- Checking Kids Phones + Social Media Worry + Involved Dads
Compiled while…
Wondering if the neighbor’s dog will ever stop barking at… clouds? Blades of grass?
We can’t tell.
Should you look at your kid’s cellphone?
“I recently checked my 14-year-old son’s iPad for school-related things, and I saw some
texts about skipping class to meet his girlfriend — along with some pretty explicit
messaging and mentions of inappropriate pictures on Snapchat between the two of
them. What should I do?”
We’ve all said, “ahhh, they grow up so fast” — but that’s usually in reference to
something like losing a tooth, not sexting as an early teen.
So what should you do if your child is acting a little more adult than you’d like on their
cellphone? Some say it’s ok to check their electronic devices, while some think that’s
crossing the line. Got some thoughts? Let’s hear them!
We’ve all worried about what social media is doing to our kids. But the data might
actually put your mind at ease, according to an article on TechDirt.
For starters, most kids say social media doesn’t affect how they view themselves — or if
it does, it makes them feel better, according to a recent Pew study the article cites. For
instance, a full 62% of kids say Instagram makes no difference to their self-esteem.
That number stays the same for SnapChat, and drops just a bit to 57% for TikTok.
The article calls the social media concerns a “moral panic” and defines it as “worried
adults constructing a portrait of a crisis that the people supposedly living it mostly don’t
appear to recognize.” Indeed, the writer goes on to note that social media concerns
often break down along economic lines, and “wealthier, more educated parents are
significantly more convinced that social media is harming their kids than less affluent
parents are.”
So the conversation continues, but hey, let us just weigh in with this: Spring is here, and
it’s finally nice outside. Take your kid out there to touch grass.
[Photo credit: Richard Stachmann]
National Fentanyl Awareness Day was on April 29, but it’s important to know about this
dangerous drug every day. How should you talk with your kid about this potentially fatal
narcotic?
In this episode of the acclaimed “Ask Lisa” podcast, Dr. Lisa Damour and journalist
Reena Ninan are joined by Ed Ternan and Marcia Lee Taylor of Song for Charlie, a
national non-profit dedicated to raising awareness about the dangers of fentanyl.
Ternan, who tragically lost his 22-year-old son to a counterfeit prescription pill, and Lee
Taylor, the former President and CEO of the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids, cover the
basics about fentanyl and offer concrete guidance on how to have effective
conversations with teens about its dangers.
Find the Spotify link here
Find the Apple Podcasts link here
[Photo credit: Tim Mossholder]
It’s always important for fathers to be involved with their children’s early lives. Now, the
data shows that connection may still be showing up in the child’s body years later,
according to recent research.
Fathers who were warm, responsive, and supportive with their babies around 10
months old helped create smoother co-parenting relationships by the time the child
turns two, a study at Penn State University found. Even more notable, those same
children showed healthier blood markers at age seven.
“The takeaway here is that in families with a father in the household, dads affect the
environment in ways that can support — or undermine — the health of the child for
years to come,” said Alp Aytuglu, one of the study’s lead researchers.
That's how many birds — from 250 different species — pass through Chicago during
spring migration each year, according to the Lincoln Park Zoo. Spring migration peaks
in May, so now’s the perfect time to teach the kids about our fine feathered friends.
[Photo credit: minh đô]
Good news for parents who've been battling their teenager out of bed on Saturday
mornings: science says maybe don’t.
Teens who use the weekend to catch up on sleep lost during the week have a 41%
lower risk of depression than those who don't sleep in, according to a recent study
published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, which analyzed sleep and health data
from more than 1,000 young people ages 16 to 24.
For night-owl teenagers who simply can't get enough rest during the school week,
weekend catch-up sleep appears to offer real protection for their mental health.
[Photo credit: Brian J. Tromp]
Kids Restaurant Week
What to expect: Here’s your chance to expand your kid’s palate beyond chicken fingers
and buttered noodles. Renowned restaurant group Lettuce Entertain You is holding its
first Kids Restaurant Week, which invites kids ages 4 – 12 to explore global cuisines
through thoughtfully curated, chef-led dinners designed just for them.
Each night, kids will enjoy a multi-course menu, meet the chefs behind the dishes, and
more.
When: May 3 – May 7
Where: Lettuce Entertain You restaurants across Chicago
Colors in Bloom
What to expect: Color Factory Chicago’s acclaimed, spring-like Colors in Bloom exhibit
won’t be here forever, so get your tickets soon! Your kid can explore larger-than-life
blossoms in the confetti rooms, or go on a scavenger hunt and take home great stuff.
When: May 1–11
Where: Color Factory, 233 S. Wacker Dr., Lower Level 2
Bye!
Did you say confetti rooms? Excuse me, we have tickets to buy…
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