Parenting Newsletter Aspen Education Group

In this issue:
Five Tips to Help Your Teen Stay Safe on Prom Night

Why Longer Is Better for Teen Substance Abuse Treatment

Helping the Discouraged Middle School Learner Before It's Too Late

Jenny's Corner

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Call (866) 845-1391 to learn more about Aspen's programs for children, teens, and young adults.

Summer's Coming!
Time to choose a camp for your child

Wellspring Camps are the most fun, effective and popular summer camps for weight loss. With 14 programs this summer, Wellspring has a camp near you. Get in shape, have fun, make new friends, lose a ton of weight, AND keep the weight off long-term. If you are serious about making a permanent change this summer, contact Wellspring Camps for more information.

Talisman Camps cater to children, teens, and young adults with issues such as attention deficit disorder and learning disabilities, Asperger's Syndrome, and high-functioning autism. Talisman's activities provide a fun environment in which campers can develop self-esteem, trust in self and others, and the basics of good decision-making.

This summer, instead of a traditional camp, why not try a wilderness therapy program for your troubled teen?

Parents who have teens heading down the "wrong path" will often see dramatic changes in their teen's attitude, behavior, and motivation after a therapeutic wilderness camp.

Aspen has wilderness programs in:

Idaho - SUWS

North Carolina - Phoenix Outdoor, SUWS of the Carolinas, and Four Circles

Since 1981, SUWS has been giving children and their families hope for a positive and productive future.

Phoenix Outdoor is a licensed wilderness-based substance abuse and chemical dependency treatment program for teenagers ages 13-17.

SUWS of the Carolinas is a therapeutic wilderness program that uses the outdoors as an alternative to conventional treatment environments, while engaging students using traditional therapeutic methods.

Four Circles Recovery Center for older teens and young adults ages 18-28 is an innovative addictions, substance abuse and co-occuring mental health disorders treatment program that combines a traditional counseling setting with extensive wilderness experiences.

Call (866) 845-1391 to learn more about Aspen's programs for children, teens, and young adults.

Five Tips to Help Your Teen Stay Safe on Prom Night

As winter subsides and the weather warms, many students’ thoughts turn to summer vacation and the fun and freedoms they hope will await them there. But for older teens, one of the more highly anticipated events of their young lives occurs while school is still in session.

In high school hallways across the nation, the arrival of spring heralds an event that holds near mythic status among teens, and causes parents to hold their breath in fear for their children’s safety and well-being. The focal point of this angst and anxiety? Prom.

What was once little more than an opportunity for older teens to experience a bit of fancy formality has morphed into an exercise in extravagance that is all too often associated with alcohol abuse and other less-than-desirable behaviors. Yet, faced with decades of “tradition” and various corporate entreaties (from limo companies, hotels, florists, and the fashion industry, to name a few), many parents swallow their misgivings and, with forced smiles and frozen eyes, watch their tux- and gown-clad children head off for a night they fear will be filled with debauchery.

Though prom often appears to have taken on larger-than-life status in the pages of glossy teen magazines and in the plots of more than a few R-rated films, parents are under no obligation to stand idly by while their children engage in behaviors that on any other night would be categorically unacceptable. And though managing your teen’s prom-related behaviors may not always be easy, the following tips can go a long way toward ensuring that their actions remain in line with your expectations.

Tip #1: Stay Involved

Penetrating the teen code of secrecy can be among the most challenging aspects of parenting a teen, but maintaining an active presence in your teen’s life will put you in the best possible position to head off any problems before the damage has been done.

As is the case in almost every aspect of your teen’s life, keeping the lines of communication open will allow you to discuss topics of concern before they become bones of contention. Know what prom-related activities your teen is planning (such as pre- or after-parties), meet the friends who will be accompanying your child, talk about transportation arrangements, and be sure that there aren’t any surprises when the big day finally arrives.

Read four more tips to help your teen stay safe on prom night >>

Why Longer Is Better for Teen Substance Abuse Treatment

Why do so many recovering addicts and alcoholics relapse and return to treatment over and over again? While relapse is a normal part of the recovery process (40-60 percent of people relapse after drug treatment, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse), studies have shown that the risk of relapse is greatly reduced in people who attend long-term drug rehab.

For many adolescents (and adults) receiving substance abuse treatment, the solution to the relapse-rehab cycle is simply spending more time in a healing environment that is supportive of long-term sobriety. In order to conquer their addictions, teens must learn how to communicate effectively, find meaning by giving back to others, cope with stress, rebuild trusting relationships, and more. These concepts cannot be taught in a month, and often require years of continuing education and therapy to be fully realized.

Continue reading about the benefits of long-term treatment programs >>

Helping the Discouraged Middle School Learner Before It's Too Late

As early as middle school, some children have already given up on themselves. These are the kids who can be heard in the classroom telling the teacher “I’m not good at (fill in the blank) – whether it be reading, taking tests, or some other facet of school. They have declared themselves “bad at school,” resist new learning strategies or concepts that are presented to them, and have begun down a path that has parents and teachers concerned.

Carol Ranstad, the Director of Academics at New Leaf Academy of Oregon, a therapeutic boarding school for girls aged 10 to 14, specializes in helping reignite confidence and a passion for learning in discouraged learners and getting them back on track in time for high school.

What is a discouraged learner and how can parents help? Continue reading >>

Jenny's Corner - 5 Star Tips with a Summer Camp Twist!

Jenny Salkewicz, Kitchen Manager, spent 5 years in fine dining restuarants in the NAPA valley before joining Talisman Camps, a special needs camp in North Carolina.

Have you tried putting chickpeas into chocolate chip cookies? I know, it sounds crazy, but it passed the "student test" at Talisman Programs, a summer camp and school for students ages 8-17 with Asperger's, ADHD, and related challenges. Not only that, but it is a clever way to get some protein, fiber, and folic acid into their diets.

This recipe idea comes from "Deceptively Delicious" by Jessica Seinfeld, one of our new favorite cookbooks at Talisman. This higher fiber treat went over exceptionally well at our school for kids with Asperger's. As you know, many students with special needs struggle with sensory integration issues; that's right, they are picky eaters.

Many parents understand how important it can be to provide proper nutrition to their children, especially when they are on medication. But providing appropriate nutrition can be an uphill battle for students who are picky eaters. Far too often, they choose sugar over steamed vegetables, fat over fiber, or Velveeta over vitamins.

Sometimes parents have to be creative in solving this problem, and this book can be a great resource. It is chockfull of sneak-in solutions that can add up over the course of a day. Sure, it's not a comprehensive answer, but great-tasting cookies sure are a good place to start!

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