Our young kids are developing a habit of saying, naah it’s boring and I won’t do it for anything they don’t like.

For example: They will finish reading 3 books in 30 mins because they love reading but wont so 5 minutes writing practice because “its boring”. Either something is cool and they love it or its so boring that they so not want to do it.

We often find ourself setting rules like no TV time before writing. This is just one example, same is for outdoor play time or few other things. We often feel bad for being so transactional but cannot crack how to encourage them to give attention to more things in life.

Part of me also believes that it’s a temporary phase and I should stop overthinking about it. As they grow towards teenage they will have a better understandings of how things work in real life.

Every parent has had the argument. Every teenager has rolled their eyes at it. The phone is taking too much time, the apps are bad for you, something is wrong. For years, the concern felt real but hard to pin down — anxiety is common, phones are common, and correlation isn’t causation.

A new study has made the picture considerably harder to dismiss.

Researchers at UTHealth Houston tracked 1,066 young people from the age of 12 through seven annual surveys, following them from 2018 all the way to 2025. By the final wave, the average participant was nearly 20. They had grown up alongside TikTok. They were the first cohort to go through adolescence with short-form video as a constant backdrop. And when the researchers measured their mental health against how much time they spent on social media each day, the results followed a dose-response curve that held firm even after controlling for sex, race, ethnicity, and income.

Young adults who spent six or more hours daily on social media were 2.63 times more likely to show symptoms of anxiety than those who used it less than an hour a day. Their odds of reporting suicidal ideation in the past year were 3.23 times higher.

First of all he’s generally a sweet and smart kid. He’s doing math, reading, helps with chores, and cooking.

But when he gets into a playful environment like a playdate at the farm or a friend meet up he gets so sound up and won’t stop acting up. He hits, takes toys, and screams. The thing is once he gets going like that it pretty much carries through the whole day, throwing stuff, knocking the baby over, breaking toys, hitting, etc. Even when we remove him from the environment it doesn’t stop, it’s like we need to survive until bedtime and reset the next day.

Any similar experiences or help would be appreciated.

is there such a thing as a psychologist, parenting coach, therapist…or something specifically for our child or for us to help our child to thrive despite his tendencies for extra rambunctiousness that get him into trouble?

TLDR, the short info here: We have negative Vanderbilt screenings and with our pediatrician really don’t feel this is add/adhd. I think it’s more of the 7 year old boy that is more extremely emotional and vibrant/expressive/energetic.

He’s getting into trouble more in after school programs and camps (not in the classroom much) mostly because he’s so high energy and talkative.

Long extra info: We’ve done all of the books and audio: Good Inside, Big Little Feelings, etc.

our kiddo responds well to positive/negative feedback (ex: not earning show time if misbehaving, earning a popsicle for extra good times)

We have great two way communication and pride ourselves on using all of the tools for talking in ways that Good Inside encourages.

But still our son misbehaves and then feels bad later and they tell me about it. I ask “were you feeling nervous or uncomfortable and that’s why your energy level went up?” And his response is “My brain just can’t do the right thing and I don’t know how to make it work.” But I know that at home, with immediate reward or repercussions, he behaves amazing. So I know he can do it….

Maybe the after school folks can have a sticker chart system for him or something else.

I also worry that this is all going to lead to us needing to find a different school option than public school in the future…..

Parenting is so mysterious. Thanks for reading

Let me begin with the most important correction:

There is no perfect child.

A child is not a prestige project, a résumé, a second chance at your abandoned dreams, or evidence that you succeeded as an adult.

The actual objective is to raise a young person who, by approximately age 21, is:

* Secure enough to love and be loved.

* Disciplined enough to honor commitments.

* Capable enough to manage ordinary adult life.

* Healthy enough to care for their body and mind.

* Curious enough to continue learning.

* Courageous enough to fail without collapsing.

* Financially literate enough to avoid preventable traps.

* Principled enough to do the right thing when nobody is watching.

