Most children have a smartphone when they are just ten years old or younger, and even more have tablets, a personal television, a computer, video game consoles, and countless other tech trinkets and toys.
There’s no way to live without technology, so how do we teach our kids to live with it?
Does Technology Harm Children?
You don’t have to look far to see a group of kids–some shockingly young–sucked into their phones. We see the alarming effects of cell phone addiction, such as:
Mental Health Issues: anxiety, depression, and attention deficits are at an all-time high, leading to learning disabilities, self-harm, or poor quality of life
Physical Health Issues: prolonged screen time can cause poor posture, eye strain, and sleep disturbances, while lack of exercise can cause obesity and other health problems.
Social Health Issues: children don’t experience in-person interactions, which leads to loneliness and poor social skills. Children also experience high rates of social media bullying, which further perpetuates mental health issues.
Technology has many valuable assets, but it shouldn’t rule our lives. The way to live with technology is to remain in control of technology. Children must develop the self-control to say “no” to the impulses to check their phone, watch one more reel, or play five more minutes of video games. This is the only way for children to grow into healthy, well-rounded adults. Otherwise, they will live a life addicted to a screen.
It Starts With the Parent
Children are born mimickers, and who is easier to mimic than their parents? While there are times that parents can get away with “do as I say and not as I do,” this rarely applies to technology. Children immediately pick up on the hypocrisy. Mom and Dad are zoned out on their phones during dinner, their sports game, or even during a movie. Why can’t they do the same?
Even if your child doesn’t have a smartphone yet, your current phone behavior is laying the groundwork for how they anticipate using their phone once they do. You are modeling how that device is to be used, and most children will follow right in their parents’ footsteps.
Honestly Evaluate Your Phone Habits
Teaching your child to be in control of their technology starts with evaluating your own behavior. While there are several free tests to analyze your phone addiction, here are a few questions to get you started:
Am I worried I’ll miss notifications?
Is my phone the first thing I look at when I wake up?
Do I become irritable or anxious if I don’t have my phone with me?
Can I watch television without checking my phone?
Do I use my phone during meals?
Honestly assessing yourself is the key to overcoming a phone addiction. Once you know your weaknesses, you can take control of your phone habits.
Using Technology Wisely
Of course, you will inevitably have to use technology, and there should be no guilt in this. The goal is not to eliminate technology, but to be in control of it.
Bringing your children into the purpose of technology helps them know why you’re using it, but also that you’re in control of how much time you spend. The more you can emphasize that the technology has fulfilled its purpose and needs to be put away, the better.
“I’m sending Daddy a message about tonight’s game and then I’m putting my phone down.”
“My boss is counting on me to finish this presentation for tomorrow. I’m going to close the computer when I’m done. ”
“I’m ordering yummy food for this week. Do you have ideas?”
Set Boundaries For Your Kids
Your child is never too young to set boundaries with technology. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommendsno screen time for babies under 18 months, and only less than an hour for 18-24 months. Children two to five years old should only have one hour of quality programming.
Many families would benefit from designated technology time and non-technology time. For instance, kids might need to decompress right after school and could benefit from 30 to 60 minutes of technology time of their choice. But then there should be a designated non-technology time, especially around mealtimes and before bed.
Give Your Kids a Bright Future
Teaching your child to be in control of technology is an invaluable life skill. Start by being in control of technology for yourself. Once you are effectively modeling healthy tech habits, your child will be more likely to follow through on their own tech boundaries.
Our modern digital screen technology makes things possible that people a century ago could never have imagined. But while technology has dramatically improved our world, there are major consequences to using it incorrectly.
One consequence that we often fail to recognize is how screens affect growing children. Is all technology harmless, or should parents enforce boundaries? How much technology is too much for children?
Technology Is an Easy Babysitter
Technology is an easy fallback for overworked parents. After a full day of work, school, appointments, errands, and social functions, parents are understandably exhausted. Then there’s dinner to be cooked and the house to be cleaned. It’s no wonder parents are quick to use screens as a free babysitter so they can get some time to themselves.
Infants 0 to 18 months: No screen time, but video chats are allowed
Toddlers 18-24 months: 1 hour or less of educational content only
Children 2-5 years: 1 hour or less per weekday or 3 hours or less per weekend day. Educational or interactive content is recommended, but non-educational content is allowed.
