Archive for May 2013

3 Ways to Overcome the Messages Media Sends To Our Kids

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How are girls portrayed in the media? How does this impact their decisions, behaviors, and sense of self? We all know that people on television, movies and magazines are airbrushed so that they barely even resemble themselves. Many parents cringe at how the media portrays female friendships are portrayed, myself included. Dr. Deborah Gilboa, of... Read more »
By Shannan Younger,
May 30, 2013 at 10:30 am • 

Tween summer movies will make this the summer of the sequel

<strong><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1453405/?ref_=sr_1">Monsters University</a></strong> <p></p>June 21<p></p> Okay, so this is a prequel, not a sequel, but it still sounds pretty fun. From <a href="http://entertainment.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/05/01/17973594-11-summer-movies-not-to-miss?lite">NBC</a>: Not every sequel works, but "Monsters University," Pixar's prequel to its 2001 delight "Monsters Inc.," is positively inspired. Monsters Mike (voice of Billy Crystal) and Sulley (voice of John Goodman) were pals as co-workers in the original film, but when they met back in monster college, that wasn't the case. Bad for them, good for us, as we watch the dormmates fight it out (turns out Sulley sheds in his sleep) amid all the craziness of majoring in scaring. If this one doesn't entertain you, reassess your entertainment genes.
School is out and the summer blockbuster films are here.  Grab your popcorn and prepare to get reacquainted with some old friends, as the tween summer movies make this the season of the sequel. Smurfs, monsters,  minions and Olympians are back in full force. Here are some of the tween movies that are high on... Read more »
By Shannan Younger,
May 28, 2013 at 6:03 am • 

4 ways to talk to tweens about cheating, or academic dishonesty

4 ways to talk to tweens about cheating, or academic dishonesty
The Notre Dame football team just keeps on giving me life lessons to review with my tween. I guess I should be grateful to Everett Golson, my alma mater’s former quarterback, for reminding me to speak with my tween about the importance of academic honesty and clearly illustrating that cheaters never win. In fact, cheaters... Read more »
By Shannan Younger,
May 26, 2013 at 9:35 am • 
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Book offers nearly 200 suggestions for fun Chicago activities with tweens and teens

Book offers nearly 200 suggestions for fun Chicago activities with tweens and teens
Tweens are often the forgotten age group, and that is particularly true when it comes to finding activity suggestions, as parents looking for fun things to do with the tweens know all too well. Thankfully, author Melisa Wells has filled the void for families living in or visiting Chicagoland with her book, Chicken in the... Read more »
By Shannan Younger,
May 24, 2013 at 6:44 am • 

Parents need to Take 25 to talk with tweens about child abduction prevention

Parents need to Take 25 to talk with tweens about child abduction prevention
I know that you have been teaching your children to be safe since they were babies. By the time kids are tweens, they are well-versed in stranger danger. Yet, kids, including tweens, keep getting into cars with strangers. That’s why the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children encourages parents to Take 25 on May... Read more »
By Shannan Younger,
May 23, 2013 at 1:19 pm • 

7 tornado safety tips to help keep your family safe

7 tornado safety tips to help keep your family safe
Each year, approximately one thousand tornadoes touch down in the US.  As I watched the news coverage of tornadoes that have touched down and more in the forecast for the near future, I realized that it had been a while since I reviewed our family’s safety tornado safety plan with our tween. It should not... Read more »
By Shannan Younger,
May 20, 2013 at 7:48 pm • 
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Why elementary school graduation parties are a bad idea

Why elementary school graduation parties are a bad idea
Caps and gowns. “Pomp and Circumstance.” Diplomas and parties. It’s graduation season, but why are the graduates so young? Because elementary school graduation has careened out of control and become a major event. It has gone too far. I certainly understand that the end of elementary school is a momentous occasion for both children and... Read more »
By Shannan Younger,
May 20, 2013 at 6:02 am • 

As technology advances, so does cyberbullying

As technology advances, so does cyberbullying
A large number of tweens have phones and social media accounts and as a result, cyberbullying is an issue impacting a large number of tweens. Please welcome today’s guest poster Kelly Martin to explain exactly what online bullying involves and what both parents and lawmakers can do about it.Kelly is a writer and stay-at-home mom... Read more »
By Shannan Younger,
May 17, 2013 at 12:09 am • 

My tween has a funny way of expressing her love

My tween has a funny way of expressing her love
Tweens can be forgetful, sweet, fiercely independent, stubborn, hilarious and loving. My tween put those all together into one moment that both cracked me up and put me in my place. Over brunch at home on Mother’s Day, my tween presented me with a gift. I opened the gift bag and took out a gift... Read more »
By Shannan Younger,
May 15, 2013 at 8:53 am • 
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Snapchat images do not disappear or get deleted

Snapchat images do not disappear or get deleted
Update: On May 8, 2014, Snapchat agreed to settle charges by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) that it misled consumers, that messages do not disappear, that the company revealed users’ locations and that it collected more personal data that it indicated. Read more here: Snapchat settles charges by FTC, but that doesn’t change much Snapchat... Read more »
By Shannan Younger,
May 13, 2013 at 12:15 am •