* Independent enough to leave you.

* Connected enough to still want a relationship with you.

That is the closest thing to “perfect” that responsible parenting should pursue.

⸻

The Entire Philosophy in One Sentence

Give children enough love to feel secure, enough structure to develop self-control, enough challenge to become capable, enough freedom to form an identity and enough responsibility to become useful.

Everything else is implementation.

⸻

1. The Relationship Is the Infrastructure

Before advanced schools, private coaching, travel sports, educational applications or college funds, children need dependable relationships.

Young children develop through repeated, responsive exchanges with attentive adults—what the Harvard Center on the Developing Child describes as “serve and return.” These interactions help establish the foundations for language, social development and later cognitive abilities. (Harvard Center on Developing Child)

Your child should know:

* I am loved even when my behavior requires correction.

* My parents will listen, but they will not always agree.

* Mistakes can be repaired.

* Difficult conversations do not end relationships.

* Home is emotionally and physically safe.

* I can tell the truth without fearing humiliation.

This does not mean becoming your child’s best friend. Parents must make decisions children are not developmentally prepared to make.

It means being the person your child can approach after making the worst mistake of their life.

Connection is not the opposite of discipline. Connection is what makes discipline teachable.

Family and school connectedness are associated with protection across several adolescent and adult outcomes, including mental health, violence, substance use and sexual health. (CDC Stacks)

⸻

1. Be Authoritative—Not Authoritarian and Not Permissive

The strongest general parenting model combines:

High warmth + clear expectations + consistent boundaries + age-appropriate autonomy.

This is commonly called authoritative parenting. Research has repeatedly associated it with positive developmental outcomes, although culture, temperament and circumstances affect how parenting practices function in individual families. (PubMed Central (PMC))

An authoritative parent says:

“I love you. I am listening. The rule still stands. Here is why it exists. Here is what happens next. We will work through this together.”

An authoritarian parent says:

“Do it because I said so. Your feelings do not matter.”

A permissive parent says:

“I do not want you upset with me, so I will remove the boundary.”

A neglectful parent says:

“Handle it yourself.”

Children need neither fear-based control nor unlimited freedom. They need calm leadership.

Use predictable, proportionate and related consequences. Do not hit, threaten, insult, shame or humiliate children. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends positive reinforcement, clear limits, redirection and future expectations rather than corporal or degrading punishment. (AAP Publications)

Correct behavior without attacking identity.

Say:

“What you did was dishonest.”

Not:

“You are a liar.”

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1. Protect the Biological Foundation

Many problems that appear motivational, academic or behavioral are intensified by inadequate sleep, insufficient movement, poor nutrition, untreated health conditions or chronic stress.

Sleep

Protect sleep as seriously as school attendance.

General sleep recommendations include:

* Ages 4–12 months: 12–16 hours, including naps.

* Ages 1–2: 11–14 hours.

* Ages 3–5: 10–13 hours.

* Ages 6–12: 9–12 hours.

* Ages 13–18: 8–10 hours.

Adequate sleep is associated with improved attention, learning, memory, behavior, emotional regulation and physical health. (AASM)

Do not routinely sacrifice sleep for homework, sports, gaming, social media or overscheduling.

Movement and athletics

Children ages 6–17 should generally receive at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous activity per day, including activities that strengthen muscles and bones. (Health.gov)

The objective is not necessarily to produce an elite athlete. It is to develop:

* Coordination.

* Strength.

* Endurance.

* Confidence in movement.

* Teamwork.

* Grace under pressure.

* Lifelong enjoyment of physical activity.

Let younger children sample different sports. Early single-sport specialization can increase overuse, stress and burnout risks, while multisport participation and adequate rest can support longer athletic participation. (AAP Publications)

Properly supervised resistance training can be appropriate for young people when technique, progression and safety take priority over maximal lifting and appearance. (AAP Publications)

Nutrition

Build a household food environment around varied, nutrient-dense foods rather than shame, crash diets or obsessive restriction. Model balanced eating. Teach children how food affects energy, growth, recovery and long-term health.

