Tag Archives: screens

Why Are Video Games So Important to Boys?



Why are video games so important to boys? That’s the question a listener sent in response to our recent call for questions. The listener who asked that question just happens to be Jen’s brother — and another one of their brothers happens to be a video game designer, so we got them all together to … Continue reading Why Are Video Games So Important to Boys?


Social Media Safety



Social media has been a lifeline during the pandemic. It can also destroy lives. In 2016, Ed Peisner’s then-16-year-old son was viciously attacked in a social-media motivated assault — which was filmed and uploaded to social media before his father even arrived on the scene. “It was just a typical Friday,” Peisner says. “He was walking … Continue reading Social Media Safety


The Evolution of Esports (w Baro Hyun)



Esports — competitive videogaming — is quickly becoming a very big deal. In 2017, 106.2 million people watched the League of Legend esports championship.  In 2020, 99.9 million watched the Super Bowl on TV, according to Reuters. Today’s parents, teachers and grandparents often find themselves annoyed at the hours boys spend in front of screens, gaming. … Continue reading The Evolution of Esports (w Baro Hyun)


Managing Screen Time During the Pandemic



How are you managing screen time during the pandemic?  According to at least one survey, kids’ time online has more than doubled since the pandemic began, and many kids now spend more than 6 hours per day online, in front of screens. And no wonder — screens are now our portal to school, work, socialization … Continue reading Managing Screen Time During the Pandemic


Parenting Teenage Boys w Joshua Wayne



Parenting teenage boys is HARD.  Their brains aren’t yet fully mature yet they’re bigger and stronger than most parents. They have more energy than their parents — and when they are bound and determined to do what they want to do (regardless of what you or anyone else says), the energy can seem more like … Continue reading Parenting Teenage Boys w Joshua Wayne


Why Boys Need Chores – with Victoria Prooday



Chores, Victoria Prooday says, are the most efficient way to build our boys’ emotional muscle. Prooday, a psychotherapist, occupational therapist and speaker, is convinced that self-regulation is the key to success — and science backs up her assertion. As early as 1998, psychologists were publishing papers and chapters stating that, “Self-regulation has major, important implications … Continue reading Why Boys Need Chores – with Victoria Prooday


Raising Kids to Thrive in a Connected World with Jordan Shapiro



Janet & Jen had very different reactions to The New Childhood: Raising Children to Thrive in a Connected World, by author and educator Jordan Shapiro. Jen loved it. Janet has some, uh, questions. And concerns. So, we decided to talk to the author. Jordan was happy to talk with us. He’s an assistant professor at … Continue reading Raising Kids to Thrive in a Connected World with Jordan Shapiro


149: All About E-sports



Competitive video gaming may be coming soon to a school near you. E-sports  (short for “electronic sports”) is a $900 million dollar global industry. In South Korea, top video game players are household names, and matches are televised. Here in the United States, more than 80 colleges and universities, including Kent State and the University … Continue reading 149: All About E-sports


137: iGen



  Baby Boomers. Gen X. Millennials. And now, iGen. According to psychology professor Jean Twenge, the members of iGen include the children and young adults born between 1995 and 2012. And what sets these kids apart from previous generations, she says, is their near-constant connection to the Internet. Theirs is a generation shaped by the … Continue reading 137: iGen


132: Risk-Taking Boys with Mom Judi Ketteler



Would you let your 10-year-old son hang out with a bunch of teenagers you haven’t met? Would you let him attempt a double or triple flip in the trampoline in the backyard – or manage his own Instagram account? Writer and mom Judi Ketteler has. In a society that spends so much time telling boys … Continue reading 132: Risk-Taking Boys with Mom Judi Ketteler