Getting kids to stop using screens is a really frequent cause of fights in families these days. Lots of children will seem to go along with starting to use something electronic, but then really kick up a fuss when you ask them to put it down. This makes parents wonder if their kids are being…
Family life is often at its most hectic in the evening. Once school, work, and everything else from the day are done, you’re suddenly trying to get homework finished, food on the table, screen time under control and everyone ready for bed, and all in a pretty short space of time. Those who study families…
Reduce water waste at home” by making small but effective changes to your daily routine. Many families are already making an effort to use less water by adjusting their habits around the house. Whether it’s cooking, cleaning, or washing, these small changes add up over time and can significantly lower your water consumption. Experts who…
Screen Time Rules for Families: Why Timing Matters More Than Total Hours When families talk about how much time everyone spends on screens, they’re usually thinking about the total hours in a day. However, screen time rules for families aren’t just about duration—they’re about when, how, and why screens are used. When families talk about…
We tend to find family traditions important because we do them again and again, but simply doing things over and over isn’t the whole story. Traditions are often at their best when kids aren’t just at them, but are actually a part of making them happen. For example, a child who picks the sprinkles for…
Homework is frequently hard for kids, and it’s not simply the work itself. It’s that it’s assigned in the evening, when they’re already worn out, needing food, or emotionally drained. Families would like to help with learning, but don’t want every afternoon to be a repeat of all the demands of school. A good homework…
When families start the week already struggling, the days themselves tend to be more difficult. School things are all over the place, you’re unsure about food, nobody has looked at the calendar and Monday finds the house in a state of dealing with things as they come up, rather than being ready for them. For…
Within a family, you are always gently pointing things out to your kids. They’ll likely forget what they’re supposed to do, cut you off when you’re talking, not finish their jobs, or just do things without thinking if they’re tired or upset. And in lots of families, the problem isn’t just what the kids do,…
When days are hectic with parents doing loads of things at once, kids being exhausted and usual schedules being stretched, it’s particularly hard to deal with how much time everyone spends in front of screens. At these times, lots of families fall back on what seems sensible, but could actually make it harder to form…
We usually plan things to do with the family because they are stimulating, full of fun, or just to occupy everyone, but kids can get a lot out of doing things together that are more restful. At home with lots going on, it’s easy for the school day, shopping, screen time and going to bed…