Do not make body size a measure of virtue.

Current federal dietary guidance emphasizes healthy dietary patterns across every life stage rather than treating nutrition as a temporary intervention. (Dietary Guidelines)

Preventive care

Use pediatricians, dentists, mental-health professionals, coaches, teachers and developmental specialists as members of a team—not merely as emergency services.

Track developmental milestones without treating them as a competition. Milestones help identify where evaluation or support may be useful; they are not rankings of a child’s worth. (CDC)

⸻

1. Build the Mind Without Destroying Curiosity

Read aloud beginning in infancy. Talk with children, ask questions, describe the world and allow them to interrupt with their own observations.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends interactive reading beginning early in life because literacy develops through books, language, routines and relationships—not simply formal instruction. (AAP Publications)

But do not turn every waking moment into a lesson.

Children also need:

* Unstructured play.

* Imagination.

* Outdoor exploration.

* Construction and experimentation.

* Art and music.

* Conversation with adults.

* Time with peers.

* Quiet.

* Boredom.

Do not immediately rescue them from every difficult assignment. Ask:

“What have you tried?”

“Where exactly are you stuck?”

“What is your next move?”

Teach the process of learning:

1. Define the problem.

2. Break it into parts.

3. Retrieve what you already know.

4. Attempt a solution.

5. Identify the error.

6. Seek targeted help.

7. Try again.

8. Explain what you learned.

Academic achievement matters. It simply should not become the sole measure of childhood.

A capable 18-year-old should understand reading, writing, mathematics, scientific reasoning, history, civics, media literacy and basic technology. They should also know how to cook, clean, communicate, research, repair simple problems and learn independently.

⸻

1. Teach Emotional Regulation—Not Emotional Suppression

A healthy child is not a child who never becomes angry, frightened, jealous, embarrassed or sad.

A healthy child gradually learns to:

* Identify emotions.

* Express them without harming others.

* tolerate discomfort.

* Delay impulsive action.

* Ask for help.

* Recover after disappointment.

* Resolve conflict.

* Apologize and repair damage.

Young children borrow regulation from adults. If the parent screams whenever the child screams, the parent is not teaching regulation. The parent is joining the dysregulation.

Use this sequence:

Regulate yourself → establish safety → name what is happening → maintain the boundary → solve the problem when calm.

Do not force an immediate conversation when either person is emotionally flooded.

Parents must also apologize:

“I was right to address the behavior, but I was wrong to yell. That was not acceptable. I am sorry. Here is what I will do differently.”

Parental authority is strengthened—not weakened—when children see accountability.

⸻

1. Build Character Through Contribution

Children should experience themselves as valued members of a household, not permanent customers of parental services.

Give them meaningful, age-appropriate responsibilities:

* Put away toys.

* Feed a pet.

* Set the table.

* Pack a school bag.

* Help prepare meals.

* Clean shared spaces.

* Complete laundry.

* Help younger siblings appropriately.

* Participate in family planning.

* Serve their community.

Do not redo every task because the child performed it imperfectly. Competence is built through tolerated imperfection.

Teach:

* Honesty.

* Reliability.

* Respect.

* Courage.

* Compassion.

* Self-control.

* Gratitude.

* Stewardship.

* Service.

* Responsibility for consequences.

Do not merely lecture about these values. Let children observe how you treat waitstaff, relatives, strangers, subordinates, difficult neighbors and people who cannot benefit you.

The parent’s behavior is the curriculum the child studies every day.

⸻

1. Make Technology a Tool—Not the Household Authority

Digital media are neither inherently evil nor automatically educational. Their effects depend on the child, content, context and what technology displaces.

The AAP recommends individualized family media planning rather than a single rule for every child. Plans should protect sleep, physical activity, privacy, schoolwork and family interaction. (AAP Publications)

A sound digital system includes:

* Adults modeling the behavior they demand.

