Autism & Adolescence: Navigating the Teen & Tween Years

11/06/18 • 35 min

Raising a teenager is never easy. But for parents caring for a child with ASD, the challenges faced during the teen and tween years can feel especially complex. "Why is my son having so many tantrums? Is his autism getting worse?" "Is my daughter spending too much time alone? How can I help her make more friends?" "My child has a crush! Is s/he socially and emotionally mature enough to begin dating?" "What is the best way to talk about sex?"
Tune in as Exceptional Parenting Podcast host, Stefanie Boucher, joins clinical psychologist and autism expert, Dr. Andrew Schlegelmilch, for an in-depth discussion about the challenges that can arise for kids on the spectrum during the teen years. Get practical, down-to-earth advice about peer relationships, sex, keeping your child safe online, and how to identify common mental health concerns, like anxiety or depression.
About Our Guest:
Andrew Schlegelmilch, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist in private practice in the San Francisco Bay Area. His area of specialty is assisting children and young adults with complex social and learning needs and their families be successful in all areas of academic, social and vocational functioning. He wrote "Parenting ASD Teens: A Guide to Making It Up as You Go" in 2014 and is currently working on his next book on the same topic for parenting young adults on the autism spectrum.

Previous Episode

How to Be a Happier Parent

Five years of editing the Motherlode column for the New York Times taught KJ Dell’Antonia this: family should be a source of joy, not stress. But what if the rigors of parenting and the chaos of daily life are preventing you from experiencing the happiness you deserve? In this episode, tune in as Exceptional Parenting Podcast host, Stefanie Boucher, speaks to KJ (author of the newly released book How to Be a Happier Parent) about the simple shifts parents can make in order to reduce stress and find more pleasure and contentment in family life. Listen now to discover:
- The four things happy parents do really well
- How to address common struggles, like getting kids to complete chores or homework
- Why kids’ sports or extracurricular activities should be kept in check
- Why it’s okay to put yourself first
About Our Guest:
KJ Dell’Antonia is the author of How to Be a Happier Parent and the former editor of the New York Times’ Motherlode blog. She continues to write on the personal and policy aspects of parenthood for the Times and other publications and is the co-host of the #AmWriting podcast. KJ lives in New Hampshire with her husband, four children, and assorted horses, chickens, dogs and cats.

Next Episode

Addressing Teen Stress: A Parent's Guide, Part 1

In 1985, 18 percent of teens said they felt stressed “all the time,” according to a UCLA study. Fast-forward to 2017, and that number soared to 41 percent. Our nation’s youth are undergoing a mental health crisis. But why, and what can we, as parents, do about it? Tune in as Exceptional Parenting Podcast host, Stefanie Boucher, sits down with long-time educator and youth counselor, Sal Caraviello, to discuss what has changed in the teen landscape over the past 30 years and what we can do to get things back on track for our kids. This is "Part 1" of a two-part series.
About Our Guest:
Salvatore Caraviello has been working with children and adolescents for more than 30 years. As a former teacher, administrator, coach, counselor, and youth minister, he has unique insight into the concerns of modern youth and has worked tirelessly to help countless children and families find success, balance, and happiness in all areas of their lives. In 2015, Sal was named Winchester Citizen of the Year, in Winchester, Massachusetts. He was the first non-resident to ever be selected.