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- 💌 Teen & Tech Support 📲
💌 Teen & Tech Support 📲
Welcome back to the Village!
Not sure how you feel, but it's been a whole week since we saw you last, and frankly, it's been far too long for our liking!
What's on the old chopping block for this week?
🤗 Hugging those teens may lead to closer relationships later
📲 Apps to help you survive homework (thank the heavens!)
☕️Your fav coffee, at home!
🏷 Score at Target this week!
(with thrills and chills throughout...Halloween is coming after all)
(Teens)
It's Really Okay to Show Your Teen Some Love
Photo by Helena Lopes
The science is in: positive parenting in teens actually helps to encourage close relationships with your child as they become adults.
The core of positive parenting is generally avoiding harsh punishments when correcting behavior issues (in it's basic idea). It's the idea that we should "catch kids doing good" and praising them instead of reserving interactions for only reprimanding problematic behavior.
The real neat thing is that psychologists have discovered that this parenting technique can help children get along better with others, have a better and stronger future outlook, encourage improved self-esteem, and boost creativity.
PLUS, it can help make parenting a little less stressful.
A win-win that we can for sure get behind!
When dealing with teens, just as with the younger ones, parents have to try to remain as calm as possible, try not to get overly frustrated, and be consistent...you know, really trying to avoid all of the yelling and arguing stuff.
So, how can we implement some of these positive parenting skills and really begin to nurture those future relationships?
Try to spend time together doing things they (and preferably you as well) really enjoy. It could be going for a walk or a bike ride, going to an event, preparing and eating a meal together, playing a game or some other sport, or maybe even catching a movie together (a fav with my oldest, but we will often substitute an outing for having a popcorn and movie night at the house and it's always a hit).
Talk to each other. Just talk about what's going on in their life - school, social, etc - and even share things that you are thinking about (preferably positive, but it's okay to be open with your kids and remind them that you are human too). Talk to them about things they want to accomplish, what their goals are, plans for the future, etc.
Give them a hug. Okay, I can already here some of the teens groaning. But seriously, remind them regularly that you love them, care for them, and support them. Hugs may be optional in your household, but a regular reminder of "I love you and I am proud of how hard you are working" can really go a long way.
Consider allowing them to help make decisions in regards to events or maybe even consider their suggestions for curfews or sleepovers. Of course safety and reasonability have to come into play here, but if they feel like their voice and opinion is being heard and considered, it may go much further than you realize in helping them be responsible. (just remind them that there are also agreed upon consequences for not holding up their end of the bargain)
With a few thoughtful approaches, positive parenting in all ages, and especially in teens, can really make a huge impact in the long term.
And I don't know about you, but I would love to continue a warm, happy, and positive relationships with my kiddos long after they have left the nest.
(All ages)
Help! Send Tech!
Image by rawpixel
School is hard. For real hard.
I don't mean our own adult education. I mean helping the kiddos navigate geometry, finding and solving that ever-elusive "X", playing history trivial pursuits, or even just trying to spell gorilla (literally missed that on a spelling bee once...clearly I was not prepared for one R and two Ls).
Well, we have a few recommendations to help you survive your child's education and undoubtedly long hours of test prep.
Peep below for your new favorite tools!
Khan Academy. This is an EASY go to. They have TONS of topics to help with various skills and subjects. They also have a fun "Khan Kids" for ages 2 to 7 as well! (pro tip - hit up Khan Academy on Youtube for easy explainer videos to help you and your child make sense of difficult to explain topics - you can thank me later)
Brainly. Wait for it...a "crowd sourced" study hall to help navigate complicated questions. It lets you "tap into brainpower worldwide". Awesome!
Epic! Enjoy access to more than 40,000 e-books for children. Plus, it has audio AND video. Hello Netflix for kids (for reading, of course)!
Just for Giggles 😆
The best part is here! C'mon, who doesn't love a good, funny video?! (Don't ask me how much time I spend watching funny TikToks 🙃)
Birthday boy was NOT feeling that surprise! We try so hard.....but kids are brutal 😂
Forget a diaper bag... just throw a onesie on them, load it down and roll out!
Bring on the yum! 😋
Okay let's hear it....PSL or Apple Crisp Macchiato? Iced or hot? Maybe you're a pumpkin cream cold foam cold brew fan, or maybe you stick to your old faithful coffee order year round (nothing wrong with that!). The options seem to be endless. ☕️
Whatever your go-to fall drink order is, how about saving a little money and making it at home? Keep that wallet full (especially with the holidays coming in hot) and try these at home coffee recipes.
Not a coffee fan but still looking for a tasty fall drink? Try this crock pot pumpkin hot chocolate out! Yum!
Deals, steals, and money-saving thrills 🤑
You know we're back to save the day (and that wallet) with these bomb savings!
✅ Are your kids (or you, no judgment here 😎) begging for a Nugget couch, but you just can't come off of that kind of cash for it? We feel you! Sam's Club is here with an amazing dupe called the Explorer Sofa. You'll score some major savings with this one!
You're not going to want to miss this one ...
✅ Target app peeps, this one's for you! Go to your account and add the 25% off of one toy or kid's book right now before it's gone! This offer expires 11/12/22. Snag some Christmas gifts up with this one. 🎁
But wait, there's more!
✅ And while you're on Target adding that 25% coupon, go ahead and add the Buy One Get 50% Off of Select Toys, and stack those two coupons together for a super deal! (We told you, we always have your back 😉)
Say what?! 📣
Random finds from across the web to satisfy your non-parenting knowledge thirst!
"It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!" It might not be the great pumpkin that Charlie Brown was referring to, but this pumpkin has broken the North American record as the heaviest one! Your kids will love to see this one. 👀
Who Loves A Life Hack? I'm doing the first one, ASAP (Anyone else addicted to TikTok University?) Check it out here!
Burping Black Hole, Say What?! Astronomers discovered a black hole spitting out energy more than two years after it ate up a star (the universe is a wild place, my friends) that came too close, and it's def unusual according to the experts.
NICU Mom Turned Super Mom! A previous NICU mom volunteered with Ronald McDonald House Charities and opened a beauty bar for NICU parents to be pampered. We love a good give-back story!
Questions for the Crew! 😎
What podcast are you diggin' lately?:
It would be an understatement to say this is a loaded question - I could make suggestions for days. I'm a total nerd and binge all kinds of topics. The Prince, Huberman Lab, Planet Money, and The Copyblogger Podcast are all great. My kid friendly rec is Little Stories Everywhere (the oldest loves it!) - Z
As far as my podcast interest goes, I'm either listening to parenting related or straight up serial killer/missing people/unsolved mystery type stuff. Up and Vanished is a go to for me for a nail biting crime podcast. I also love The Stepmom Club as a great resource for all the bonus moms out there! - I
My podcast library looks like a jukebox with the random variety that's added in there. That's never a bad thing though, right? 🤓 Two of my consistent favorites are Counterclock and Couple Things. Can't go wrong with those two! - J
How did we do?! 🤔
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Thank you again for subscribing and we can't wait to hear from you!
TTFN! (that's "ta-ta for now" for any of you non-Winnie the Pooh fans)