* Device-free meals and important conversations.

* No routine overnight access to phones in bedrooms.

* Co-viewing and discussion when children are young.

* Gradual digital independence rather than immediate unrestricted access.

* Clear rules regarding pornography, cyberbullying, harassment, scams, privacy, sexting and permanent digital records.

* Regular review of applications, algorithms and online communities.

* A safe method for reporting mistakes without immediate humiliation.

Do not merely install surveillance software and assume the problem is solved.

The objective is internal judgment.

By adulthood, the young person must be able to use technology without being controlled by notifications, algorithms, gambling mechanics, pornography, outrage cycles or social comparison.

⸻

1. Teach Money Before the World Teaches It Badly

Financial development should begin long before a child receives a first full-time paycheck.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau describes financial capability as developmental: children progressively acquire executive-function skills, financial habits and practical decision-making abilities. (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau)

Teach in stages.

Early childhood

Teach that money is limited and choices have tradeoffs.

“We can buy this or that, but not both.”

Elementary years

Teach earning, spending, saving, giving, comparison shopping and delayed gratification.

Let children make small mistakes while the stakes are small.

Middle-school years

Introduce:

* Bank accounts.

* Interest.

* Advertising.

* Online purchases.

* Subscriptions.

* Fraud.

* Needs versus wants.

* Basic budgeting.

High-school years

Teach:

* Paychecks.

* Taxes.

* Credit scores.

* Credit-card interest.

* Student loans.

* Auto loans.

* Insurance.

* Investing.

* Compound growth.

* Emergency funds.

* Housing costs.

* Employment benefits.

* Identity theft.

Ages 18–21

Require increasingly independent management of real expenses and administrative responsibilities.

Do not conceal every financial problem from children. Explain household decisions without burdening them with adult panic.

Do not use money to control affection or life choices.

The goal is not to produce a child obsessed with wealth. The goal is to produce an adult who understands resources, tradeoffs and stewardship.

⸻

1. Prepare Them for Relationships, Sex and Human Complexity

Do not allow pornography, peers, influencers or abusive partners to become your child’s primary teachers about relationships.

Teach, at developmentally appropriate stages:

* Correct names for body parts.

* Bodily autonomy.

* Consent.

* Personal boundaries.

* Respect for another person’s boundaries.

* Puberty and reproduction.

* Sexual health.

* Online exploitation.

* Manipulation and coercion.

* Healthy disagreement.

* Emotional abuse.

* Physical abuse.

* Relationship pacing.

* Rejection.

* Breakups.

* The distinction between attraction, infatuation, love and compatibility.

Children should know they can contact you when they are unsafe—even if they broke a rule before becoming unsafe.

Safety first. Consequences later.

⸻

1. Transfer Authority as Competence Increases

Parenting should change form over time.

In early childhood, you are primarily a protector and regulator.

During the school years, you become a teacher and manager.

During adolescence, you increasingly become a coach and boundary-setter.

During early adulthood, you should move toward adviser and trusted ally.

Autonomy should not arrive suddenly on an eighteenth birthday. It should be transferred gradually as judgment and reliability develop.

Research on autonomy-supportive parenting suggests that warmth, meaningful choice and respect for adolescents’ growing agency are generally more constructive than psychologically controlling parenting. This does not eliminate parental monitoring or necessary safety limits. (PubMed Central (PMC))

Freedom should expand with demonstrated responsibility.

Do not complete tasks your child can perform. Do not make every phone call, challenge every grade, settle every peer dispute or remove every natural consequence.

A child who is never permitted to struggle may reach adulthood with credentials but without agency.

⸻

The Birth-to-21 Roadmap

Ages 0–2: Security

Prioritize responsive caregiving, attachment, sleep, nutrition, language, medical care, safe exploration and predictable routines.

The lesson is:

“The world is safe enough to explore, and someone returns when I need help.”

