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Can AI make you a better parent?
Plus: How to raise safe drivers
Hello everyone! It’s about that time of year when we start to get big ideas about all the fall cooking we want to do. Soups and stews and intricate pastas every night! Pumpkin pancakes and apple pies every weekend! Homemade sourdough! But then? Reality sets in. You’re probably too busy to make anything other than microwaved quesadillas most nights, and that is just fine. Today’s reminder: You don’t need a reason to order delivery instead of whipping up a five-star meal for your family. Let go of that guilt and order the fries. 🍟
How to Raise a Safe Driver
Source: National Safety Council
Kids these days are different. They might not have the safe-driver taglines “click it or ticket” or “drive sober or get pulled over” seared into their brains the way we parents do (guess those fear-based school assemblies about driving safely worked). But teaching them how to prioritize safety both when they’re behind the wheel and when they’re riding shotgun is super important.
And it’s actually National Teen Driver Safety Week, so what better time to talk to your kids about the responsibility that comes with getting your permit or license? Experts recommend hitting the big topics: impaired driving, seatbelts, distracted driving, speed, and passengers (did you know the likelihood that a teen driver will engage in risky behavior triples when multiple passengers are in the car?). Here are some pointers to help get your kids to actually listen in a conversation about driving safely.
Today in Ridiculous (and Potentially Dangerous) TikTok Trends for Teens
It’s called bone smashing, and it is as off putting as the name suggests. This new trend on TikTok involves teens (mostly boys) hitting their faces with their fists or in some cases a hammer or meat tenderizer in order to “chisel” their jawline and facial structure.
Is it serious? Not always, and plenty of young TikTok users are pointing out that it’s largely a joke. But there are probably some outlier cases in which teen boys think hitting themselves in the face will give them an Abercrombie jawline—so better to double check your teen isn’t under that impression. Here’s a video from a facial plastic surgeon explaining the permanent damage it can cause.
The Pros and Cons of Artificial Intelligence
Source: Wikipedia
Like a lot of new tech, AI has its upsides and downsides. When it replaces human connection? Downside. When it helps us teach our kids about the math we were supposed to learn in high school but never did? Upside.
Either way, it seems artificial intelligence isn’t going anywhere—and teaching your kids how to be curious about the technology and use it safely could give them a major leg up. Here are six essential tips for giving your kid an AI education.
P.S. AI can be a huge timesaver for parents who are spread thin. Here’s a rundown of how to use ChatGPT to help with everyone’s least favorite chore, meal planning.
Teens ❤️ LinkedIn…?
This is kind of sweet. LinkedIn, the social network once known only for cliche networking messages and “personal news,” is now finding its footing with Gen Z and younger users—they’re one of the platform’s fastest-growing demographics.
Why? Because those young people are fed up with what can only be described as bad vibes on every other platform. So they’re turning to LinkedIn for what they think is more “wholesome” content. And we kind of love that (as long as they’re safely using LinkedIn—more on how to do that in an expert interview here).
The perfect recs to help you guide a child who might need a little extra TLC these days. Remember, parenting is tough…but so is being a kid. A little empathy goes a long way, and we know your kid will be grateful for some extra support.
How to help a child who might struggle to “fit in.”
Why parents should encourage their teens to “play” more (spoiler: it helps their mental health).
An age-by-age guide to helping kids manage emotions.
How to help an anxious teen.
And one for you, parents: an expert mindfulness hack that will help you keep your cool even when the you-know-what is hitting the fan.
Lately, we’ve been so tired. And not tired in a simple sleepy way, tired in a deeper way. There’s so much pressure that comes along with parenting, and it can feel exhausting to constantly hold up the measuring stick to your own life. To hold it together for your kids, to anticipate your family’s needs, to put on a smile when you’d really rather cry.
It’s a lot, and it’s the most tiring thing we’ve ever done. But it’s also the best thing we’ve ever done, and we’re grateful to have something worth putting in all this effort. Today, we want to give a special shout out to the parents who are exhausted but keep going—we’re proud of you, and your kids are too.