Learn to spot sneaky sales tactics with Black Friday Bingo! This fun, family-friendly activity helps kids and teens build advertising literacy by identifying common tricks like countdown timers, limited stock warnings, and "too good to be true" deals. Turn holiday shopping chaos into a learning opportunity while fostering critical thinking and mindful spending habits. Download your bingo card and start decoding the ads today!

A parent's discovery of their daughter texting with a stranger leads to an important insight about digital safety: while kids understand "stranger danger" in the physical world, they often fail to apply these lessons online. The solution? Regularly share real-world examples of digital scams and suspicious messages with your children, helping them build a "mental library" of what to watch out for and develop the critical thinking skills needed to navigate increasingly sophisticated online threats.

Talking about elections with kids can be a powerful way to teach them about civic engagement, critical thinking, and the role they play in shaping the future. Elections aren’t just about voting—they're about understanding the issues, evaluating information, and thinking critically about the choices we make. In a world where information is constantly flowing from screens, it’s important to give kids the tools to make sense of what they see and hear, and to ask thoughtful questions about the democratic process.

As "screen-free summer" messages create guilt and shame, embrace a Screen Smart approach instead. Learn to use technology intentionally, set clear boundaries, and foster mindful media habits. Discover tips to balance digital and offline activities, enhancing family connections and well-being.

Discover how to create unforgettable slow-motion videos with your kids by adding the perfect soundtrack. From capturing playful moments like dog shakes and bubble blowing to using music from classics like Star Wars and Carmina Burana, transform everyday scenes into cinematic masterpieces. Learn editing tips, safety considerations, and how to foster creativity and critical thinking in your children.

The classic door study experiment is a great opportunity to experience change blindness. Challenge everyone’s observation skills with these variations on the original study or design your own. This experiment demonstrates how subtle changes can go unnoticed when attention is diverted, providing a fun and educational experience. It’s perfect for teaching children about the limitations of visual perception while fostering curiosity and critical thinking through engaging discussions on how our minds process information.

The Basketball Challenge is a classic cognitive psychology experiment that shows how our brains work and offers a platform for meaningful discussions on perception. Dive into the science behind selective attention and create lasting memories and foster critical thinking.

Explore cognitive psychology with kids through the "Don't Think" Challenge, a playful experiment demonstrating the Ironic Process Theory by Daniel Wegner. Learn how trying not to think about a polar bear makes the thought stick. Great for sparking curiosity and discussions about how our minds work.

Misinformation isn’t new, but it does spread rapidly and easily. Educational technology expert Dr. Carla Engelbrecht shares her experience debunking the “no birthdays on Dec 6, 2006” trend with her daughter, providing practical tips for caregivers on how to critically evaluate information in the digital age.

Explore the humorous fusion of technology and comedy with our guide on using AI to create fresh dad jokes. Learn how AI can support your child’s humor development, blending classic humor with modern tech to deliver endless laughs. Perfect for parents and tech enthusiasts looking to inject some fun into their routines or dads looking to update their “dad-a” base of jokes.

LEGO is more than just fun (or a painful thing to step on…) From enhancing creativity and motor skills to fostering problem-solving and STEM knowledge, learn how LEGO serves as more than just a toy but a profound developmental tool. Get inspired by creative activities including making your own LEGO video. Join us on this delightful exploration at Betweened, where play meets learning.

Say goodbye to mundane coloring pages and hello to personalized masterpieces tailored to your child's interests. Explore a world of endless possibilities with AI-generated coloring sheets and spark imagination and critical thinking while you're at it. A game-changer for kids and adults alike.

In a world where kids average more than 5 hours of screen time a day, parents are caught in a tough balancing act. These strategies for navigating digital dilemmas is meant for caregivers of kids and teens, providing concrete tactics that are simple to implement, from experts in educational technology and parenting.

Explore past April Fools' Day pranks like LEGO's "Find My Brick," Amazon's "Petlexa," and more. Share these family-friendly favorites with your kids and discuss their relation to the brand's image, the prank's goal, and what campaign you'd design for your favorite. Transform ad-watching into an interactive and educational experience by sparking critical thinking with simple questions.

Discover how to teach your kids about advertising with the Squatty Potty ad featuring an ice-cream pooping unicorn. Explore questions that spark critical thinking about problem-solving, appeal, emotions, truth, and alternative solutions. Turn ad-watching into an educational experience with this fun and interactive guide

The key to leveraging technology, including video games, for positive personal growth lies in how we engage in conversations around these experiences. It's not just about consuming content together but about actively discussing and engaging with it—before, during, and after the session. This practice applies to all forms of digital media, from games to streaming services like Netflix and social platforms like TikTok.

Transform screen time into an interactive learning journey with Dialogic Media Viewing. By applying principles of dialogic reading to videos and games, we can turn passive viewing into an active, brain-boosting adventure. Engage your child with questions, predictions, and discussions, fostering their language and critical thinking skills. Whether it's pausing a video to predict the next scene or connecting game strategies to real-life experiences, this approach makes screen time educational and fun. Discover how to put this into practice and make every video an opportunity for learning and connection.

In this blog post, we delve into the awe-inspiring potential of generative AI and how parents can harness it with a growth mindset. We explore the importance of taking responsibility, ensuring quality input, embracing curiosity, and thinking before creating. We also emphasize seeking diverse inspiration, sharing discoveries, playing it safe, and embracing the journey. By adopting these eight key mindsets, parents can navigate the transformative era of generative AI, enhancing their lives and those of their children while fostering a supportive community of learning and growth.