"I have always looked forward to raising teenagers, albeit a little nervous also. But it’s different and scarier when it’s our own kiddos. Your reminders helped: She is doing exactly what she’s supposed to be doing, and right on time. It’s the process of letting go that is so gutting. She is becoming her own person – and we’re growing as much as she is. Your class is helping!!"
"This is a fantastic, comprehensive and accessible overview of adolescent brain development and behavior. It also offered loads of reflection exercises (so much of parenting is an inside job, reflecting on our own family of origin and baggage) and actionable tools. So great."
"This is the teen class that I wished for, full of simply presented insight into the teen brain geared towards a better (and happier!) way to parent through connection. Dr. Walsh and Erin present real (not idealized) techniques. They recognize that there will be bumps and bruises along the way and offer guidelines to help identify when typical behaviors & emotions cross over into concerning ones. It is clear that they have a real passion for helping parents and a deep affection for teens."
Bio section
Erin Walsh, Co-Founder Spark & Stitch Institute
Erin Walsh is co-founder of Spark & Stitch Institute and author of It’s Their World: Teens, Screens, and the Science of Adolescence. Her work has been featured in the Washington Post, Edutopia, Parents.com, Psychology Today, and Minnesota Public Radio. She co-authored the Tenth Anniversary Edition of the national bestseller Why Do They Act That Way? A Survival Guide to the Adolescent Brain for You and Your Teen and has worked with schools, school districts, parent groups and other youth serving organizations throughout the United States and Canada on issues related to digital media, parenting, and child and adolescent development. You can follow her work at sparkandstitchinstitute.com.
Bio section
Dr. David Walsh, Co-Founder Spark & Stitch Institute
David Walsh, Ph.D. is an award winning psychologist, best selling author, and international speaker. He founded and led the internationally renowned National Institute on Media and the Family for fifteen years. His books have been translated into eight different languages and include the national best sellers Why Do They Act That Way? A Survival Guide to the Adolescent Brain for You and Your Teen. He has been a frequent guest on national radio and television programs including 6o Minutes, NBC’s Today Show, Good Morning America, The CBS Early Show, The PBS News Hour, National Public Radio’s All Things Considered and Morning Edition. He has testified numerous times before Congress, presented workshops throughout the world, and served as a consultant to the World Health Organization and the Ministries of Education in Japan, South Korea, Portugal and Singapore.
Explore the course framework
Start here for some brain-science-made-simple. This brain brush up video will help you hit the ground running when we start taking a tour of the teenage brain during the first week of the course.
By the end of this Spark you will have a better understanding of why risk taking, big emotions, and sometimes big power struggles are so common - all are linked to changes in your teenager's brain.
Your teen's job is to pull away from you but the teen brain NEEDS connection to thrive. So we need a new toolkit for connection in the teenage years.
In this Spark you will learn practical strategies for setting limits, communication tips, and how to negotiate with your teen.
How do we give our teens the tools to start managing their own feelings? We are going to tackle anger, stress, coaching emotions, and mental health. Ready? Let’s go.
How do we coach teens to problem solve, act with integrity, build their own friendships, to be brave, to stand in their power, and move towards their goals?