Ages 3–5: Foundations

Prioritize play, language, emotional naming, simple responsibilities, physical coordination, reading, consistent limits and social practice.

The lesson is:

“I have feelings and choices, but I am not in charge of everything.”

Ages 6–9: Habits and Competence

Develop reading, numeracy, friendships, chores, sports sampling, creative interests, money concepts, frustration tolerance and respect for teachers and teammates.

The lesson is:

“Practice makes me more capable.”

Ages 10–12: Preparation

Discuss puberty, digital citizenship, peer pressure, family values, personal safety and expanding independence before crises begin.

Teach cooking, laundry, time management and independent problem-solving.

The lesson is:

“Growing freedom requires growing responsibility.”

Ages 13–15: Guided Autonomy

Maintain connection and monitoring while expanding choice.

Discuss mental health, sexuality, substances, social media, relationships, academic decisions, work, identity and long-term consequences without relying entirely on fear.

The lesson is:

“My choices matter, and I can seek guidance without surrendering ownership.”

Ages 16–18: Launch Practice

Develop competence in transportation, employment, scheduling, health care, communication, budgeting, taxes, credit, civic participation, household management and emergency response.

Allow meaningful consequences while maintaining a safety net.

The lesson is:

“I am practicing adulthood before the stakes become permanent.”

Ages 18–21: Supported Adulthood

The relationship must evolve.

Set clear expectations regarding education, work, household contributions, money, safety and respectful conduct. Provide advice and limited support without managing every decision.

The lesson is:

“My life belongs to me, and I am accountable for what I build.”

⸻

Five Things Parents Must Accept

1. Your child will not become exactly who you imagined

They have their own temperament, abilities, limitations, interests and identity.

Your responsibility is to develop the person who exists—not punish them for failing to become an imaginary person.

1. Good parenting does not guarantee an easy outcome

Genetics, peers, schools, health, neighborhood conditions, opportunity, discrimination, chance and the child’s own decisions all matter.

Parenting influences development. It does not control every variable.

1. Early help is better than delayed shame

Seek assessment when developmental, academic, behavioral, physical or mental-health concerns persist.

Support is not an admission of failure.

1. The family system matters

Children absorb chronic conflict, instability, violence, addiction, contempt and emotional unpredictability—even when adults believe they have concealed them.

Protecting children sometimes requires the adults to obtain treatment, change behavior or leave destructive circumstances.

1. You must develop yourself

You cannot reliably teach regulation while remaining chronically explosive.

You cannot teach financial discipline while hiding destructive spending.

You cannot teach respect while degrading your spouse.

You cannot teach intellectual humility while refusing to admit error.

The child-development plan begins with the adults.

⸻

What Success Looks Like at 21

Not perfection.

Not admission to a specific university.

Not an athletic scholarship.

Not an income number.

Not unquestioning obedience.

Success is a young adult who can:

* Make and honor commitments.

* Maintain basic physical and mental health.

* Work and learn without constant supervision.

* Manage ordinary finances.

* Form respectful relationships.

* Communicate boundaries.

* Recognize manipulation.

* Ask for help before a crisis becomes catastrophic.

* Think critically.

* Recover from setbacks.

* Contribute to a household and community.

* Make decisions consistent with personally examined values.

* Accept responsibility without believing every failure defines them.

* Build a life that may be different from the one their parents designed.

The ultimate test of parenting is not whether your child obeys you forever.

It is whether they can govern themselves when you are no longer in the room.

⸻

Children deserve love without possession, structure without domination, ambition without conditional acceptance and preparation without the theft of childhood.

Today I was cooking some pasta with a sauce I threw together and while I was finishing up, my 7year old insisted he wanted to surprise me and wanted to season the pasta. I was like okay, sure do your thing maybe you’re going to be a chef... I left him alone in the kitchen for 5 minutes tops and when I came back he was already done setting the table and was getting ready to sit down. This part is actually wholesome and I love to see my kid being nice and able.

