When I was a kid my parents used to listen to Harry Chapin all the time. One of the songs that was on repeat in our house was “All My Life’s a Circle.” I loved the tune, but didn’t understand the meaning until I grew up. About ten years ago we had a very homesick camper. This little girl would wake up every morning and wait for me to walk ...

There will be a time when your child is left out by their friends. What do you do when that happens? Read this article to find out some great ways to help. https://lindastade-educationwriter.tumblr.com/post/158921106402/how-to-respond-to-your-childs-friendship-issues?utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=postplanner&utm_source=facebook.com...

If there was one thing you could do to make you a better parent would you do it? Of course you would. Read this article to learn a few easy steps to becoming a better parent. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rachel-macy-stafford/the-single-most-important-parenting-action-we-can-take-today_b_8054388.html...

There are so many social media sites these days. A public health group recently conducted a study of Instagram and 4 other Social Media tools. Read this article to see how Instagram affects it’s users. https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/nation-now/2017/05/24/why-instagram-worst-your-kids/344256001/...

Being a part of the group is imperative for adolescent girls. Relational aggression and exclusion play a big part in determining who is and who is not part of the group on any given day. Read this article to find out more about the dynamic of girls and how you can help them navigate this difficult time. https://smceducationblog.tumblr.com/post/15062986...

Tweens change friends often- this is part of growing up and should be expected. Some of these changes may be difficult (especially if they were not the one who initiated the change). However by knowing why these changes occur, parents can be more helpful (and calmer). Read this article to understand the reasons kids’ friendships change so often and how ...

Carol Dweck’s research on the growth vs fixed mindset is groundbreaking. Did you know that it has a stronger impact for girls? Read this article to learn how to give praise to girls. https://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/2013/04/24/giving-good-praise-to-girls-what-messages-stick/...

What is behind the suicide clusters in Palo Alto? Why do these things happen and what can schools and parents do to stop them? Prepare yourself and read this well researched and powerful article here. https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2015/12/the-silicon-valley-suicides/413140/...

Childhood is about exploration- but all too often we seems to be pushing our kids to find a passion and be able to quantify that passion on their college application. Read this article to find out why “finding a passion” has become so culturally accepted and what to do about it. https://mobile.nytimes.com/blogs/parenting/2015/04/08/our-push-for-pass...

Are you a master of the growth mindset? Do you have a scripted line for every occasion free of the dreaded “good job." Read this article to learn about two different approaches from leading experts; see what they disagree about when it comes to praise and most importantly, what they agree upon. https://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/2014/03/28/the-differe...

Have you ever wondered why some kids seem to be more resilient than others? Are they just born this way? Read this article for a better understanding and a great info graphic that illustrates the answer. https://blogs.psychcentral.com/stress-better/2014/11/the-abcs-of-resilience-infographic/...

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that parents take their children’s phone at night so that no child has a phone unsupervised. Many parents think there is no way they could do this and feel that they have no authority over their children. Read this article to learn how to change this dynamic. http://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/nat...

There are so many social media sites these days. A public health group recently conducted a study of Instagram and 4 other Social Media tools. Read this article to see how Instagram affects it’s users. https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/nation-now/2017/05/24/why-instagram-worst-your-kids/344256001/...

At first glance Instagram seems like a great alternative to Facebook- it’s just photos- how wonderful, no bullying! But for girls there is a secret culture to Instagram, where they can obsess over each post (best time of day to post, best photo, best filter) and then read into each comment, like and a TBH (to be honest). Read this article to find out mor...

Parents are downloading Snapchat more and more. Most parents love Snapchat for it’s content. Learn about the features that appeal to different generations and more in this article. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-02-28/adored-by-teens-snapchat-is-getting-popular-with-their-parents...

Oversharing on social media is the now the norm. Kids pose for photos and ask about likes at an alarmingly young age. Parent blogs, photos and more, what’s the long term impact on our kids? Read this article to find out. http://www.parents.com/parenting/better-parenting/style/how-social-media-is-affecting-your-parenting/...

