- Packed Lunches + Teen Hang outs + Prom Season
Compiled while marveling at how everything seemed to bloom overnight! Welcome to Chicago, spring!!
Does this mean I need to get out and start doing some gardening…?
— Joel from NPN
Parenting IRL
“Our son has been eating out at lunch way too often, and it’s just not financially sustainable or healthy. We’re totally fine with him grabbing food off-campus sometimes, but we really need him to eat school lunch at least 2–3 days a week. For those with high-schoolers, what are your kids packing for lunch?”
We feel you on this. The days of the carefully packed bag lunch with the apple and the “I love you! ” note are long gone. Now you're negotiating with a teen who has… opinions. And if that 15-year-old is also an athlete who needs roughly the caloric intake of a small bear, the challenge doubles.
So — what are your kids really eating for lunch? What walks the line between healthy and something they'll actually eat and not just toss in the trash on the way to McDonald’s? Drop your best ideas in the discussion board!
But seriously...
Photo credit: Rachel Coyne
Teen hangouts — do you know where your kid is?
If you have a teenager in Chicago, you probably saw Mayor Brandon Johnson’s recent warning about “teen takeovers” — large, unsanctioned gatherings organized through social media that have been popping up across the city. These gatherings can turn dangerous, the mayor said, and he’s asked parents to check in with their children and find safe alternatives.
This raises a real question that has nothing to do with curfews or politics: how do you stay connected with what your teen is doing when social media can organize a massive group faster than you can say “what’s up for tonight?”
Experts say the answer is calm-and-cool engagement, not finger-wagging judgement. Yes, that’s easier said than done, but listening without reacting can be key to creating a healthy give-and-take relationship. “We want our children to know they can count on us to look out for them,” says the Center for Parent & Teen Communication. “The way we listen tells teens they are free to talk. Controlling our reactions tells them they can talk without fear of being judged.”
When this comes up for you, remember one surprisingly simple rule: if you are giving advice to your teenager, do it quickly and succinctly. “Say it in three to five sentences — no more,” says the Brown University Health newsletter. “If you go beyond that five-sentence mark, now you’re nagging and you sound like that teacher from the Peanuts comics. The fact is, our teenagers are no longer listening to us once we go beyond that much information.”
The goal, in other words, is to be the parent they actually want to talk to.
How do you keep that connection alive with your teenager? Share your thoughts here.
Don’t turn the page on libraries
Photo credit: Dokyung Kim
Last week, we mentioned that the city turned every CPS student ID into an instant library card, giving more than 315,000 kids immediate access to libraries across the city. Just like that.
The program has earned national attention, with Vice magazine calling it “unusually creative for modern government.”
So the next step is to help kids learn about all the cool things you can get at your local Chicago Public Library, including:
● Free museum passes — CPL’s Culture Pass program lets cardholders borrow free passes to the Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, Art Institute, Chicago History Museum, and more.
● Free digital resources — Hoopla and Libby/OverDrive give instant access to thousands of ebooks, audiobooks, comics, and streaming movies.
● Free online learning — Kids older than 2 can learn with interactive books, games, and puzzles, while older kids can get help with homework and even assistance putting together a resume. (Did we mention it’s free?)
Prom ’fits (without breaking the bank)
Photo credit: Todd Cravens
Prom season is here, and if you have a junior or senior kid who wants to go in a dress, you already know sticker shock is a thing. So before you spend a fortune on a dress or suit they’ll wear once (probably), know that there are ways to find cool clothes for less.
For instance, register here for Prom Girls Rock, which offers free (!!!) dresses donated by local bridal shops and retailers to high school juniors and seniors — their next event is noon to 3 p.m., April 18, at McKinley Leadership Academy, 2920 S. Wabash Ave.
Trending: Think before you post!
Photo credit: Helena Lopes
For many parents, it’s only natural: you’re celebrating your kid’s fourth birthday, and she gives you the cutest smile you’ve ever seen. Click! You capture it, add a cute caption, and post it online.
But here’s something that might make you pause mid-scroll: parents share an average of about 300 photos and sensitive data about their children online every year, according to The Journal of Pediatrics. That act, now called “sharenting” (a combination of “sharing” and “parenting”) brings some potentially negative consequences, including identity theft, emotional harm, and more.
Now, the first generation of children raised on social media is reaching adulthood, and many of them aren’t thrilled about having their childhoods archived online without their consent.
The good news is parents seem to be getting the message. More families are pausing before they post, keeping kids’ names off public profiles, and asking their children before sharing. Privacy, it turns out, is becoming the new luxury.
Worth asking yourself: what’s your family's policy on this?
Happening in a ’hood near you…
Photo credit: Natasha Moustache, MCA Chicago
Chinatown Early Childhood Playdate
What to expect: A fun get-together in Chinatown that features creative play, developmental screenings in English and Chinese, as well as free resources, self-care tips, and snacks.
When: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Saturday, April 25
Where: Pui Tak Center, 2216 S. Wentworth Ave.
Bye!
Now if you'll excuse us, we have some gardening to do. See you next week!
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