Maintaining Friendships: Helping Kids Stay Connected When School’s Out

Group of kids in a circle looking down at the camera smiling with text "Maintaining Friendships Helping Kids Stay Connected When School's Out". STL child and family therapists can help you navigate keeping your child connected over the summer.

Summer in St. Louis is a time for freedom—late nights, pool days, and family adventures. But for many kids and teens, the long break from school can also mean drifting away from friends they saw every day during the year. As parents in Ballwin, Chesterfield, and Kirkwood know, helping children maintain those important connections is … Read more

Digital Detox: Managing Screen Time During Long Summer Days

Group of kids together on phones looking down with text "Digital Detox Managing Screen Time During Long Summer Days". Help kids get more out of their summer with tips from a St. Louis, MO therapist for kids, teens, and families here.

Managing screen time during summer break can feel like an uphill battle—here’s how to win it without war.  Whether you’re in Chesterfield, Kirkwood, or Ballwin, parents everywhere are facing the same challenge: how to keep kids and teens off devices when the lure of video games, social media, and streaming is stronger than ever. While … Read more

Boredom Busters: Engaging Activities for Preschoolers to Teens

Kids looking happy and entertained in the summer with text "Boredom Busters Engaging Activities for Preschoolers to Teens". Get help for parents this summer with an expert parent coach, mom therapist, or family therapist in St. Louis, MO here.

What if the key to your child’s summer happiness isn’t more activities, but more boredom?  Boredom, while daunting, can be a gateway to creativity, skill-building, and family bonding. Whether you’re wrangling a paint-covered preschooler or negotiating screen time with a TikTok-obsessed teen, here’s how to turn “I’m bored!” into “Can we do that again?” with … Read more

The Art of Unscheduled Time: Fostering Creativity and Independence in Summer

Kids playing together outside with text "The Art of Unscheduled Time Fostering Creativity and Independence in Summer" get help from a Ballwin, MO child therapist or a Lake St. Louis therapist for moms here!

Summer in St. Louis is a symphony of fireflies, Cardinals games, and the unmistakable hum of kids shouting, “I’m bored!”—a phrase that sends many parents in Ballwin, Chesterfield, and Kirkwood into a tailspin. But what if we reframed unstructured time as a gift rather than a crisis? In a world of overscheduled lives, allowing kids … Read more

Summer Parenting 101: Setting Realistic Expectations and Boundaries

Summertime outside with text "Summer Parenting 101 Setting Realistic Expectations and Boundaries". Get therapy for moms and families in St. Louis and St. Charles Counties here!

Summer in St. Louis is a whirlwind of pool parties, popsicle-stained shirts, and the ever-present hum of “What’s next?” For parents in Ballwin, Chesterfield, and beyond, the season often feels like a high-wire act: juggling work deadlines, camp schedules, and the delicate balance between “Let them be kids!” and “Why is the couch covered in … Read more

Finding the Balance: Structuring Summer Days for Kids of All Ages

Summer break at the beach with text "Finding the Balance Structuring Summer Days for Kids of All Ages". Get help from a St. Louis or St. Charles County therapist for moms, dads, families, children, and more here!

Summer in St. Louis brings sunshine, pool days, and the sweet scent of barbecue—but for parents in Kirkwood, Frontenac, and St. Charles, it also comes with a challenge: creating a rhythm that works for toddlers, teens, and everyone in between. How do you honor your preschooler’s need for play-based learning while giving your tween space … Read more

Beating the Summer Slump: Helping Kids Adjust to Life Outside the Classroom

Lots of photos of kids doing summer activities with text "Beating the Summer Slump Helping Kids Adjust to Life Outside the Classroom". Get help from a Ballwin, MO child therapist or family therapist in Lake St. Louis, MO.

Summer break often feels like a double-edged sword for families in St. Louis’s busiest communities—from the quiet streets of Frontenac to the bustling neighborhoods of O’Fallon and Warrenton. While kids eagerly anticipate freedom from homework and schedules, parents often face the daunting task of keeping them engaged, active, and mentally sharp. If you’ve ever found … Read more

Creating a Summer Plan: Balancing Fun, Structure, and Mental Well-being for the Whole Family

Kids in a pool with fun sunglasses on. Text reads "Creating a Summer Plan Balancing Fun, Structure, and Mental Well-being for the Whole Family" Therapy for moms and children is available in Ballwin, MO here!

Summer is an exciting time—longer days, sunny skies, and kids home from school ready for adventures. But for parents, it can also bring the challenge of juggling responsibilities, keeping kids engaged, and maintaining a harmonious household. With a little planning, you can create a summer that’s filled with fun, structure, and positive mental health for … Read more

When Is the Time for Me? Navigating Primary Caregiver Stress, Maternal Rage, and Overwhelm in St. Louis

Illustration of an overwhelmed mom juggling lots of things with text "When Is the Time for Me Navigating Primary Caregiver Stress, Maternal Rage, and Overwhelm in Lake St. Louis, MO" for support from a therapist for moms near Wentzville, MO you can get therapy here.

Parenting is one of the most rewarding yet challenging roles you can take on. But if you’re the primary or default caregiver, the weight of responsibility can feel unrelenting. You may find yourself asking, “When is the time for me?” This question is especially common among moms in Ballwin, Lake St. Louis, and other parts … Read more

Things We Don’t Talk About: “Is it okay that I hate my teenager?”

Mom and daughter arguing with text: "Things We Don't Talk About: Is it okay that I hate my teenager?". Get insights from a St. Louis area therapist for moms here. Teen counseling is available as well!

It’s a question that might feel uncomfortable to ask—maybe even shameful—but it’s one that a lot of moms have asked themselves. “Is it okay that I hate my teenager?” The truth is, if you’re feeling overwhelmed, mistreated, or even downright frustrated with your teen, you’re not alone. Parenting teenagers comes with a whole different set … Read more