Giving kids too much time with screens is easy to do, but not good for kids. Kids need limits on their screen time to protect much needed and ever-decreasing time for imaginative free play—the kind that leads to creativity, social skills, greater self-control, greater emotional regulation, and more. We can set up our environment to help limit screen time by making bedrooms screen-free and limiting our own time using our devices. Make sure you promote…
Summertime in Boston means it’s time to splash in spray parks! There’s plenty of free water fun to be had all around the city, and we’ve rounded up some favorite spots. Frog Pond, Boston Common—Beacon Hill From the opening day festivities in late June through Labor Day weekend, children ages 12 and under can cool off in the Frog Pond Spray Pool, open daily at 11 a.m. Rose Kennedy Greenway — Chinatown Parks, Wharf District…
The admission essay is an essential part of any college application. Here are seven tips for writing a great one. 1. Put your best foot forward. Submitting your admission essay online may feel like you’re sending email, but you’re not. Incorrect capitalization or abbreviations like b4 or thx are not appropriate for a formal document. Make sure your essay represents the best of you. 2. Stay focused. Read the essay question carefully. Jot down a…
There are many June activities for families to enjoy in the Boston area this year. Check out our list of June activities and events happening in the Boston area. Strawberry Picking at Tougas Farm Tue, June 2, 2026 – Thu, June 25, 2026 Pick-Your-Own strawberries, strawberries desserts at the farm kitchen, playground and petting zoo make for a great family day at Tougas Family Farm Boston Fireworks by Date 2026 Tue, June 2, 2026 –…
A college visit is the best way to evaluate whether a campus suits you. If possible, do a college visit for every school that you are strongly considering. No website, guidebook, or testimonial will give you a better feel for a school than you’ll get by seeing it for yourself. Many students change their minds after a college visit, and this is obviously preferable to changing your mind after you enroll. Get the most out…
A little nervousness before a test is typical and can help sharpen your mind and focus your attention, but with test anxiety, feelings of worry and self-doubt can interfere with how well you do on tests and make you miserable. Test anxiety can affect anyone, whether you’re a grade school or high school student, a college student, or an employee who has to take tests to move ahead in a career or get certified. Several…
The assignment is due when? Tomorrow? We’ve all been there at some point. Somehow, that assignment due date can slip right up on you without you noticing. That is why using a planner and building organizational skills are so important to school performance. Who wants to get an “F” because they’ve forgotten to put their completed project in their book bag the night before it was due? Here are 8 tips for students on using…
Mathematical reasoning can be understood through three interconnected actions: analyzing, interpreting, and justifying. For example, when solving an equation, a student who reasons mathematically does not stop at finding the value of the variable. They verify their solution, explain each step and connect it back to the original problem. Analyzing: Breaking a problem into smaller, manageable parts. Interpreting: Making sense of numbers, patterns, or results in context. Justifying: Explaining why a solution is correct using…
When you live with kids, your home is bound to get messy, and the more stuff they have, the more time you have to spend organizing it and cleaning it up. That’s why psychotherapist and mom of two Denaye Barahona prefers a less-is-more approach when it comes to buying and keeping kids’ clothes, toys and gear. When you “pare back on the amount of clutter in your life, you can focus on the most important…
There are many May activities for families to enjoy in the Boston area this year. Check out our list of May activities and events happening in the Boston area. Spring Garden Buds (Ages 3-5) at New England Botanic Garden Wed, May 6, 2026 – Wed, May 27, 2026 Geared for preschoolers, this program practices classroom readiness skills such as taking turns, raising hands, sharing, and expressing ideas. Each week explores a different seasonally appropriate theme.…
