We survived summer... now about those screens 👀

We know, we know — it’s been a minute since you saw us in your inbox. We gave ourselves a little summer break because between kids, camps, travel, and keeping everyone alive (and maybe sneaking in a cocktail or two), something had to give. But we’ve also been busy behind the scenes pouring our hearts into something we know you’re going to love: a complete relaunch of our Screen Sense Guide. Scroll for more on that.

Now suddenly, it’s back-to-school season. (How?!). Backpacks are packed, lunches are… let’s be honest, probably half thrown together, and we’re standing at the school doors with a mix of pride, relief, and a little “what the heck just happened to summer?!”

Back-to-school always feels like a reset button. New routines, new teachers, and if you’ve got tweens or teens, new digital drama. Which is why we’ve got you covered this week with some big things you’ll want on your radar.

Instagram’s “Maps” Feature = Stranger Danger Upgrade

Okay, so Instagram rolled out this Maps feature that lets users not only tag their location, but also see where other people are posting from. Translation: if your kid posts a pic at their school, sports practice, or even your house, anyone can zoom right in and find that spot. Yikes.

It’s giving “free treasure map for creeps” vibes, and most kids have no clue what they’re sharing.

What to do:

• Turn off location tagging in your kid’s Instagram settings (do this TODAY).

• Talk about why sharing locations—even with friends—can put them at risk.

• Pro tip: remind them that nothing online is ever truly private, even in DMs or “close friends” lists.

This is the kind of sneaky digital landmine parents need to know about, and it’s exactly why Screen Sense exists (more on that in a sec).          

AI Homework Helpers are this season’s new trend

Tools like ChatGPT are creeping into your kids’ schoolwork this fall. Teachers are scrambling to figure out what counts as cheating, what counts as learning, and what’s just the new normal. (Spoiler: it’s probably all three.)

Here’s the thing: kids are curious, and they’re going to experiment with these tools whether we like it or not. Some will use them to brainstorm ideas or outline essays (not the worst thing), while others will straight-up copy and paste (not great). The challenge for us as parents isn’t banning AI altogether, but helping our kids figure out how to use it responsibly. We can think of it like a calculator: yes, it can solve the problem for you, but you still need to understand the math. Having conversations about when it’s helpful and when it’s harmful is going to matter more than ever this school year.

Roblox Isn’t Just a Game (It’s a Whole World)

Chances are you’ve heard the word Roblox more than once this summer. Maybe your kid is building games, spending their allowance on Robux, or begging you to join in. What’s wild about Roblox is it isn’t just a game, it’s actually a platform where kids can create, play, and socialize. Think of it like YouTube, but instead of videos, it’s worlds and experiences.

Here’s the good: it can spark creativity, teach problem-solving, and even open up a pathway to coding and digital design.

Here’s the tricky part: Roblox worlds are user-created, which means not all of them are safe or age-appropriate. Add in unmoderated chats and in-game purchases, and suddenly it’s not as carefree as it looks.

This is where we come in. We built our Screen Sense Guide to give you everything you need to know about the apps and platforms your kids actually use. Our brand add-on guide on Roblox breaks it all down: what it is, how to set safety settings, red flags to look out for, and most importantly, how to talk to your kids about it in a way that actually works.

Check out our brand new Roblox Guide here.

Parenting Hack: Let Screen Sense do the Heavy Lifting

If you’re new here, Screen Sense is our guide to the digital world your kids live in — the one they never stop asking about, and the one that changes faster than we can keep up. We know it’s overwhelming to try to stay on top of every app, every update, and every new trend. That’s why we rebuilt Screen Sense from the ground up this summer: to make it simpler, clearer, and way more parent-friendly.

Inside, you’ll find:

• Breakdowns of the most popular apps (like TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, YouTube, and Discord).

• Step-by-step safety settings so you don’t have to Google your way through confusing menus.

• Conversation starters that actually get your kids talking (no eye rolls required).

• And so much more.

We want this to be the resource you come back to again and again, not something that sits in your inbox collecting dust.

Explore the new Screen Sense Guide now.

Summer’s over… are we happy about it? Yes, because routine is back. No, because “routine” really means hockey gear, dance shoes, and a calendar that makes us look like professional drivers.and drinking from a fire hose: but this is the stage of motherhood we are in.

If you ever wondered what stage of life we are actually in, we can just look at what the product of the week was . The link that over 10 thousand of you clicked. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t a parenting hack, a back-to-school trick, or even a snack idea… it was a sweatshirt with a gold zipper. Just elevating that mom style to the next level over here 🤪.

Because sometimes survival looks like comfort and nothing says comfort like a good sweatshirt

—Cat & Nat