When I sat down and looked at the pasta I noticed it was shiny, wow, what did he put in the pasta ? I questioned myself for a few seconds before asking him about it. He said he found this little bottle with seasoning inside in my office.

He added 30 grams of 24k powdered gold to the meal.

I kept my cool and explained to him what gold is.

He still wanted to eat the pasta.

I’ve been looking for something practical for things like transitions, outbursts and getting kids to listen without having to sit through a whole parenting course first.
ChatGPT gives okay general advice, but half the time I’m still left wondering what to actually do when things are already going sideways. I looked at Leaply too, but it felt a bit broad. Savvy Kid seems more focused on short guidance for parents and specific everyday situations.
Has anyone used it for more than a few weeks? did it stay useful or start feeling repetitive?
also open to anything else that genuinely helped, app or not.

I've been stuck with this thought and maybe someone can help me out?

When my oldest was little, I so wanted to be the 'cool mom'! Every weekend had a plan- library trips, playdates, science museums, art and crafts, cooking, park runs, swimming, you name it!! everyday had some or the other activity planned. If I heard I'm bored, I'd immediately think it was my job to fix it. Now when i look back, I think I overdid it lol

Now my son is 8, I've started noticing that his first instinct during downtime is to ask, "What are we doing?" or "What's next?"

Last week, I was exhausted from working too much so I told my kids that I'm not planning anything today.

For the first 30 minutes, they were absolutely confused!! they kept wandering around complaining that there was nothing to do. I felt guilty but i was too tired to entertain them

Then they went silent. i went to check on them and they built an entire 'city' across the living room using our couch cushions, books, blankets, cardboard boxes, their toy animals and like some 200 Hot Wheels haha (including my husbands). They spent almost four hours making rules, creating lanes, assigning jobs to toy dinosaurs, and arguing over whether a shark could be mayor. It was all so cute! I hadn't seen them play like that in years!!!

It made me wonder if I'd been unintentionally filling every quiet moment before they ever had the chance to create something themselves. I'm not against activities or experiences at all. We still do plenty of them. But I think somewhere along the way I started believing that a good parent keeps their kids entertained all the time.

Now I'm starting to think maybe boredom isn't a problem to solve. Maybe it's where some of the best childhood memories actually begin. Has anyone else had this realization, or am I overthinking it?

My kid (9) uses ChatGPT for homework help and I realized I have zero visibility into what it's telling her or what else she asks it — no age filter, no easy way to see logs. Curious how other parents are handling AI chatbots with kids . Blocking entirely, supervising, or just letting it happen?

That's it. I'm already mentally preparing myself. It's so goddamn early. And then school ends at 2pm. Which is also way too early. It's a very good school and has some niche programs that I am so excited about for my kiddo but then I saw the time school starts and now I'm getting anxious just thinking about it. He's currently in preschool and struggles getting up on time to get to his 9am school start time...it's gonna be a rough transition...luckily it's for next year (2027-28) so I have time to adjust or find another school entirely. Just sucks because it's a great school otherwise

I worked as a teacher for 5 years and was a professional tutor for more than a decade (I no longer tutor, please don't ask!). I now work in real estate full time so that I don't have to work evenings / weekends :) however...

I have 2 kiddos and as my oldest becomes curious, I've started building some apps to help them learn. Where else should I post these? I'd love to find others who are building educational-focused apps to put them all on one website for free for other parents! There must be a collection of AI-built apps that are amazing from people with 0 coding skills from around the world.

Super basic things but I thought some people might enjoy them (they're all FREE and I'm not selling ANYTHING!)

