In addition to writing here on this blog, I write for several other outlets. This past month, I’ve had parenting pieces published around the web and wanted to share them with you. Whether you’re looking for some helpful books to add to your summer reading list or thinking about your family’s summer bucket list or wondering what the facts are about vaping, hopefully you find these pieces helpful!
Our Summer Bucket List is About More than Summer on RealityMoms
“I was struck by the juxtaposition of activities we have done since she was tiny (“pink eye-ceem” was her first phrase) and ones that are uniquely suited to her current position on the cusp of independence.
Our summer bucket list is about so much more than just summer. It is about continuing treasured traditions from the past and preparing her for the big world ahead.”
The Dangerous Truth about Vaping: 5 Things Parents Need to Know on Make It Better
“Most e-cigarettes contain nicotine, which is highly addictive, and the developing brain is even more susceptible to it,” says [Dr. Sklyer Kalady, a staff physician in the Department of General Pediatrics at the Cleveland Clinic]. She notes that the amount of nicotine in the products is not well regulated, so teens don’t know how much nicotine they are getting. “At times it could be a large amount and almost as much as 20 cigarettes at once,” she says. She adds that while many teens will say, “I use the ones that don’t have nicotine,” that’s probably not true.
8 new parenting books to add to your summer reading list on Chicago Parent
“Summer reading lists are pretty common for high school and even middle school students. But what about parents? There are some great non-fiction books about parenting that have been published recently. Pick one of these books up the next time you head to the library with your little ones and know that you’ll be getting useful information and be setting a good example of reading in front of your kids.”
5 Ways to Help Your Kids Take Charge of Their Mental Health on Make It Better
“Having structure to each day is critical. ‘A daily routine would be the number one thing for every kid and parent to have, one that gives a sense of purpose and structure,’ says Walkup. Also, kids, even teens, do better when they know what to expect.
Walkup suggests sitting down with a 24-hour schedule and filling it in, starting with sleep. Then, fill the rest of the tasks to be done each day, including some time for relationships and down time. He says some parents allow kids to try to cram more than 24 hours of activities into one day, and that’s not OK. Pope agrees, urging parents to cut down on stress levels by avoiding overscheduling in the first place.
While parents may feel uneasy about their teen giving up an advanced class or activity to have that down time, Pope encourages them to ‘look at the costs. If you have a healthy kid right now, you don’t want to lose out on that.’ She adds, ‘Health has to come first.'”
Prior Post: The unexpected parenting benefits of getting a dog
