When I started this Ground Control Parenting blog years ago to talk about educating and encouraging our black and brown boys it was fueled by a concern about the underachievement of young men of color—a concern I saw evidence of all around me. While many of my black female friends were enjoying successful careers and lives, in many instances [...]
GCP parents, did your children participate in the walkout today? Students across the country walked out of their schools today in a well-coordinated national protest against gun violence and to mark one month since a mass shooting left 17 dead at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. Many of the student demonstrations were designed to last for [...]
So you've noticed that your teenager has been more moody than usual. Do you dismiss it as normal teen behavior, or should you be more concerned? Read on for help with figuring this out. As noted in a recent Wall Street Journal article found here, depression in teens is on the rise. With all the pressures of increased academic [...]
It has been two weeks since the tragic school shooting in Parkland Florida which claimed the lives of 17 high school students. How are your children dealing with this tragedy, especially your younger children? Are they worried about whether their school is safe? The National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) suggests the following points to emphasize when talking to [...]
Greetings GCP Parents, We posted this originally in 2011, but having reviewed it recently (and finding out about a few new and useful sites) we are posting this updated version. While it may now read a bit alarmist in tone, the underlying message is still critically important: Pay attention to your children's social media activity! This is especially important [...]
How much time do your children spend on their smartphones? How is it affecting their attention spans, their interaction with friends and family, their mental health? Two large Apple shareholders--an activist hedge fund and the California State Teachers Retirement System-- have written a letter to Apple asking it to focus on this important issue by developing software that would [...]
Today's Thoughtful Thursday features a delightful video from PBS News Hour in which author Jason Reynolds explains how poetry can help reluctant readers learn to love literature. Reynolds notes, "The separate stanzas aid and perpetuate a kind of incremental reading one small chunk at a time" which makes it much more approachable and enjoyable. Definitely worth viewing--it will inspire [...]
A recent New York Times article found here brings alarming news for parents: a parasite that is often found in stray dogs and cats has been found across the nation in places where children play, and children exposed to the parasite could develop problems with their breathing, liver function, eyesight and their cognitive skills. Don't want to be an [...]
Although more and more of the recent GCP posts have been gender neutral, today's post takes us back to our roots with a focus on our boys. So here's a timely question: Are we doing all we can to raise our boys to respect girls and women, fight gender stereotypes, and understand the importance of gender equality? Probably not, [...]
On the last day of 2017, GCP wants to wish all of you a very Happy New Year! Hope the holidays have been happy, and that you and all of your amazing, delightful children have great things ahead in 2018. As I look ahead to 2018, I see that the change that has been on the horizon has arrived. [...]