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Posts Tagged ‘teens’
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Teen Boys and NHL Watch Party, What Could Go Wrong?
By Daddy Clay Friday, May 24th, 2013
“How many can I have?” G asked.
When throwing a successful party for teenaged boys, it’s important to be able to answer this question with, “As many as you want.” That’s tip one. Imagine what you’d need to feed grownups, double it.
G walked away carrying a mountain of cheeseburger, smiling. Read the rest of this entry »
When a Tie Feels Like a Win
By Daddy Clay Monday, May 21st, 2012
My son loves to drape his arm casually over my shoulder and loom there. Usually with a slight smile on his face. Demonstrating yet again that he is, in fact, taller than me. I might still have ten pounds on him, but I have to rely on subterfuge when it comes down to it. When I pat his cheek, I feel a scruff. Patches of rough stubble.
In a matter of weeks he’ll officially be a high school kid.
I know high school kids pretty well. I’ve taught them, lived among them my whole adult life. Which hasn’t necessarily made me a big fan, especially swaggering jock-y boys. Nor has it made me feel prepared to raise one of my own. But a year into it, I have to say that being the dad of a teen is pretty great. Read the rest of this entry »
Parental Controls Retrofit: A Battle Best Pre-Empted
By Daddy Clay Friday, February 24th, 2012
A recent consult with eProofing clients reminded me just how important it is to deploy parental controls early. As we reviewed the household tech, it became clear that the biggest challenge this thoughtful couple faced was placing new restrictions on their teenager’s smartphone. They were worried the device had become a distraction during study hours, and that the web capability offered too much temptation.
You might think that this looks like a simple situation to remedy — grab the phone and slap some restrictions on there. Read the rest of this entry »
Pinterest and Instagram, Okay for Kids?
By Daddy Clay Monday, February 20th, 2012
Recently, moms of my daughter’s friends have come to me to ask about some social sites and apps that their girls are asking permission to use. Ten year old girls are social creatures — and love snapshots and and cool scraps and pinboards, so it should be no surprise that they are asking about Pinterest and Instagram.
But are Pinterest and Instagram appropriate for kids — especially girls?
The terms of service for both sites state clearly that users must be 13 years or older. So for parents disinclined to allow kids to participate in social media, or for parents that think that rules are rules, that may be enough to end the conversation with your tween. You are excused. Read the rest of this entry »
