Managing Technology Over the Summer: Part One
Technology, including television, cell phones, the internet and social media, has become a mainstream part of everyday life for most parents and children. Today, I am focusing on technology for special education students because it can both benefit and interfere with education. Next week I will address some strategies to manage technology during the summer. For many children, summer represents a break from the structure and educational component of the school year. Yet, the reality is that many parents work during the summer and need to provide care for their children. It is important to manage your child’s access to technology because it is easy to rely on it as a tool to keep kids distracted. [Read more…]
Decision-Making: Combating Analysis-Paralysis
About a year ago, my daughter and son-in-law were getting ready to choose a preschool for their daughter, who was not even three at the time. There were several alternatives, as well as pressure to get into a preschool before all were fully enrolled. One school even required that my granddaughter come and visit the school without her parents to see if it would be a good fit for one of the two remaining spots. This was hard to believe given her age. 
So, we are considering letting our preteens or teens go out with friends. They could be asking for permission to go with a group to the movies or asking to go out on a date. How do we negotiate giving them an appropriate amount of independence, while still monitoring their safety?
Our teens want to go out with friends. Do we let them go, or not? How will we know that they will be safe? What are the factors we need to consider?