Whether it’s a computer, smartphone, tablet or even an iPod, teens today have almost unlimited access to smart devices and the Internet. A 2015 report found that 92% of 13-17 year olds reported using the Internet on a daily basis. While 12% of teens report going online once a day, more than half (56%) access […]
As many students prepare to return to school today after the holiday break, it is also an important time for parents to reflect on their role in their children’s academic success. This week’s Parenthetical article, originally posted in December 2013, shares a bit of teacher insight into what parents can do to promote a successful semester! […]
Yoga, mediation, mindfulness and loving-kindness all are recent buzzwords but why in the world am I mentioning them on a parenting website? What do they have to do with parenting? Like peanut butter and jelly, mindfulness and parenting go hand-in-hand. Much of the best parenting happens when parents pause and think about how to act […]
As our children kick into “wish list” overdrive this holiday season, it isn’t uncommon for them to ask for every new toy or gadget on the market. No matter what holiday you celebrate, many of our sons and daughters will be receiving a gift in the upcoming weeks. While we can’t predict the new […]
Are you one of the nearly 120 million American consumers using a computer-chip debit or credit card this holiday season? If you haven’t received your card yet, odds are you will soon. Smart Card Alliance estimates that nearly 600 million people will have the cards by the end of 2015. Chip cards—also known as smart […]
Most people know the teen years are a turbulent time for adolescents, but many might be surprised to know that mid-life parents are also undergoing significant changes. Stephen Small, human development and family relations specialist with UW-Extension and professor in the UW-Madison School of Human Ecology, says that parents and their teenage children are often […]
Happy Halloween! Soon super heroes, princesses, and zombies will be ringing your doorbell requesting a treat. However, as the parent of a pre-teen or teen, it may often feel as if the trick is on you as your teenage “monster”(?) changes his look, attitude or personality on a daily basis. While it may be confusing […]
We usually think of the teen years as a period of major changes in our children. Often overlooked is the fact that parents are also experiencing significant changes of their own. One of the things that makes these changes interesting — and challenging — is that mid-life parents and their teenage children are often changing […]
UW-Extension campaign highlights simple way to check your free credit reports Complaints about credit reports are up 45 percent nationally in the past year, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). In Wisconsin, credit reporting complaints have more than doubled in the past three months. What’s behind all of these complaints? The most common […]
If you look at children’s menus in restaurants or kid-friendly food packages in the grocery store, it may seem that children only eat a limited number of foods, such as deep-fried chicken strips, macaroni and cheese, and chewy fruit snacks. “Not true,” says Gayle Coleman, nutrition education program specialist with the University of Wisconsin-Extension. “Throughout […]