This website has some great links and articles related to social media. Have a question about social media sites, the basic things you or your child need to know, this is a great place to start. https://www.commonsensemedia.org/social-media#csm-topics-related-articles...

Snapchat is more than just photos. Kids get news from Snapchat, perfect storytelling with “mystory” and create content. Perhaps most importantly there is less pressure for the photos to be “perfect” as they are “deleted”. Read this article to learn more about Snapchat. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/diana-graber/what-parents-dont-get-abo_b_9...

Kids today spend a good portion of their day in front of a screen. Years ago that time would have been spent doing more traditional “real time” activities. This fast paced screen time hurts our children’s ability to process information leading to poor executive function. Read this article to learn more about what you can do to prevent this “execut...

Digital devices like iPads and smartphones are a digital drug. Children can get addicted, in fact research is showing that they affect the brain in the same way as cocaine. Read this article to learn about screen addiction, treatment and most importantly- prevention. http://nypost.com/2016/08/27/its-digital-heroin-how-screens-turn-kids-into-psychotic-j...

Kids feel left out when they see photos and video of their friends having fun without them. This story has some useful real world strategies for dealing with FOMO. Read about them in this article. https://www.raisingdigitalnatives.com/exclusion-in-the-instagram-age/...

In this article two groups of 6th graders were tested on reading emotions and non verbal ques. One group went without phones for 5 days and the other group kept their phones. Which group do you think performed better? Read this article to find out which group performed better, how much better and why. http://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2014/08/28/34373585...

This article talks about how using social media is affecting our children. From feeling hyperconnected (you are now always available) to constantly comparing the number of likes your photo got to a friends. What affect does texting instead of talking face to face have on our children’s ability to make and maintain friendships? Learn this and more by read...

Ninth grade was supposed to be a fresh start for Marie’s son: new school, new children. Yet by last October, he had become withdrawn. Marie prodded. And prodded again. Finally, he told her. Read the full article here....

There will be a time when your child is left out by their friends. What do you do when that happens? Read this article to find out some great ways to help. https://lindastade-educationwriter.tumblr.com/post/158921106402/how-to-respond-to-your-childs-friendship-issues?utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=postplanner&utm_source=facebook.com...

If there was one thing you could do to make you a better parent would you do it? Of course you would. Read this article to learn a few easy steps to becoming a better parent. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rachel-macy-stafford/the-single-most-important-parenting-action-we-can-take-today_b_8054388.html...

New research is showing surprising information on what our children are going through in adolescence and what role parent’s play. Read this fascinating article to understand the brain science behind your child’s behaviors at different stages and the subtle ways you can help. https://www.wsj.com/articles/what-teens-need-most-from-their-parents-147076...

In most societies parents’ needs are put first, but in our society kids needs are put first. While this may sound good, it actually creates a whole slew of problems. Learn from the author of what the New York Times has cited “the best parenting book one could read” what we can do to change this dynamic and help our kids. https://www.psychologytod...

This generation of kids has been told so many things over the years: they are special, they can be and achieve anything. What happens when those kids enter the “real world” and they find out these things are not true? Find out why this generation is experiencing high rates of mental illness, isolation, depression, failed marriages and what we can do ab...

Children today play much less than any other generation. The lack of play for children has many negative consequences. Read this article to gain a better understanding of the importance play has for children and how it promotes healthy mental development. http://www.acacamps.org/resource-library/camping-magazine/children-need-play-can-they-get-it-camp?_...

Parents often joke about how their teenagers “ignore them” or only converse in short hand, lol. This “tunnel” that our teenagers go into is all too real and it feels like a lifetime when you are waiting for your normally talkative child to return to you. Read this article to learn more. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/parenting/wp/2016/11/...

In one study simplifying the lives of children with ADD had better results than medication like Ritalin. Why do our children need simplification? Too much information, growing up too fast, endless activities, a culture of excess. Find out what you can do to protect your child from mental health issues by reading this article. http://www.huffingtonpo...

