Ok, so there are times when I am writing this blog that I’m typing with a HUGE smile on my face, and this, my friends, is one of those times. 😀
When COVID hit, I immediately thought about our youth being isolated, and it broke my heart. I wondered: How can we connect young people in positive ways?
At that time, Lisa Tabb and I had created two of the four Screeangers films, and through that experience, we witnessed firsthand the incredible power of peer-to-peer and peer-to-near peer programs in building life skills.
Yet, I wondered why there were almost no peer-to-peer programs teaching skills for navigating online issues.
So I reached out to brilliant young adults, professionals, and teens. Over the course of two and half years, we developed and ran an online program called Boosting Bravery.
The results? Middle and high school participants loved it!
Participants were energized as they explored relatable topics, discovered solutions, and learned practical science about human behavior and technology. They had fun while building confidence in some of life's most challenging skills — our human skills!
Once life returned to in-person, we decided to retire the online program and redesign it to be in-person. I am over the moon that we are now giving it to schools to use at the new Boosting Bravery website!
So if you are connected in any way to schools, afterschool programs, sports teams, or similar groups. please take a minute to check out the details below.
And the best part is that anyone can access all the program materials for FREE.
Thank you for reading below and for forwarding this to other people who could benefit from it.
Boosting Bravery is a free peer-to-peer or peer-to-near-peer skills-building mental wellness club that aims to provide students with knowledge and practical skills to thrive in their online and offline lives.
The program can be run as part of an existing peer-to-peer program or as a standalone initiative.
Over the course of eight weeks, students meet weekly and, using the provided materials, guide each other through discussions and activities on a variety of topics.
Tweens and Teens demonstrate bravery every day as they navigate life — whether handling difficult emotions, resolving friendship conflicts, or facing new and awkward situations.
Boosting Bravery is about utilizing teens' existing bravery by coming together and learning skills to boost their abilities while having fun along the way.
It was created by Dr. Delaney Ruston, a physician and filmmaker of the Screenagers documentary series, in collaboration with other professionals, schools, and teens.
Boosting Bravery was piloted and refined over two and a half years with groups of teens around the country.
Each weekly meeting is filled with discussion questions, interesting science, and activities to help participants develop skills for mental wellness in both online and offline life.
The program is completely free! Simply sign up at www.boostingbravery.com to access all program materials.
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Ok, so there are times when I am writing this blog that I’m typing with a HUGE smile on my face, and this, my friends, is one of those times. 😀
When COVID hit, I immediately thought about our youth being isolated, and it broke my heart. I wondered: How can we connect young people in positive ways?
At that time, Lisa Tabb and I had created two of the four Screeangers films, and through that experience, we witnessed firsthand the incredible power of peer-to-peer and peer-to-near peer programs in building life skills.
Yet, I wondered why there were almost no peer-to-peer programs teaching skills for navigating online issues.
So I reached out to brilliant young adults, professionals, and teens. Over the course of two and half years, we developed and ran an online program called Boosting Bravery.
The results? Middle and high school participants loved it!
Participants were energized as they explored relatable topics, discovered solutions, and learned practical science about human behavior and technology. They had fun while building confidence in some of life's most challenging skills — our human skills!
Once life returned to in-person, we decided to retire the online program and redesign it to be in-person. I am over the moon that we are now giving it to schools to use at the new Boosting Bravery website!
So if you are connected in any way to schools, afterschool programs, sports teams, or similar groups. please take a minute to check out the details below.
And the best part is that anyone can access all the program materials for FREE.
Thank you for reading below and for forwarding this to other people who could benefit from it.
‘Hookup Culture’—it’s a phrase that gets tossed around all the time, but what does it really mean? More importantly, how does it shape young people’s relationships, self-worth, and social expectations? The term makes it seem like all teens and young adults are participating, comfortable with it, and accepting of it as just the way things are. But wait—not so fast. Today, I’m sharing insights from teens I spoke to in my recent podcast on this topic, along with myth-busting information from Dr. Lisa Wade who offered advice for parents.
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This blog explores how children often perceive parental love as conditional, linked to their achievements. It offers insights on fostering unconditional love, with reflections and practical questions to help parents ensure their children feel valued for who they are, not just for what they accomplish.
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Did you know that 45% of girls stop playing sports by age 14 due to low body confidence? That is a shocking and devastating statistic. Dove's Super Bowl ad, in partnership with Nike highlighted this, presenting a critical conversation starter about the intersection of self-esteem, body image, and performance in societal contexts. This 30-second spot was shown to an audience of 123.4 million, as part of Dove’s “The Self-Esteem Project” In a world where what girls see on social media, influencers on YouTube on their favorite shows, and in advertising powerfully shape perceptions and behaviors, this was an important moment. Read more and see the ad in today’s blog.
READ MORE >for more like this, DR. DELANEY RUSTON'S NEW BOOK, PARENTING IN THE SCREEN AGE, IS THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE FOR TODAY’S PARENTS. WITH INSIGHTS ON SCREEN TIME FROM RESEARCHERS, INPUT FROM KIDS & TEENS, THIS BOOK IS PACKED WITH SOLUTIONS FOR HOW TO START AND SUSTAIN PRODUCTIVE FAMILY TALKS ABOUT TECHNOLOGY AND IT’S IMPACT ON OUR MENTAL WELLBEING.
