Archive for February 2016

5 tips for parents of kids playing games online

5 tips for parents of kids playing games online
Online gaming and games with a social component are huge among tweens and teens. There are ways parents help keep their kids safe while they play them, and for that info I turn to Denise Lisi DeRosa, an expert in online safety and a speaker on parenting in the digital age. I’m thrilled to welcome... Read more »
By Shannan Younger,
February 26, 2016 at 9:17 am • 

My favorite habit that I hope never ends

My favorite habit that I hope never ends
I’m big on habits. I’ve written about how making your bed is an important habit and how I’ve fallen in and out of habits. I’ve read a lot of books on the topic. (Two favorites are The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg and Better... Read more »
By Shannan Younger,
February 24, 2016 at 10:03 pm • 

Roundup of helpful info for parenting teens and tweens

Roundup of helpful info for parenting teens and tweens
I wanted to share some of the posts I’ve read online recently (plus a video!) that offer helpful info for parenting tweens and teens, and a bit of encouragement, too. These touch on a variety of topics, from technology and digital parenting to travel to family movie night and more. If you’re wondering why you’re... Read more »
By Shannan Younger,
February 23, 2016 at 10:24 am • 
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8 wonderful quotes from To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

8 wonderful quotes from To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
I was so very sad to read this morning that Harper Lee, the author of To Kill a Mockingbird, died at the age of 89. My eighth grader just finished reading To Kill a Mockingbird in her language arts class and is watching the film today. We’ve been talking about the Pulitzer Prize winning book... Read more »
By Shannan Younger,
February 19, 2016 at 10:35 am • 

12 thoughts I had as a parent at high school orientation

12 thoughts I had as a parent at high school orientation
High school class registration is underway in our local school district. That means that hundreds of kids and parents filled the seats of the high school auditorium for the first of several orientation sessions. Here are some of the thoughts I had as a parent at high school orientation for my daughter. 1. Parenting feels... Read more »
By Shannan Younger,
February 18, 2016 at 3:44 pm • 

What I hope my teen learns from Supreme Court Justices Antonin Scalia and Ruth Bader Ginsburg

What I hope my teen learns from Supreme Court Justices Antonin Scalia and Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Many people have very strong feelings about Justice Antonin Scalia, who died on Saturday, but I was most struck by what his fellow Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg said in the wake of his passing: “We were best buddies.” I made sure to have my daughter read her tribute to her friend and colleague because I... Read more »
By Shannan Younger,
February 15, 2016 at 10:27 pm • 
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More alarming information about Kik that parents need to know

More alarming information about Kik that parents need to know
More than two years ago, I wrote a post imploring parents to be aware of the app Kik, which is very popular with teens and tweens, and the potential problems associated with it. Kik is an anonymous app, so it hides not only your child’s identity but also the identity of the people with whom... Read more »
By Shannan Younger,
February 11, 2016 at 4:40 pm • 

A letter to my 13-year-old daughter about being safe and kind online

A letter to my 13-year-old daughter about being safe and kind online
Dear Daughter, Today is Safer Internet Day, which is intended “to promote safer and more responsible use of online technology and mobile phones, especially among children and young people across the world,” according to saferinternetday.org. It feels like a good occasion to revisit some of my thoughts about the Internet in general and expectations of... Read more »
By Shannan Younger,
February 9, 2016 at 5:17 pm • 

What is paczki?

What is paczki?
I grew up in Central Ohio, not an area of the world known for having strong Mardi Gras traditions. When I moved to Chicago 15 years ago, I saw several mentions of paczki as being important on Fat Tuesday, the day before Lent begins. In fact, I quickly discovered that many people in the area... Read more »
By Shannan Younger,
February 8, 2016 at 2:12 pm • 
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Fun facts about Lunar New Year and the Year of the Monkey

Fun facts about Lunar New Year and the Year of the Monkey
Happy Lunar New Year! Happy Year of the Monkey! Here are some fun facts about Lunar New Year (often called Chinese New Year) generally and specifically about the Year of the Monkey. What is Lunar New Year? When does it happen? Lunar New Year falls on a different date each year, but it is always... Read more »
By Shannan Younger,
February 7, 2016 at 4:31 pm •