Children 6-15 years: 2 hours or less per weekday, with non-educational content allowed
These recommendations sound reasonable, and most parents can see the benefit to these boundaries. If children are spending most of their waking hours glued to a digital screen, they won’t have time to develop other skills, get exercise, make friends, or pursue other interests.
Unfortunately, the average child spends far more time on screens than the recommendations. The 2025 Common Sense Media Report states kids ages 5-8 now spend more than 3.5 hours per day on screens. Additionally, 40% of 2-year-olds own a tablet ,and 58% of 4-year-olds have their own tablet, which usually indicates these children spend significant time on screens. Another source says children ages 5-16 spend 6.3 hours a day on screens.
Does Technology Affect Children?
Studies show that “excessive screen time was associated with overweight [or] obesity and shorter sleep duration among toddlers and preschoolers. Excessive screen use [is] associated with various health indicators in physical, behavioral, and psychosocial aspects.”
Children addicted to screens are often:
Obese or overweight: due to a lack of physical exercise
Overtired: due to poor sleep from viewing screens before bedtime
Behaviorally challenged: with irritability or aggression
Academically challenged: because screens distract from concentrated time on classroom learning, homework, and studying
Depressed: because children and teens are prone to comparing themselves with those they see on social media and are more likely to experience cyberbullying
Anxious: due to constant connectivity and comparing themselves with others
Clearly, while digital screens can be beneficial in small doses, too much technology is detrimental to growing children.
Parents Must Set Appropriate Technology Boundaries
Left unattended, children will stay engrossed in their screens. It’s up to parents to set appropriate boundaries for technology.
While life can get crazy sometimes and parents might need to rely on extra screen time in order to get everything done, this should be the exception to the rule. Parents should strive to enforce the American Academy of Pediatrics’ recommendations for screen time according to their child’s age.
Of course, having less screen time than recommended is even better! The more parents can encourage their child’s independent and creative play, reading, art skills, physical coordination and strength, and in-person social skills, the more well-rounded their child will be.
Parents should take their responsibility with technology very seriously so their children will grow up well-adjusted and not addicted to technology.
As the temperatures continue to plummet, parents everywhere are pulling out winter jackets for their children. But if you’re like most parents, you’ve likely experienced the frustration of your child refusing to wear a jacket no matter how cold it is. For one reason or another, your child adamantly refuses to keep their jacket on despite the body-chilling temperatures.
Below are several common reasons children refuse jackets and how parents can have success with keeping their children warm.
Brown fat is specially designed to generate heat. Infants have the highest concentration of brown fat because they lack the muscle mass to shiver, which allows them to stay warm after birth. As children grow, brown fat will gradually decrease, but toddlers and young children still have brown fat that keeps them warm.
Brown fat can make children feel like they’re already wearing a jacket. So, of course, they don’t want a second jacket–they’re literally too warm! This is why it’s common to see school children wearing shorts in the wintertime.
Of course, this doesn’t mean parents shouldn’t require children to wear jackets; parents should help their children understand the importance of jackets and require them to be worn whenever possible.
Children Desire Independence
Children quickly realize that many choices are made for them and seek to assert independence in whatever areas they can. Whether it’s food, TV shows, or wardrobe choices, children are quick to state their preferences and insist on being independent. Refusing a jacket is just another area that a child may be seeking for control.
Sensory Discomfort
Many children these days have true sensitivities to tags, seams, and fabrics. Their winter jacket may be too heavy, scratchy, bulky, or otherwise uncomfortable. While parents shouldn’t indulge their child’s every preference, sensory discomforts are a challenge that may need accommodation.
Higher Body Temperature
Not only does a child’s higher brown fat concentration affect their body temperature, but children are generally more active when outdoors than adults. Just like you are throwing off your jacket after a few minutes of shoveling snow, children likewise don’t feel the need for a jacket after a few minutes of running, climbing, or romping with friends.
Jacket Preference
Children are strongly influenced by the fashion preferences of their peers. Your child may not want to wear a jacket that they don’t find fashionable or cool. Additionally, older children tend to not find any jacket fashionable or cool, so they try to forego them altogether.
