GenParenting

Parenting resources for all who love and care for children

How Teens Use Social Media

How Teens Use Social Media

 

Common Sense Media recently published a research article on teen’s use of social media. The study is titled Social Media, Social Life: Teens Reveal Their Experiences . In this revealing national study, over 1,000 teens aged 13 to 17 shared about their use of social media.

 

Key Findings

Here are some key findings from the study.

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Yikes! My Middle School Child Is Becoming a Teenager!

Yikes! My Middle School Child Is Becoming a Teenager!

 

It’s surprising how fast children grow, isn’t it? Just yesterday, they were a chubby, little baby and today, they are a tall, lanky bean pole! Well, just because kids may be physically grown up, they may still be growing in their mental, emotional, and social capacity. Having taught middle schoolers for a number of years, here are some insights on how to keep the relationship with your soon-to-be teenager smooth during these growing-up years.

Independence and Responsibility

Underneath their cool face or tough façade, teenagers are beginning to come to terms with two really intimidating facts of life – Independence and Responsibility. Teenagers desperately want their independence and they may start exerting some power in this area. They may refuse or decline your ideas so that they can pursue their own ideals. For better or worse, they may even adopt some of their friends’ ideas and habits. They are growing into their own person and it is wise to give them some freedom in this area.

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Talking About Death and Difficult Subjects Play Activities

Talking About Death and Difficult Subjects Play Activities 

 Children love to watch the evolution of life in their daily play. They witness the growth, life, and death weeds, plants, flowers, trees, insects, animals, pets, and family members. They hear family members talk about sickness, the old age decline of family members, and eventual deaths of older relatives. Television, movies, and video games can overwhelm children with messages about death and dying. Listed below are a few thought provoking activities that you can share with your children in memory of a loved pet or family member. [Read more…]

Talking About Death and Difficult Subjects Reading Activity

Talking About Death and Difficult Subjects Reading Activity 

Children are often curious about understanding the death of a pet or family member. You can read your child an age appropriate book or the story below about the death of a father when a child is a preschooler or early elementary student. When children lose a young parent to death, they can become very fearful that they may lose other significant family members at a young age. It is critical that we reassure our children when they hear about a friend or family member.

The story below is written by Michele McDevitt, a GenParenting guest blogger, who sadly has significant experiences working with grief and young family members. After reading the story, you can answer the comprehension questions and submit a comment to GenParenting.com. [Read more…]

Talking About Death and Difficult Subjects

Talking About Death and Difficult Subjects 

Preschoolers and early elementary children are very interested in talking about death and difficult subjects. Typically, children will ask parents a variation of one of these questions:

  1. Why did the insect die?
  2. Did my cat go to cat heaven? Can I see her?
  3. I know great grandpa was very old and sick? Why did he die? Where did he go? Will I see him again?
  4. Will you die soon?

A Parent’s Response

When asked these questions, parents are typically overwhelmed about how to simply answer the question. When their great grandparents died, we told our preschoolers and early elementary grandkids that their great grandparents were very sick for a long time and that they died from old age and being very sick. We assured them that we would not die tomorrow and are taking very good care of ourselves. We also do not project fear and were very loving about the fun times the grandkids shared with the older relative. [Read more…]