AI and Our Children: What Parents Need to Know About AI Chatbots
As AI tools become more accessible, it’s important for families to understand how children and teens are engaging with them.
While platforms like ChatGPT require parental consent for users ages 13 to 18, many companies acknowledge that children as young as nine may still find ways to access these tools.
AI itself is not new, but the rise of companion bots has prompted fresh questions about how young people interact with technology.
Beyond the Tantrum: Understanding What Your Child Needs Most
Clinical Psychologist Dr. Becky Kennedy says it’s helpful to think about tantrums this way: kids are born with all of the feelings and none of the skills to manage those feelings. Kids have tantrums when they have big feelings without the skills to handle those feelings. We call the management of feelings, emotion regulation skills, and it’s our job as parents and caregivers to teach kids the skills to handle their feelings.
Three Ways to Help Your Children Develop a Healthy Relationship with Food
Struggling with children over food can confuse a child’s natural ability to listen to their bodies. For example, when food is forced upon them, used as a reward, or heavily restricted, it can lead to problems. Children may develop a dislike for healthy foods and obsess over foods that have been overly restricted or labeled as “bad.” In extreme cases, these practices can contribute to disordered eating behaviors.
As a parent, you can help your child develop a healthy relationship with food by practicing the 'division of responsibility.' This approach, suggested by feeding expert Ellyn Satter, allows parents to decide when, what, and where food is served, while the child decides if and how much to eat. This gives children the freedom to respond to their own hunger cues without the stress of external pressure