How To Handle Jacket Refusal
How should parents respond when their child refuses a jacket? Here are some suggestions:
Give Choices: If possible, offer a choice of jacket or thick sweatshirt. Giving two choices lets your child feel like they’re in control and keeps them warm.
Accommodate Sensory Needs: Find a jacket that accommodates the specific sensory needs for your child. There are many companies who make sensory-friendly clothing and jackets.
Let Them Experience the Cold Consequences: Obstinate children may need a dose of reality. If they refuse a jacket, let them experience the cold! Never keep a child outside in frigid temperatures for longer than a few minutes, but even those few uncomfortable minutes can help them appreciate the value of a jacket. They also would need to stay inside during recess while the other children play. These natural consequences may be the only option to convince children to wear a jacket.
If your child is refusing a jacket, the good news is, it’s unlikely they’re as cold as you imagine. Their protective brown fat helps them stay warmer than an adult.
However, parents should do all they can to encourage the healthy habit of wearing a jacket. Find a jacket that your child feels comfortable and confident in, and you’ll have less of a struggle.
Going to kindergarten is one of the biggest events in your child’s young life. Especially if your child has been enrolled in an early childhood development program, your child may feel like everything has led up to this one moment—starting kindergarten.
The bigness of kindergarten can sometimes feel like an adventure, but it can also feel overwhelming to young children. Both responses are normal, just like an adult may feel excited or apprehensive about a new job. You shouldn’t be surprised if your child doesn’t want to go to kindergarten.
Why Doesn’t My Child Enjoy Kindergarten?
Kindergarten should be one of the happiest times in a child’s life. After all, kindergarten is when everything is new and fun: new school supplies, teachers, friends, games, routine, and so much more! This is the time to be care-free and enjoy every moment, so why do some children cry about kindergarten?
There could be countless reasons why your child doesn’t like kindergarten, but here are a few common reasons:
Unfamiliarity: Kindergarten is full of new things, which can be exciting for some kids and intimidating for others. Kindergarten can be too overwhelming to handle for hours every day, especially for sensitive children.
Life Stressors: There can be other life changes, such as a move or loss of a family member, that can make a transition to kindergarten even harder.
Family Attachment: Your child may have a special attachment to parents, siblings, grandparents, or other familiar relationships, and they genuinely miss these loved ones while at kindergarten.
Long Days: Many children in kindergarten have down time to unwind and rest. Some kindergartners even take naps, especially if their family routine puts them in bed at a later hour. Although most schools try to provide rest periods, most kindergartners have long school days with little rest. Children unaccustomed to rigorous routines may just want rest or a slower pace than the school provides.
Strict Routines: Even in kindergarten, schools run a tight ship. This is necessary to avoid certain chaos and preserve children’s safety, but for children who are used to flexible schedules and routines, kindergarten can be a hard adjustment.
Bullying: Unfortunately, bullying behavior can start at a very young age. Your child may be a victim of bullying or be having relationship challenges with peers or teachers.
How Can I Help My Child Enjoy Kindergarten?
Most parents want their child to enjoy kindergarten and will do anything to help them get adjusted. Just as each child’s situation is unique for why they might dislike kindergarten, there are many solutions to helping your child enjoy kindergarten.
Don’t Worry and Fret
Children can intuit more than adults realize. If you are anxious, worried, or fretful over your child’s dislike of kindergarten, this can heap guilt and anxiety on your child that will make the situation worse. Stay calm, curious, and kind when talking with your child about their dislike of kindergarten.
Ask Good Questions
Try to ask open-ended questions that will uncover the real reasons for why your child dislikes kindergarten. Although asking yes or no questions can help you get started, open-ended questions let your child fill in the missing information.
For instance, asking your child “are you tired after school?” is a yes or no question that helps you know if fatigue is a factor. If they say yes, asking “tell me what makes you tired at school?” or “tell me when you feel the most tired at school?” let your child give answers without feeling they have to respond a certain way.
Listen
Listen carefully and curiously to your child’s answers. Watch their facial expressions and body language as they talk. Listen to their tone. Ask follow-up questions.
