Blog

By trusted Pinwheel affiliate
Larissa Mills
Corporate Digital & Wellness Educator, Founder of IparentGen.com

Before a family decides on a phone, it is important to think about having 4 components in place before any screens come into play. In order to prevent phone addiction and mental health, having these set routines in place can save your family a lot of heartache and battles. (Following the Canadian & American Pediatric guidelines.) 

Today's kids often have a social media presence before taking their first breath. Parents-to-be share sonograms in excitement. Then babies are so adorable; it's irresistible to keep on sharing. 

By trusted Pinwheel affiliate
Tessa Stuckey
Licensed Professional Counselor, Author & Speaker

There’s no denying that parenting today is much more difficult than previous generations before us. Parenting without today’s cultural obsession with technology is hard as it is, add in the world wide web and we have a new wave of parenting complications that is overwhelming, confusing and exhausting. However, working with teenagers and being a mother of four myself, I have found some really helpful and practical ways to build strong, resilient, independent kiddos while having technology in our home. It’s all about balance and boundaries. 

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!

"Learning is fun!" Whether you believe this statement or not, we've all heard it! On a Pinwheel, we put this phrase to the test. If your child is learning vocabulary, geography, a new language, math, or even basic coding, we've got you covered. These five apps teach an array of topics that makes learning actually FUN this summer.  

Valentine's Day is around the corner, and our wonderful affiliates shared their favorite activities! Designed to help you and your family unplug from technology for a short while to make some memories, we hope you find time to pull out some crafts, maybe some sweets, and love on each other!

Kids across the country are returning to virtual learning during quarantine periods. They may have forgotten some of the nuances of the Zoom call, so take time to brush up on video chat etiquette and tips with your child before they log onto their first call. 

The book "Hold Onto Your Kids"  by Dr. Gordon Neufeld and Gabor Mate, contains so much wisdom about why parents are of such vital importance to kids. The book explains all that is lost when children learn about life primarily from other kids. Peer-orientation and parental attachment are so important to understand. As a parent, it took my breath away.

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.