Screen time for school, work and play is a balancing act
I heard the sirens shortly before 6 p.m. It was as normal a Wednesday evening as you could have as the parent of a 6-year-old and an 8-year-old. I was at my desk in the backroom tinkering with an old...
View ArticleKeeping connected in today’s classroom: Teachers utilizing digital tools to...
I can distinctly remember that yellow piece of paper with six little words, “Please call at your convenience. IMPORTANT.” “Uh oh,” I thought. Written on a pad from the “Desk of Mrs. Hinchey,” my...
View ArticleSchool snacks from home have a bigger role than just filling bellies
It’s 8 p.m. on a school night. My second- and fourth-grade sons have reached the point in the evening when they need to go upstairs, shower and get ready for bed. It’s also that point in the evening...
View ArticleMake the most of the holiday season with tips on how to manage stress
Welcome to the dark side Back in the day, when I was my children’s room parent, the holiday classroom parties were epic. Personalized presents to remember the day by? Check. Homemade goodies with a...
View Article6 questions to ask your child other than ‘How was your day?’
“How was your day?” is a four word question that can elicit apathy from even the most communicative of children. Contrary to what they say, they do not spend all day at school and do “nothing.” So...
View ArticleReducing family screen time is easier than it seems
For Nicole, a mom of two children, ages 4 and 8, the start of 2017 was an opportunity to tackle a growing problem in her house: family screen time. For parents raising children in today’s digital age,...
View ArticleBe kind, on rewind: Cultivating kindness and acceptance in schools
Kindness matters. It just does. Many school districts are looking for creative ways of sharing messages of acceptance, respect and kindness with their students and faculty. But as we’ve learned,...
View ArticleEyes wide open: What parents should know about their children and drugs
For a parent, there is nothing more devastating than the loss of a child. It’s an ache that never goes away. In 2005, my brother and sister-in-law buried their oldest son, Sean, just before his 20th...
View ArticlePets enrich classroom experience; provide opportunities for pro-social...
When I was in elementary school, one of the teachers had an incubator with chicken eggs set up in her classroom. The whole school would buzz when the eggs hatched and the adorable, yellow, fuzzy chicks...
View ArticleAn organized student is a successful student
So long sweet summer. It’s almost as if overnight the back-to-school clothing sales have popped up and the school notifications, like class placements and supply lists, have made their way into homes....
View ArticleSick of spinners? Fidgety kids have other options at school, home
They’re in your gas stations. They’ve been in your children’s schools. They’re probably in your homes. Fidget spinners: the triangular device designed to freely rotate between your thumb and pointer...
View ArticleWays to help children with special needs get a great start to the school year
The start of the new school year can be an anxious time for children, who see their daily routines change overnight. But what is the start of a new school year like for students who might have ADHD, be...
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