Parenting Newsletter Aspen Education Group

In this issue:
Recognizing and Treating Teen Depression

How Young Is Too Young For Boarding Schools?

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

Spring is a great time to enroll your teen in a wilderness program!

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.

Wilderness Programs for Teens

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.

Adirondack Leadership Expeditions is a character development wilderness program that promotes personal growth through focused experiences. The forested, mountain setting removes urban distractions to allow students room to gain insight into their core values and accept responsibility for their choices.

Turn-About Ranch is a place where old-time values such as hard work, honesty, respect, teamwork and accountability are the standard. Teens thrive in the unique environment of this spirited working cow-and-horse ranch. The objective of Turn-About Ranch is to provide a hard-hitting, high-impact therapeutic program that will remold and turn around the lives of rebellious teens.

Recognizing and Treating Teen Depression

Teen depression comes in many forms, not all of which are easily recognizable to parents or teens themselves. For some teens, depression can manifest as anger and irritability, while others may display symptoms like apathy, avoidance or isolation.

help

The following are some of the most common warning signs of teen depression:

Sadness, anger, moodiness or irritability
Loss of interest in activities once enjoyed
Significant changes in appetite, weight or sleep patterns
Loss of energy
Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
Difficulty concentrating
Frequent thoughts of death or suicide
Frequent and unexplained headaches, muscle aches, stomachaches or tiredness
Frequent absences from school or poor performance in school
Running away from home
Withdrawing from family or friends
Alcohol or drug abuse
Neglect of personal hygiene, clothes or appearance

Depressed teens don’t believe life can be better because they don’t have the tools to make the necessary changes to their lifestyle and outlook,” said Neal Christensen, the clinical director at Outback Therapeutic Expeditions, a wilderness therapy program for teens in Lehi, Utah.

Read more about teen depression>>

How Young Is Too Young for
Boarding School?

It's a question many parents find themselves asking again and again: "How young is too young?"

How young is too young for make-up? For dating? For a cell phone?

An increasing number of parents are also asking, "How young is too young for boarding school?"

The answer to that last question depends upon the family, the child, and the school in question.

Benefits of Boarding School

Many boarding schools offer challenging academic experiences, as well as opportunities forself-discovery and emotional growth. Boarding school students are often identified by university professors as being the best equipped for the demands of higher education. They're often among the most well-adjusted, self-confident members of the student body.

But when should a child's boarding school experience begin? Again, there isn't an age that applies across the board -- this decision needs to be based upon the needs of the student and the capabilities of the school.

A Stable Environment

Unfortunately, there isn't a lot of scientific evidence we can turn to for guidance -- but what we lack in hard data we can perhaps make up for in personal anecdotes. Boarding school stories abound from both students and parents.

One such story recently appeared in the British newspaper The Times. This article focused on four young girls who shared a boarding school dorm room.

All of the girls were 8 years old, and all of their parents struggled with the decision to enroll them.
The girls had another thing in common as well; all had fathers who were in the military.
Their parents had chosen boarding school for them because it offered the most stable environment.
If the girls stayed with their parents, they'd be moving every two to three years, and would have to adjust to new schools and new friends every time.

To Learn More About Boarding Schools >>

Talking to Your Child about Weight

Weight is a sensitive issue for most people. This is especially true of children. An overweight or obese child may feel very self-conscious about their weight or appearance, and may even be teased by classmates.

If you are concerned about your child's weight, take time to carefully consider the best way to approach the topic with them. Here are some suggestions:

How do you decide if you should discuss weight with your child?

First, consider your child's age. Children in elementary school are likely too young for such a conversation. At this age, their parents are making all of the decisions surrounding food and exercise.

If you have a young child who is overweight or obese, simply begin making the changes necessary to bring their weight under control while teaching them healthy lifestyle choices at the same time. Emphasizing weight with your child when they are too young may set them up for a lifelong struggle with body image or eating disorders.

If your children are older and struggling with their weight, talk to them about what foods they are eating, what exercise they are getting and any problems they may be having without stressing the fact that they are overweight. Be supportive of your children and help them do what is necessary to become healthier.

What should you say?

The best way to talk to a child about weight is to talk not about weight, but about health. Instead of telling your child they are too heavy or that you think they need to lose some weight, talk about the importance of eating healthy and getting enough physical activity. Point out the benefits of physical health, such as having more energy, increased self-confidence and less illness.

Your child will be more willing to listen if you make healthier living a family project. Focusing all the attention on your child could negatively affect their self-esteem and interest in losing weight. Instead, tell them that the entire family is going to eat better and get involved with physical activity. Teach your child healthy eating habits by including them in grocery shopping and meal planning.

Continue reading to find out how to talk to your child about their weight>>

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