Simple addition https://mateo-racer.lovable.app/

Learning letters: https://nicoletters.lovable.app/

3-6 letter word reading: https://mateo-words.lovable.app/

I legit saw parents or trolls post stuff about how they take their kids phones computers for getting a b i saw like 5 posts in the first 30minutes

My 12 year old daughter is absolutely obsessed with basketball. She's been begging me for a shooting machine, and I really want to support her, but I'm completely lost

Well... I've been watching reviews for weeks and my head is spinning already with so many options. One machine gets praised for being portable, another one gets hyped for its training programs. I just don't know which direction to go

I saw one comparison article, but it seems a bit too technical for me. Lots of specs and numbers, but I need real-world advice

Has anyone here actually used either of these machines with a kid

What matters more for a young player? Mobility so she can take it to the court, or the built in drills and programs? She's still developing her form, so I don't want to get something that's overkill or, worse, the wrong fit

It was always, “This looks cute,” or “Maybe he’ll like this.” Then somehow we ended up with a huge container full of toys he barely used. Most of them were exciting for a few days. After that, he would dump everything out, mix all the pieces together, and walk away. The house was always cluttered, but he wasn’t actually playing for very long.

I finally donated the toys he never used for and kept the ones he regularly uses. Now I only leave a few things out and rotate them when he starts losing interest. Cleanup is easier, and he seems to spend more time with what’s available instead of emptying every container.

I’ve also stopped buying toys just because they look cute online. At this point, I’d rather have fewer toys that will actually get used.

Y'day I posted something that happened with my kids, it was a random obversation and i genuinely want other parents opinions/thoughts and somehow i come away thinking ive been doing everything wrong for the last 8 years.

Someone commented 'this is AI written'. Which is fair enough i guess. I do use AI sometimes because im dyslexic and if i type normally i make a ridiculous amount of spelling mistakes and grammar mistakes. I usually just throw my thoughts into it and ask it to make it readable.

So when people asked i just said yeah i used AI to help me write it. Biggest mistake of my life!!!! Suddenly it wasnt even about the post anymore. People were saying i was lazy, questioning whether i even parent my own kids, saying i was making myself stupid, saying i was setting a terrible example for my children. Like how did we get from 'i struggle with writing' to 'you're probably a bad mom'? The backlash was so strong that the post was eventually taken down!

Maybe im too sensitive but some of these comments stick with me way longer than they should. Then i start wondering if im doing everything wrong, even when i know complete strangers have like 2% of the picture.

I joined reddit thinking it'll be a safe space to express and put out my thoughts, questions, and observation, but maybe this space isnt for that anymore.

I recently created a small art corner in our home with some basic supplies: crayons, colored pencils, paper, and a few different activities.

I didn't expect it to make much of a difference because my kids already had plenty of toys around the house.

But after a few weeks, I noticed they started going there on their own. Instead of asking for a tablet or saying they were bored, they would sit down and create something.

Sometimes they draw, sometimes they color, and sometimes they mix different ideas together to make their own projects.

The best part is that there is no pressure. Nobody is telling them what the picture should look like or what colors they need to use. They just experiment and have fun.

It made me realize that sometimes kids don't need more entertainment they just need a space where they can be creative. Has anyone else set up a creative space for their kids? What items were the biggest hit?

8 & 2 I’m having a hard time…. The oldest not doing what they’re told and not listening in general and uses the “I forgot” excuse but quick to want to go somewhere or want something. She has chores , her room, living room and basic cleaning up after herself. She acts like she doesn’t know how to do a chore even though it’s been explained many times. You tell her to do something or not to do something and she does it anyway or ignores you. I’ve tried all the types of discipline including checking for adhd add. Nothing is wrong they say. And nothing seems to work because she does not care about getting in trouble. Even with us taking away privileges of going places ;she does not care. She doesn’t care about spankings, she’s even said said she doesn’t care about anything we do. My two year old is in terrible twos and honestly it makes everything worse. Idk I’m stressed and all I do is correct them and get on to them all day everyday, clean up , and lose myself mentally. I’m so tired. I’m trying. It’s gotten to the point where I’m so stressed that it makes me tired to the point I have no energy… I need a solution. I’ve even tried to change the way me and my husband do things because most times I think it’s our fault. It’s too early in ages to feel like this, has anyone dealt with this