Validate Their Feelings and Experience
Small children generally have small problems, but these problems seem big to them! No matter how insignificant their struggle may be, have a sympathetic spirit towards your child. Although you shouldn’t coddle or encourage wrong behavior, belittling your child or telling them to toughen up will likely result in greater anxiety and stress.
Share Your Own Experience
If applicable, you can share your own experience in kindergarten. Did you miss your parents? Was another kid unkind to you? Were you anxious about school? Empathy can be very comforting to your child.
Talk With Their Teacher
Sometimes your child can’t or won’t give you helpful information. If this is the case, or if you want to confirm your child’s information, it can be beneficial to talk with their teacher. The teacher can often give insight into your child’s demeanor and struggles throughout the day and offer solutions or suggestions for improvement.
How Long Does It Take For My Child to Like Kindergarten?
While it’s normal for your child to struggle with enjoying kindergarten, this phase shouldn’t last longer than a few weeks.
Some children may not like kindergarten from the very first day. Some may like kindergarten for a few days, but once the newness wears off, begin to tell their parents they no longer like kindergarten. Either way, children will become more familiar with their surroundings, routine, and expectations with each day. It won’t be long before your child is looking forward to their school day again.
Kindergarten Prep at Penguin Crossing Academy
One of the best ways to avoid the challenge of beginning kindergarten is to enroll your child in a quality early childhood education program like Penguin Crossing Academy!
Our outstanding curriculum not only gives your child a head start on academics, but helps them learn all the social skills and routine expectations they will encounter at kindergarten. Children can develop confidence and independence through enrollment in an early childhood education program so they are successful on their first day of school and beyond.
Contact us today to enroll your child in PenguinCrossing Academy!
The Christmas season is one of great anticipation for young children. While babies and toddlers don’t understand the meaning of Christmas or what traditions take place, young children usually can’t wait for Christmas morning.
As parents, Christmastime is a season where we can relive the joy we had as children at this time of year. Many parents also want to preserve the sweet memories of their children at this age with keepsake crafts.
Unlike a baby or toddler who passively participates in crafting, young children are usually enthusiastic crafters who love to show their point of view with their art. Holiday crafts are also a great way to encourage fine motor skills.
Crafting Safely with Young Children
Although young children are gaining dexterity every day, they are still unskilled crafters. Parents should always be fully present when their children are crafting. Here are a few safety tips for crafting with young children:
If possible, use crafting supplies that are meant for children, like washable markers or paint, kid-friendly scissors, nontoxic glue, etc.
Have your child wear a painting smock or old clothes to avoid damaging good clothing.
Never leave your child alone while they are crafting! Although your child may be responsible with crafting supplies, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Many cognizant children might taste craft supplies, cut too closely to their fingers, or rub craft supplies in their eyes on accident. Being fully present with your child not only keeps them safe but creates lasting memories.
Salt Dough Ornaments
Salt dough ornaments are a classic way to preserve your child’s handprint and artistic abilities. The Best Ideas for Kids has an excellent guide on making this easy dough and how to make Christmas-themed characters, like Santa, elves, and reindeer from your child’s handprint.
You can use the same recipe to make other ornament shapes. Use cookie cutters to make stars, Christmas trees, stockings, and other fun shapes that your children can paint and decorate however they choose.
Handprint Christmas Napkins and Towels
A precious and functional way to preserve your child’s handprint is by making Christmas-themed napkins and towels. Glued to My Crafts has lots of fun and unique ideas so you can give these as gifts to grandparents–but be sure to keep some for yourself!
Reindeer Thumbprint Ornaments
These easy keepsake items can be made from old ornaments that live at the bottom of your Christmas box. Simply use brown paint for your child’s thumbprint and a fine-tipped paintbrush or marker to add reindeer details, and you’ve got a keepsake ornament that will bring joy every holiday season. You can follow the directions atAmy Latta Creations.
Craft Stick Christmas Tree Photo Ornaments
These cute Christmas tree ornaments couldn’t be simpler, but they make darling keepsake gifts. Let your child paint craft sticks green and decorate them with glitter glue, small gems, or other craft supplies. Glue three of them together to make a triangle. Then cut out a favorite photo of your child (class pictures are another great way to make a keepsake gift!) and glue to the inside of the triangle. Glue a ribbon for hanging on the tree and you’ve got a simple but sweet keepsake ornament! You can find more details at Hello, Wonderful.
