Connection

When Violence Goes Viral: Helping Kids Cope with What They See Online

First comes the violence. Then comes its rapid spread across the internet. Sadly, political and interpersonal violence is not new. What is unique to this generation is the proliferation of graphic content online. Raw footage of political assassinations, war crimes, racialized violence, and sexual assault can spread quickly in the wake of acts of violence,…  Read More

A Back-to-School List for Learning and Life

“Are you excited about middle school?” a well-meaning employee asked my soon-to-be sixth grader last week. She was doing her best to make conversation as she scanned our pile of college-ruled notebooks at checkout. “I guess so,” my youngest replied, his tone suggesting he was trying to convince himself. Later in the car, he added,…  Read More

New Data Reveals How and Why Teens Are Turning to AI Companions

In my latest book, I describe my early interactions with a rudimentary 1990s AI program called Dr. Sbaitso. This was back in the days of dial-up internet, so this “doctor” was far from a fluid and sophisticated conversation partner. The voice was robotic, it took forever to generate answers, and the program rarely delivered the…  Read More

New Health Advisory on AI and Teens: Insights from the APA

“That’s probably just AI,” my youngest said, pointing at an image that looked a little too perfect to be real. “How can you tell?” I responded.  “It just seems like it,” he shrugged.  On one hand, this skepticism is an asset in a digital world where the line between human- and AI-generated content continues to…  Read More

Exploring nature with a child blowing a dandelion

Four Essentials for a Meaningful Summer

Summer arrives, and it’s easy to get caught up in planning—camps, childcare, screen time limits, and all the logistics that come with the shift. I approach this season with mixed feelings: part of me craves the slower pace and open-ended days; another part already anticipates the chaos of too much unstructured time. For many families,…  Read More

The Case for Downtime and Mind Wandering

Why Engaging With the World Thoughtfully Demands That We Turn Inward

“It’s a lot,” an eleventh grader admitted to me recently. “There is always homework, updates to check, friends to respond to, and things to get done. Plus there is so much happening in the world right now. Sometimes I try to check out, but I still feel the pressure. It’s exhausting.” This student isn’t alone.…  Read More

Top 5 Blog Posts of 2024

1. Can We Hold These Three Truths About Tech and Teens at the Same Time? This is an important moment. We have an opportunity to move forward with adolescent needs and development in mind. However, doing so requires that we step up to a challenge: We need to take steps guided by both attention to…  Read More

Parent helping child deal with stressful event by rubbing their hands.

Beyond Words: Supporting Kids When Adults Feel Stressed

For parents navigating stressful events, it’s natural to focus on the question, “What should we say to our kids?” Words do matter. Talking to children can help them make sense of the experience, find reassurance, and share their emotions. But talking isn’t the only way to manage big feelings. Children don’t process everything through words…  Read More

Growing Together: Priorities for a New School Year

The school year starts and, it’s easy to get caught up in logistics—schedules, transportation, supplies, before and after school care, and on and on. I approach these tasks with mixed feelings: on one hand, I’m already nostalgic for the more relaxed pace of summer; on the other, I’m slightly desperate for routine. Hence my focus…  Read More

Two kids standing in the hallways reading their family poem

These Poems Are About Us

Reintroducing the Spark & Stitch "We Need Each Other" Poetry Project

“That part is about me!” my youngest remarked proudly as we read our family poem out loud. Without hearing his name, he knew that the phrase “planetary sparkle” was his part of our story. We had just finished a personalized family poetry session with Spark & Stitch partner poet Diver Van Avery. It had begun…  Read More