Parenting Patch

Credit: Pexels Parents may soon see a new feature on their teenagers’ social media feeds: pop-up health warnings designed to remind young users about potential risks associated with social media. The messages can address depression, anxiety, sleep problems, body image and other mental health concerns. The idea is gaining momentum as researchers and policymakers look for ways to reduce potential harms associated with heavy social media use.

Credit: Unsplash For many parents, having grandparents babysit is supposed to make life easier. But what happens when a parent or in-law repeatedly ignores the rules you’ve established for your child? One recent story from En Pareja describes a parent whose mother-in-law repeatedly disregarded the family’s rules about sweets and screen time. She would give their 5-year-old more candy than the parents allowed and sometimes let him watch television for hours despite knowing their limits.

Credit: Unsplash As a new school year begins, tired teenagers may reach for coffee, soda or energy drinks to stay awake through early classes, homework and extracurricular activities. Caffeine is increasingly easy for teens to find, with energy drinks and highly caffeinated beverages marketed as quick ways to improve alertness and performance. The problem is that caffeine doesn’t actually create new energy.

Credit: Pexels For many working parents, volunteering at their child’s school simply isn’t realistic. Work schedules, long commutes, childcare responsibilities or personal preferences can make spending a weekday morning in a classroom difficult or impossible. A recent Business Insider essay from a mother of a 9-year-old daughter challenges the idea that parents must volunteer at school to be considered involved.

Credit: Pexels “Gummy Bear Mom” is the latest parenting trend making waves on social media, describing parents who take a relaxed approach to their children’s diets. Rather than banning candy, chips and other treats, Gummy Bear parenting allows kids to enjoy less-nutritious foods without labeling them as forbidden or “bad.” The approach is partly a reaction to restrictive attitudes toward food.

Credit: Pexels Short-form videos on TikTok, Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts are designed to keep users watching one video after another, but pediatrician Allison Hensley, MD, says parents should understand what that constant stimulation can mean for children. Hensley explains that short-form content can make it harder for kids to tolerate slower-paced activities and may affect attention, emotional regulation and sleep.

Credit: Pexels Craft cafes are giving people a new way to socialize: grab a drink, sit down with a project and make something alongside other people. Knitting, crochet, embroidery, ceramics and other hands-on hobbies are moving from the living room into pop-ups, workshops and cafe-style gatherings. The trend is particularly popular with Gen Z, who are embracing “grandmacore” hobbies while looking for alternatives to screen-heavy socializing.

Strategy games can seem intimidating compared to more straightforward genres such as shooters and platformers. Instead of teaching players a handful of actions and sending them on their way, they often introduce economies, unit relationships, upgrade systems, and other mechanics that interact with one another. Even a basic decision can have consequences several turns later, which means new players need time to understand why a plan succeeded or fell apart.

Credit: YellowBelly/Emily Goldie/Nicholas Dawkes/Warner Bros. HBO has added three important new faces to the cast of its upcoming Harry Potter television series. Billy Barratt will play young Tom Riddle, Lenny Rush will portray Dobby, and Bonnie Hill will take over the role of Ginny Weasley for Season 2. However, the new actors won’t appear when the series premieres this Christmas.

Credit: Unsplash When many people picture ADHD, they imagine a child who is constantly moving, interrupting others or struggling to sit still. While those symptoms can occur in girls, ADHD often presents differently in young girls, making their challenges less obvious. Girls are more likely to experience inattentive symptoms, such as daydreaming, forgetfulness, difficulty organizing tasks and trouble following instructions.