Technology

6 Creative Ways to Keep Kids Busy This Summer While Limiting Screen Time

As the summer months approach, you may find yourselves facing a familiar challenge: how to keep your kids entertained and engaged without relying too...

How AI is Impacting Education

By Kathleen Phillips, Ph.D., Program Chair for the College of Education at University of Phoenix At a time when the educational landscape is being reshaped...

Guide to ChatGPT for Parents and Caregivers

By Common Sense Media What is ChatGPT? ChatGPT is a computer program that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to generate text. Launched by research company OpenAI, it gathers...

5 Strategies to Limit Your Child’s Screen Time

By Michael Klinkner, Licensed Clinical Social Worker Almost five hours a day! That is how much time the average American tween, ages 8-12, spends on...

Robotic Technology Helps Kids With Disabilities Walk

United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) of Central Arizona is using a new robotic technology to help children with disabilities learn to walk. The ZeroG® Gait and...

Local High School Students Needed for Technology Challenge to Benefit Children with Disabilities

Southwest Human Development is getting ready to host their annual MAKERS of Change Assistive Technology Challenge benefiting children with disabilities and is looking for...

Using Common Sense: Questions to Ask on Back-to-School Night

Students heading to school this year may be the most technically savvy, media-aware bunch ever. YouTube, Minecraft and iCivics are being used to engage...

Glasses for Colorblindness at Mesa and Tempe Art Centers

Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum and the Gallery at Tempe Center for the Arts have collaborated with EnChroma, a patented eyewear technology company that assists...

Smartphone for kids offers valuable insight for parents

A new cellular device created by local tech company, Cyber Dive, offers parents a way to safely monitor and be involved in their child’s...

Using Common Sense: How is your data being used?

As if parents don’t have enough to worry about when in comes to screen-time balance, digital content and remote learning, they now need to...

Using Common Sense: Teens turn to online sources for mental health support

After a year of lockdowns, remote schooling and the disruption of social norms, teens and young adults are reporting growing levels of depression, stress...

K-12 digital divide has narrowed, but not enough

Even as students and teachers begin returning to the classroom, the digital divide — unequal access to high-speed internet and devices in our society...

Using Common Sense: How to encourage better YouTube viewing

Even before the coronavirus pandemic sent parents, educators and kids online for work, school and socializing, the amount of time young kids spent watching...

Using Common Sense: High-speed internet access complicates distance learning

During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, schools in ​47 states, including Arizona,​ closed their doors, leaving ​55 million students at home. And the...

Using Common Sense: Media literacy skills help kids navigate what’s true and what’s “fake news”

Parents are consuming a mountain of information from multiple media platforms as they follow news about COVID-19, protests following the death of George Floyd,...

Is screen time a COVID-19 parenting panacea? I wish!

Screen time. In my mind, this term stands for a conglomeration of tablet-based kids’ games, Cosmic Kids Yoga, and — most of all —...

PARTY ARTICLES

Time to Paw-ty

Celebrating your favorite furry friend Call me crazy, but when my husband and I adopted our first dog together, we threw her a birthday party complete with cake, streamers, guests, appetizers, games, and more. Was...

Unique Ways to Host a Joint Birthday Party

My brother and I have birthdays that are just one day apart—his on March 3rd, mine on March 4th, and our oldest brother just a few weeks later on March 21st. Fast forward 31 years...

Out-of-the-box Birthday Party Ideas in Phoenix & Tucson

Wanting to do something a little extra special for your child’s next birthday party? Maybe it’s a milestone birthday—like turning double digits or entering the teen years. Or perhaps your child has requested to...

Birthday Traditions & Clever Theme Ideas

Childhood birthdays are unlike any others. I have fond memories of waking up on my birthday morning anticipating all the fun that was in store. With three kids who had birthdays all in the same...

Out-of-the Box Birthday Party Ideas

Wanting to do something a little extra special for your child’s next birthday party? Maybe it’s a milestone birthday—like turning double digits or entering the teen years. Or perhaps your child has requested to...

Party Etiquette

Whether you’re hosting a party or attending one, you may be wondering—do people really RSVP anymore? What about goodie bags, are those still a thing? Do I need to stay with my child at...

How to Throw a Birthday Party that Won’t Break the Bank

I remember the days when birthday parties consisted of colorful balloons, streamers, a simple cake, and the classics like musical chairs and tag with a few friends. Times have changed and suddenly it feels necessary...

How to do a drive-by birthday party

As we get deeper into quarantine, people have gotten creative with birthday celebrations. One result: the drive-by birthday party.

Home pool party? Hire a lifeguard!

Drowning happens silently and quickly. That’s why children are at risk even when — and sometimes especially when — adults are nearby. Even a "designated pool watcher" can avert his or her eyes for a...

Hiking birthday party

For a child who loves adventure and outdoors, turn a hike into a birthday party.
Tour de Liam, Biking birthday party theme, bike race, outdoor activites, arizona parties

Bike race birthday party

When there are lots of neighborhood friends who love to ride their bikes together, host a birthday party that feels like an official bike race.

Island birthday party

Pool parties are popular in Arizona. Make a stylish upgrade at your next birthday party by incorporating décor and details that will transport guests from the desert to a tropical island paradise.

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