […]
4 Activities That Build Teen Self-Confidence
From the time your teen was born, you’ve been building their self-confidence with unconditional love, support and validation. But to take that confidence to the next level, teens need challenges, too. The right kind of challenges help teens learn valuable life skills and get comfortable making decisions, speaking up for themselves and taking action. Here […]
5 Keys to Your Teen Finding Their Purpose
Not so long ago, researchers thought a sense of purpose was only important for adults. Now they agree that purpose is critical for teens, too. Recent studies show that teens with a sense of purpose benefit from better mental and physical health, a more positive self-image, and an easier transition to adulthood. “Purpose is not […]
6 Ways to Engage Your Teen in Conversation
Many parents report that one of the toughest transitions of the teen years is when a previously chatty child suddenly seems reluctant to have conversations. “My daughter used to tell me everything that happened as soon as I picked her up from school,” one mom says. “Now, she’s texting her friends and barely says hi. […]
6 Steps to Creating Family Rituals
Family rituals can include everything from holiday traditions passed down through generations to Taco Tuesday and the silly way you always say goodnight. As teens become more independent, these rituals matter more, not less. Rituals strengthen bonds between family members by creating shared memories and reinforcing shared values. They’re a way of saying, “this is […]
Top 10 Conflict Resolution Skills for Teens
Raised voices, rolled eyes, slamming doors… parents of teenagers are no strangers to conflict. Fighting is never fun, but every disagreement is an opportunity to teach teens how to handle conflict constructively. With the right skillset, disagreements and misunderstandings can lead to closer, more authentic relationships – right now and throughout your teen’s life. Here […]
The Secret of Getting Teens to Listen
If you ever wonder if your teen’s ears have an off switch, you’re not alone. What’s the secret to getting teens to listen? One strategy experts agree on is for parents to improve their own listening skills. Most of us think we’re pretty good listeners, but our body language, choice of words, and tone of […]
