Bridging the Gap: Communicating with Children and Teens

Published on August 30, 2024

The next Community Conversations event “Bridging the Gap: Communicating with Children and Teens,” is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 5, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Fuller Lodge, 2132 Central Avenue, Los Alamos. Register in advance for this free event at losalamosjjab.com/events. Appetizers will be served. 

Local experts in adolescent psychology and youth communication will lead an interactive workshop to facilitate honest discussion and dialog between parents and youths. This discussion will be a valuable resource for parents wanting to learn how to decode their child’s cues, listen with curiosity, and foster more meaningful conversations.

As children grow from toddlers to teens, parent-child conversations drastically change, often resulting in frustration for both parents and children. The Community Conversations series was created last year to support parents and youth who are struggling with difficult conversations around social media, drug use, mental health, and friendship issues. 

Every Community Conversation is held in response to emerging community needs. Through a collaborative effort between the Los Alamos Family Council, the Los Alamos Social Services Department, Los Alamos Public Schools, the LAPS Prevention Program, the Los Alamos Municipal Court, and Los Alamos JJAB, local experts are brought into the conversation to assist in meeting the needs of youth and families. The goal of Community Conversations is to provide relevant and factual information on youth issues, identify gaps facing the community, and advocate for positive change in addressing community challenges. Each event is trauma-informed and amplifies the voices of those with lived experiences. Data is collected after every event to assess participant satisfaction and determine future topics, ensuring that the event remains focused on its mission.

Stay up to date on upcoming programs, registration, and new events at https://losalamosjjab.com/events/.