Jump over to Let Grow (click here) to read my Q&A with parenting historian Jennifer Traig. Suffice to say, some practices that were popular sound a little crazy (scary, stupid, gory, appalling) today.
Archive | 2019
What Teens Need to Stay Sane (And Fun to be Around)
Freedom and responsibility. There. I’ve ruined the surprise for you. But if you go to Let Grow (by clicking here), you can read a lovely essay on why treating teens like children backfires in a big way.
School Year Strategies to Keep Everyone Sane
Jessica Lahey, author of “The Gift of Failure,” drew up a list of calming tips for a good school year. Check them out — and add your own — here, at Let Grow!
How Would We React on Facebook If Baby Jessica Fell Down a Well TODAY?
When 18-month-old Baby Jessica fell down a well in 1987, the country was wracked with worry — but did not seem ready to rip the mom to shreds. Over at Let Grow (click here) we’re wondering how the public would react to the same incident today? Please join the conversation!
Kids Are Addicted to Each Other, Not Tech
Clearly, screens are attractive. (I mean, here it is, a glorious Sunday morning and what am I up to???) But when we tsk tsk about kids’ screen time, we have to make sure that they aren’t turning to tech because that’s the only place we still allow them to hang out together. At Let Grow […]
Bored? Guilty? Relax, Says Anthropologist: You Do NOT Have to Play With Your Kids
Read the reassuring Q&A with David Lancy, a professor emeritus and author of The Anthropology of Childhood, over at Let Grow. David has studied child-rearing around the world and has some reassuring news for parents. Photo by Adobe.
Can a Particular Club Make Kids Smarter?
Kids of all academic levels who joined one particular club to play one particular game in a Texas school district far outscored their peers on standardized tests. Click here to be transported to Let Grow to read what it was — and why it made such a difference!
The Boost Kids Can Get When a Dad Tells Them: I Lost My Job
A dad finds the right way to tell his sons he lost his job — and maybe a way for them to accept loss, too. His story is here, at Let Grow.
How Much of a Threat are Online Predators? (And How Much Surveillance Should Parents Undertake?)
At Let Grow today we examine a recent article arguing that kids are in grave danger every time they go online, so parents should shadow their every keystroke. What a huge and controversial topic! Please join the conversation by clicking here.
How Do You Get Kids to Start Coming to the Park?
As you may have noticed, many playgrounds are empty except for very young kids and their adult minders. But Providence, RI, figured out the key to getting kids out to play (and eat their federally funded lunches). Read about its novel solution, at Let Grow.