During a dinner date with my wife last week, we observed a startling interaction involving children, their parents, and screens. The restaurant was particularly busy, and a family of four had just been seated nearby. Mom, dad and daughter (a young teen) were immediately glued to their phones, while the youngest -- a boy of about 8 who was probably too...
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Here at the Fred Rogers Center, we often discuss how to help families build stronger relationships, whether it’s through simple daily interactions, the use of technology, or the act of listening. However, when a personal health crisis changed my life, I had to think about what it really means to listen to your family, and in particular, your kids. In early December,...
Read MoreI have always been an overly excited gift giver, taking my time to choose just the right gift. I remember when I was a young child, I’d ask my grandmother (affectionately named Mim by her six grandchildren) what she wanted for Christmas. She always gave me the same answer: “Honey, all I want is your time.” Of everything in the...
Read MoreWhen I was asked to write this blog post about my holiday traditions, I wasn’t sure I wanted to. To me, family traditions are very personal and sentimental. I enjoy hearing other people tell me their traditions and routines, some of which have been passed down for generations, but I was protective of ours. But the more I thought about it,...
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“… The very best kinds of playthings are open-ended ...
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Do you ever feel that technology has become too much of a part of your child’s life—or your own? How do you decide, as a parent, what and when is simply too much? Fred Rogers Center research psychologists and parents Michael Robb and Junlei Li ponder Fred’s lessons and grapple with the question of how to set boundaries and model...
Read MoreHave you ever studied the label on a tube of toothpaste? A good number of years ago, out of sheer boredom, I picked up the tube while supervising my daughters as they brushed their teeth for the proverbial and interminable “two minutes.” The label reads: “Active ingredient: sodium fluoride.” Its function: cavity prevention. And just below that was a list of...
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What’s the most cost-effective way to prepare toddlers for school? Turns out it might involve texting parents. A new study by Stanford researchers confirms what early studies were showing: Texting parents early childhood learning tips and reminders boosts preschoolers’ literacy skills. And it costs approximately $1 per family. Research has repeatedly found that kindergartners from low-income families are already behind their...
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With the holidays approaching, I’m thinking primarily about two things: (1) how grateful I am for all the wonderful people in my life, and (2) what in the world I am going to do with my children while they are home from school. In warm weather, the second question is easier to answer because we can spend a lot of...
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Last week, my wife and I were enjoying coffee in our local diner when we spotted a group of four children huddled around their father’s iPhone. A boy, about 8 years old, looked up, intently studying one of the big TV screens over his table, just as one of the commentators rehashed the details of the latest beheading. You could clearly...
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