Teens make this so much better

Hello, everyone! We can’t say it often enough…parenting teens these days is hard as sh*t. We’re all doing our best, but it’s okay to admit to yourself (and definitely to us) that this rollercoaster ride is wilder than you were expecting. Keep your seatbelt fastened, try not to puke, and we’ll get through this together. 🎢

How to Vacation With a Tween

Don’t get us wrong: babies are cute. But there’s something so cool about your kids getting older and somehow getting…cooler? One of the life experiences where that feeling of “when did you get so smart and interesting” is most on display is family vacation.

We loved parenting creator Ilana Wiles’ POV on vacationing with her tween daughters (read the whole thing here). Two standout points she made?

• Tweens don’t need you to occupy them during a plane ride—which means you can read or sleep or do nothing, uninterrupted.

• Tweens are down to chill by themselves—which means you can do what you want to do on vacation without feeling guilty that you’re not in line for the water slide with them.

Itching to book a summer trip with your tweens so you, too, can finally enjoy a family vacation? Here are some ideas: 19 (!!) destinations, classified by ideal kid age range. And real parents’ POVs on trips for the whole family (read: that won’t earn you an “I’m bored” from your kid).

The Case Against Computer Games

And maybe computers altogether. Some startling new data: Teenagers who spend a lot of time 1) playing video games and 2) on the computer are more likely to have a psychotic experience in their 20s, according to a new paper in the journal JAMA Psychiatry.

• Important side note: A “psychotic experience” includes a wide range of incidents, from mild suspiciousness and bizarre ideas to delusions and hallucinations.

• And between 5% and 7% of adults typically will have a psychotic experience at some point.

Gaming and spending a disproportionate amount of time on the computer weren’t the only factors that contributed to psychotic episodes later in life (socioeconomic factors, gender, and tons of other elements can also lead to mental health struggles). But still…it makes us wonder about how much time our kids spend online.

Want to start capping the time your kids spend gaming? Here are some ideas:

• How to stop your kids from gaming all night

• How to help your kid not become addicted to gaming

• How to detox your child from video games

Regular Exercise = Major Win

Did you know: Exercising as a young person can actually make you happier as an adult? 

Get this: Each additional year a teenager remains engaged in exercise leads to better mental health and wellbeing in adulthood. The ages of 15–17 seem to be the most critical years for staying active to stay happy, according to new research.

• Adults who quit exercising regularly as teenages are, on average, 11% less focused, 10% less confident, 10% less calm, and 10% less composed as adults compared to those who kept up their activity as adolescents.

• But…57% of the Silent Generation (ages 78+) said they were active daily in their childhoods. For Gen Z (aged 18–27), that’s only 19%.

So how do you get (and keep) your kids moving so they can live happy, healthy lives as adult people? Be a good model of an active lifestyle, make exercise fun and social, and tie it to your teen’s interests…among other great ideas right here.

It’s that time of year: trees are blossoming, weather is warming up, and tweens and teens are starting to feel the enormous pressure of exams and standardized tests. So today, the perfect recs to help your child feel confident heading into end-of-year testing.

• How parents can ease testing stress for their children

• 5 study hacks to prepare for tests (this one is for our Common Parent community members—get a free trial here if you’re not part of the crew just yet!)

• Here’s a great guide on helping your kids prepare for college entrance exams like the SAT or ACT

• Is there really such a thing as smart kids who just don’t test well? Teachers weigh in