Whine-Free Zone: Strategies for Dealing with Summer Complaints

Kids upside down playing with text "Whine-Free Zone Strategies for Dealing with Summer Complaints" from a St. Louis therapist for moms, families, children, and more.

Ever notice how the sound of whining can turn a sunny afternoon into a thunderstorm—no matter how many fun plans you’ve made? If you’re a parent, you know that summer break brings its own unique chorus of complaints: “I’m bored!” “It’s too hot!” “Why can’t I have more screen time?” The truth is, even the … Read more

The Summer Slide: Keeping Academic Skills Sharp Without the Stress

Kids in a group reading from the same book in the grass with text "The Summer Slide Keeping Academic Skills Sharp Without the Stress". Learn from a St. Louis area therapist for children and teens how to help support academics over the summer.

Did you know that kids can lose up to two months of reading skills over the summer if they don’t stay engaged? For many parents in communities like Ballwin, Chesterfield, and Kirkwood, there’s a familiar worry that creeps in as the school year fades: Will my child lose the academic progress they made this year? … Read more

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

Summer Jobs and Internships: A Parent’s Guide to Helping Teens Thrive in Competitive Work Environments

Professional handshake with text overlay: "Summer Jobs and Internships Guiding Teens Through Competitive Work Environments" Therapy for teens and families in St. Louis, MO is here in Ballwin and Lake St. Louis, MO.

Summer jobs and internships are more than just a rite of passage—they’re a training ground for adulthood. Whether your teen is flipping burgers, interning at a local nonprofit, or launching a side hustle, these experiences teach resilience, financial literacy, and problem-solving skills that classrooms can’t replicate. But navigating the job market as a teenager can … Read more

When College Kids Come Home: Adapting to a Full Nest Again

Groups of college aged students looking happy with text "When College Kids Come Home Adapting to a Full Nest Again". STL Therapists for moms, teens, families and more can help in Ballwin and Lake St. Louis, MO.

Picture this: your teen returns home from college, and suddenly your quiet house feels full again—now what? While having your child back under your roof can be joyful, it often comes with growing pains: conflicting schedules, shifting boundaries, and the delicate balance between nurturing independence and maintaining household harmony. Here’s how to navigate this transition … 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