New Wellness Speaker Series Focuses on Supporting Well-Being for Parents and Their Children

The event was the first of three workshops in a yearlong series at Rivers, titled “Navigating Adolescent Development in an Interconnected World,” which is focused on giving parents tools to support their well-being and that of their children. At the October session in Hutton Hall, Crump spoke about the journey of granting independence while setting limits for children, taking several opportunities to solicit feedback from the audience of parents and caregivers.

Crump explained that independence is a blend of different behaviors, and it is common for children to have varying levels of mastery over those different behaviors. He also recognized the common urge for parents to step in and relieve psychological distress when a child is struggling with an area of independence.  

To address this challenge, Crump introduced frameworks, such as “Parent as Guide” and “Parent as Consultant,” to show parents how to step in at different points along a child’s journey while letting them practice independence. 

“What we’re trying to do as a guide is help our child build mastery,” Crump said. He emphasized the importance of setting expectations and sticking to them—such as giving a 15-year-old the responsibility of making their own breakfast and setting their own alarm—to allow the child to practice a particular skill, and supporting them emotionally while holding that boundary.

When tackling a challenge, such as developing a new life skill, “if someone keeps stepping in and helping us, we get to the end without knowing how to practice that skill,” Crump said. While it may be challenging initially, introducing a limit to the parent’s help and offering a safe space for the child to readjust is one way Crump encourages parents to set adolescents up for independence.

The “Navigating Adolescent Development in an Interconnected World” lecture series addresses the health and well-being of the wider Rivers community—a priority reflected in Rivers’ new strategic plan, which calls the community to “cultivate an ecosystem of connection, well-being, and belonging.” Crump’s expertise in supporting parents makes him an “amazing resource,” said Megan Delano, one of Rivers’ school counselors and head of wellness programming.

The series continues in 2026 with a session by Jill Walsh, Ph.D., in February, which will focus on navigating social media and cell phone use with adolescents. Walsh will also deliver a version of her presentation to students. The series will conclude with another session led by Crump in April, titled “Play Teaches More Than Just Fun: Supporting Your Child in Balancing Life Demands and Developing a Sense of Self.” The series is open to all Rivers parents and caregivers.

“It’s great that this series is cross-divisional,” Delano said. “We hope that the series will give parents the tools so they can feel supported as they guide their children through challenges, not only at Rivers, but also in life outside of school.”