What does it mean when colleges have to offer warnings to kids that they are about to talk about something that might be mentally troubling? Why are so many college students flooding campus mental health offices? Read this article to find out why this generation is struggling with anxiety and what we can do to stop it. http://www.lifezette.com/momzette...

Are you a millennial (or a parent of a millennial? Then this article is for you. Read this article to learn how to establish a healthy parent/child relationship. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/5-ways-to-tell-you-were-raised-by-helicopter-parents_us_5609de6ee4b0dd850308e260?ir=Healthy+Living...

We love our kids and we want the best for them. However, we also need to be realistic and know that we can’t control everything in their lives. Read this article to find out what this parent does to ensure her kids will be prepared to whatever life throws at them. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/elisabeth-duckett/why-i-dont-want-my-kids-to-be-happy_b_70...

Our kids spend 90% of their leisure time at home. A generation ago this time would have all been spent outside and mostly without adult supervision. What does this cultural shift mean for our children and how did we get here? Read this article to find out more. https://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/03/20/opinion/the-case-for-free-range-parenting.html?smid=fb...

Being a part of the group is imperative for adolescent girls. Relational aggression and exclusion play a big part in determining who is and who is not part of the group on any given day. Read this article to find out more about the dynamic of girls and how you can help them navigate this difficult time. https://smceducationblog.tumblr.com/post/15062986...

Tweens change friends often- this is part of growing up and should be expected. Some of these changes may be difficult (especially if they were not the one who initiated the change). However by knowing why these changes occur, parents can be more helpful (and calmer). Read this article to understand the reasons kids’ friendships change so often and how ...

Carol Dweck’s research on the growth vs fixed mindset is groundbreaking. Did you know that it has a stronger impact for girls? Read this article to learn how to give praise to girls. https://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/2013/04/24/giving-good-praise-to-girls-what-messages-stick/...

What is behind the suicide clusters in Palo Alto? Why do these things happen and what can schools and parents do to stop them? Prepare yourself and read this well researched and powerful article here. https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2015/12/the-silicon-valley-suicides/413140/...

Childhood is about exploration- but all too often we seems to be pushing our kids to find a passion and be able to quantify that passion on their college application. Read this article to find out why “finding a passion” has become so culturally accepted and what to do about it. https://mobile.nytimes.com/blogs/parenting/2015/04/08/our-push-for-pass...

Are you a master of the growth mindset? Do you have a scripted line for every occasion free of the dreaded “good job." Read this article to learn about two different approaches from leading experts; see what they disagree about when it comes to praise and most importantly, what they agree upon. https://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/2014/03/28/the-differe...

Have you ever wondered why some kids seem to be more resilient than others? Are they just born this way? Read this article for a better understanding and a great info graphic that illustrates the answer. https://blogs.psychcentral.com/stress-better/2014/11/the-abcs-of-resilience-infographic/...

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that parents take their children’s phone at night so that no child has a phone unsupervised. Many parents think there is no way they could do this and feel that they have no authority over their children. Read this article to learn how to change this dynamic. http://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/nat...

High pressure schools, constant homework, school sports, resume padding extracurricular activities. Is our education system making children sick? Read this article to find out. https://mobile.nytimes.com/2016/01/03/opinion/sunday/is-the-drive-for-success-making-our-children-sick.html?referer=...

Depression among adolescents has been rising and the rates are higher for girls than boys. What’s causing this increase- cyberbullying, negative text messaging? Read this article to find out. http://www.cnn.com/2016/11/14/health/depression-teen-girls/index.html...

Adjusting to college can be tough, so can adjusting to camp. Kids who have gone to camp typically have a much easier time adjusting to college. Read this article to find out why. https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/smores-and-more/201112/creating-advantage-in-college...

Peter Gray wrote a fascinating article on the declining emotional resilience of college students. In a follow up to that article he delves deeper into the problem. Read this article to find out more. https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/freedom-learn/201511/causes-students-emotional-fragility-five-perspectives?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_...