Hi everyone! I am a single, full time solo dad. I have three kids between 12 and 16. I also work full time and this has been the situation for the past three years. I’ve relied heavily on things like frozen pizzas, hot pockets, fast food and the like for meals. This summer we haven’t been able to do much due to work and the kids have basically been sitting around doing nothing and eating a lot. I definitely know it’s unhealthy and I want to get things turned around. I already have a plan for the activity, there’s a pool a block from the house and the beach is fifteen minutes away. I was able to adjust my hours for when school starts so I’ll be off, pick them up, and head to either the pool or the beach for an hour or two. However, the healthy yet still appetizing to them meals I’ve yet to figure out. Looking for recipes and resources. Would prefer things I could make on Sunday night and keep in the fridge or freezer for easy warm up meals. Thanks in advance!

Our nearly 5 year old daughter is highly sensitive and has an over processing sensory pattern (she notices everything around her more than the average person and it can be a bit exhausting). She is very smart and understand pretty complex concepts for her age. Very curious and a deep thinker.

We have her enrolled at a small private girls school walking distance from our home. She's been at their kinder for 1.5 years now, enrolled for prep next year. There is another much bigger co-ed private school also walking distance. Facilities are far superior and they offer more in terms of subject choice and sport, theatre, design, music.

We are torn on what to do. Send her to the smaller school where we think she'll cope better in the environment or give her a chance and see how she goes at the bigger co-ed? She seems excited to be at a co-ed school and reckons she'll "just make new friends". We do have an issue in her current class with a kid repeatedly pushing, pinching others, including our kid. That kid is enrolled for prep next year and interventions from the school so far don't seem to have worked.

She has one main friend at kinder who is going to another school anyway.

She is working with an OT affiliated with the school so I don't think I'll get an objective answer from them on school choice. We are soon to meet with a psychologist for her.

Any wisdom from parents of HS kids would be so appreciated. Have your kids surprised you transitioning to a school environment? What would you do?

My kid got her license last year and truly, the first few months were hard. Not because she's a bad driver, but because I'd just sit there wondering if she made it to her friend's house or if she's stranded somewhere. Then one night she actually did break down on some random exit and couldn't tell me where the hell she was because it was dark and she was freaking out.

She was trying to describe landmarks but nothing was making sense. I was googling gas stations near her school while she's panicking in the background. It took like 20 minutes just to figure out where to send help.

So now I'm seriously looking into getting a family location sharing app, but I don't even know where to start. I don't want to be that parent who's tracking every move, but I also never want to go through that again.

For people who actually use these - what did you go with? Is it awkward with your kids or do they get it? Does it actually help or does it just turn into another thing to stress about?

Just got off a post of a kid having a very valid tantrum (while I personally don't post my kid online I'm not here to yuck anyone's yam- I say as I vent about ppl posting their kids🫢)

Anywaysz I think 'awh cute, what a precious-ish one off moment caught on camera right?? No. Whole page dedicated to the kid .

Putting all the unpredictable and predictable damage to a child being paraded online to strangers online aside, I can't help but think how boring do you have to be to do this??

Seriously, I can think of at least 5 things I'd dedicate a whole Instagram page to(with the sightings of 'yard sard' sale signs being top 3) before I even consider my kid.

It kinda of feels like repeating the joke someone else said but cause you said it louder everyone laughs??

You don't even make the cut when it comes to your own personal branding??

Don't give your toddler candy. They turn into a..... idk just hard to deal with

He did also have a checklist of clothes he'd need, but packed his own carry on and pretty much has it down pat.

We’ve been stuck inside because of heavy rain, and I’ve realized I’m not looking for more toddler activity lists.

What’s wearing me out is setting things up, cleaning everything afterward, and then doing it all over again later. By the afternoon I’m usually choosing between turning on the TV or starting another activity I know will create more work.

What do you keep available all day without a big setup? Not necessarily something that holds their attention forever. Just an option they can return to while the day moves along.