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We got our dog a few years ago on Halloween. Named her Pumpkin. My daughter was 6-years-old, and immediately fell in love. I think that Pumpkin, our shelter mutt, is half German shepherd and half Muppet. She's a goofy, big dog.

Have you ever caught yourself speaking in a way that was a little harsher than you expected? Even as adults, the way we communicate can get out of line at times, especially when we are not in a gracious mood. Actively teaching kids to speak kindly, whether it's through their phone or in person, will set them up for success in the long run. This "Speak Kindly" checklist can help your children cultivate healthy communication habits. Share this with them, and see if they can check them off every week!

By trusted Pinwheel affiliate
Hillary Gruener of Word From The Bird

As a parent in this day and age, it's challenging to reconcile being laid-back when we know the many dangers in the world that could harm our kids. Most of us would agree there’s a lot out there to fear when your objective is to raise healthy individuals. But we mustn’t let our fear of the world turn into controlling, uptight parenting. Be assertive about what your kids are up against – after all, it’s your responsibility to keep them safe physically, mentally, and emotionally. But while it’s natural for parents to hold tight to their children and desire to protect them from everything, sometimes, the very thing you desire for them can begin to work against your relationship. Good-intentioned parenting can quickly turn into fear-mongering control.

Gentle parenting. Visible child parenting. Peaceful parenting. Attuned parenting. Relational parenting. Respectful parenting. All these phrases may describe your parenting style — even if you've never heard of any of them.

The word "screentime" sends up red flags to parents around the world. We question how our kids are impacted, what they should be viewing, and we struggle to keep up with the latest features. But let's take a step back.

By creating a screen time contract, you're setting clear boundaries for tech use. By crafting it into a spinning pinwheel, you're creating a kinder environment for this conversation to take place.

Teachers rely more and more on technology to support their students' growth. While smartphones offer a lot of great apps and sources of information, a typical device actively tries to divert young minds through activities like gaming and YouTube rabbit holes. 

But with Pinwheel, your child can enjoy all of the support, with none of the distractions.