Fingerprint Christmas Plate
Far from just hanging an ornament on a tree, a cute keepsake plate is an excellent way to share and display your child’s handprint, fingerprint, or footprint every year.
There are dozens of fun designs on the internet, so you and your child should pick what you like best. This fingerprint design is simple but sweet, and allows you to include multiple children’s fingerprints, if necessary. You can follow the directions found at Non-Toy Gifts.
No matter which craft you choose to do this holiday season, you’ll never regret making them! We hope you enjoy the memories you make while doing these crafts.
Almost everyone has jam-packed holiday seasons. The countless parties at your job, kids’ school or daycare, neighborhood, family functions, and with various friend groups can leave you exhausted by the end of the year.
For parents, the holiday party season can be even more challenging because of managing your children at parties. At every party, there is lots of sugar, stimulation, and gifts. While these are fun for a short time, it doesn’t take long before your overwhelmed and overstimulated child may start to have a meltdown.
Although child meltdowns at parties are common, they don’t have to be inevitable. Here are some ways to help avoid child meltdowns at holiday parties.
Before the Party
Parents must remember that children don’t have a paradigm for parties. There is suddenly a lot of noise, strange people, good things to eat, and unfamiliar places, and children don’t know what to do. Part of a child’s meltdown may come from uncertainty, and the meltdown is their only way to communicate that they are uncomfortable.
Many meltdowns can be prevented by talking about the party plans with your child. Tell them who will be there, what games they will do, what food they can eat, when you will leave, and other basic details. If appropriate, set boundaries that might avoid a meltdown, like eating only two desserts or playing only one video game.
Dress your child comfortably for the party. If possible, dress your child in layers, since parties with lots of people tend to get warm and your child might want to take off that cute holiday sweater to cool down. Bring winter gear to play outside and leave it in the car. Then your child can join other kids outside without borrowing the hosts’ clothes.
If you’re attending a party without children or in a space not designed for children (like a work party), then you should bring along some of your child’s favorite books or toys to keep them busy. A tablet is another option, but should be used strategically, as removing the tablet could result in a meltdown
Feeding your children a meal before attending the party is another excellent party hack, especially for picky eaters. By feeding your child beforehand, you won’t be at the mercy of when the host serves food or what the host provides. Your child’s belly will already be full, and they won’t be begging for every snack or dessert they see.
At the Party
On your drive to the party, have a cheerful pep talk about your expectations. Try to keep your language positive; avoid “don’t” statements and instead encourage the behavior you want. For example, instead of “Don’t eat tons of dessert!” say something like “Look carefully and choose the yummiest dessert you want to try.” This lets your child know in a positive way the one thing you want them to do instead of the dozens of things you don’t want them to do.
Upon arriving at the party, set your child up with appropriate activities or children. Let your child know where you’ll be so they feel safe in this new space. It may be helpful to give a timeline, such as “Play here for 15 minutes and then I’ll let you choose some food to eat” so your child knows what to expect.
As tempting as it might be, don’t check out once you’re at the party. You should watch for cues that your child is getting irritable, restless, or tired. If you see these cues, step in before the meltdown erupts! Bring your child to a quiet place and let them decompress by reading books or playing by themselves.
Although letting your child decompress in a quiet place usually prevents a meltdown, you need to stay flexible and do what’s best for your child. You might have to make an early exit before a full meltdown happens. This might be disappointing, but it avoids embarrassing yourself or your child.
After the Party
Your child may be overwhelmed and overstimulated after a party. The sugar, lights, and excitement can make it hard to unwind. Plan time to calm down by reading, taking a bath, or going on a quiet walk. Talk about the fun you had and memories you made together.
If your child still struggled at the party, it’s imperative to not be harsh with them as you discuss what happened. Holiday memories are especially vivid, and you want your child to think of their childhood Christmases with fondness and not bitterness towards you. You can discuss needed improvement positively and cherish the happy memories you made together before a meltdown.
Craft Stick Christmas Tree Photo Ornaments