Sometimes it's hard for me to believe we're already discussing social quandaries with Laurel in kindergarten. And I know it will only get more complicated as she approaches the teen years. If you need help figuring out how to communicate with your teen, consider this lead: Tomorrow at the Boston Health & Fitness Expo, medical staff from MGH and Newton-Wellesley Hospital will lead a session to offer parents of teens strategies on ways to support self-esteem and independence, and recognize and address signs of depression and substance abuse. Registration required.

At the Hynes Convention Center, Boston.

Posted by Christine Koh on 11 Jun 2010 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Local; Outreach; Tweens & Teens
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Today, Kate shares a charming book series for girls:

When I was a young girl, my favorite gift to receive was one of the books in the Very Young series by photographer and writer Jill Krementz. Oversized and filled with gorgeous black and white photographs, each book follows a period in the life of a young girl -- all between 8 and 12 or so -- who excel in particular sports or hobbies: ballet, gymnastics, figure skating, horseback riding.

Continue reading "Very Young Inspiration" »

Posted by Christine Koh on 25 Apr 2010 | Permalink | Comments (6) | Filed in Books & Entertainment; For Babies & Kids; Tweens & Teens
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It's a spring full of science in Boston. And as a former scientist, I applaud these efforts to make science fun for kids, particularly programming designed to encourage girls to thrive in science alongside boys (I was one of few women in my lab during my postdoctoral fellowship...it made the need to pump in my shared-with-dudes office, well, awkward). Here are three great opportunities to get your kid's science mojo running this and next month:

Continue reading "Spring Full of Science" »

Posted by Christine Koh on 10 Apr 2010 | Permalink | Comments (3) | Filed in Childcare & Education; Fun Indoors; Local; Tweens & Teens
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Given how passionate I am about all things eco, I am thrilled to be a media sponsor of Down:2:Earth. This sustainable living expo will take place April 9-11 at the Hynes, and in addition to covering everything from products to gardening to services to fashion to food for grownups, there is plenty of programming for families to enjoy. The D2E Kids Block will include activities such as butter making, a demonstration on worms and farming, hands on animal activities, face painting, and storytelling. There also will be a panel on clean energy opportunities for teens, and Dr. Mayim Bialik of the Holistic Moms Network (and formerly of Blossom fame) will present a workshop on holistic parenting.

Continue reading "Get Down:2:Earth" »

Posted by Christine Koh on 27 Mar 2010 | Permalink | Comments (1) | Filed in Eco Living; Food & Drink; Fun Indoors; Local; Tweens & Teens
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Today, Jennifer shares a fabulous find for ladies who love switching up their accessories. Read on to learn more about the Switch Gear Kit, a cool and artsy interchangeable earring kit designed by local metalsmith Lisa Monahan, as well as to learn how to be one of two winners to receive a Switch Gear Kit (entry closes March 15).

Continue reading "Switch, Wear, Repeat" »

Posted by Christine Koh on 11 Mar 2010 | Permalink | Comments (6) | Filed in Fashion; For Mamas & Mamas-to-be; Gifts & Paper; Home; Tweens & Teens
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They say that boredom leads to trouble, so here’s a great way to engage teens to be active community members while staying out of said trouble. This coming Sunday (February 7, 12 – 4pm) Teen Life Boston is hosting a community service fair to introduce middle and high school students, parents, and educators to a fantastic roster of national and local non-profit organizations that are seeking teen volunteers. The event is free and pre-registration is recommended.

Posted by Christine Koh on 2 Feb 2010 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Local; Outreach; Tweens & Teens
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Between recently watching the PBS Raising Girls program and reading about Phoebe Prince last week, my mind has been on cyberbullying. I’m subsequently grateful to PPLM Parent Education Program Manager Amy Cody, who today shares helpful information, tips, and resources for parents regarding cyberbullying:

Continue reading "Cyberbullying 101" »

Posted by Christine Koh on 2 Feb 2010 | Permalink | Comments (1) | Filed in Development & Behavior; Family Issues; Tweens & Teens
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This past weekend I finally had a chance to view PBS’s program A Girl’s Life with Rachel Simmons, and I highly recommend that parents watch the program. Though the issues (e.g., body image, cyberbullying) were not new to me, learning that girls are equal to or ahead of boys until middle school (at which point they tend to fall behind as confidence crumbles due to social issues, negative body image, etc.) and seeing the interview footage made the issues so much more real to me. I couldn’t help but envision Laurel five years (or less) forward.

Continue reading "Raising Girls" »

Posted by Christine Koh on 20 Jan 2010 | Permalink | Comments (2) | Filed in Development & Behavior; Family Issues; Tweens & Teens
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I didn’t plan on this being sexual health education day, but it seemed only fitting to follow my tomKIT post with this one from PPLM Parent Education Program Manager Amy Cody. Today, Amy shares three favorite resources to help parents discuss sexual health and sexuality issues with kids ages 4 and up:

Continue reading "Let's Be Honest" »

Posted by Christine Koh on 30 Sep 2009 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Books & Entertainment; Family Issues; For Babies & Kids; Tweens & Teens
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My mom and I never discussed birds, bees, or any other metaphorical critters, so it’s not surprising that I was completely unprepared when my period started. I’m thus committed to educating Laurel about periods and am happy to see products such as the tomKIT on the market. Designed to equip girls for their period in eco-friendly fashion, the tomKIT includes biodegradable, flushable pads, wipes, and panty liners, recyclable disposal sacks, cotton underwear, and natural hand sanitizer and lip balm, all housed in a natural jute cosmetic case. Also handily included: a chart to teach girls to track their periods because really, it’s pretty inexcusable for women (like me and many of my friends) to make it well into their 20s before understanding cycles.

Want to win a tomKIT? Here’s how:

Continue reading "Equipped & Eco-Friendly" »

Posted by Christine Koh on 30 Sep 2009 | Permalink | Comments (3) | Filed in Bath, Beauty & Health; Eco Living; Tweens & Teens
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Today, PPLM Parent Education Program Manager Amy Cody shares tips for talking to daughters about menstruation, including advice especially for dads:

“If your daughter is approaching menstruation, you can make the whole process easier and more comfortable for her (and you) by talking to her openly about what it means to have your "period." It's very important to begin to teach girls about the changes their bodies will go through during puberty - and especially menstruation - before they get their first period. But it is never too late to start!

Continue reading "Tips for Talking About Periods" »

Posted by Christine Koh on 3 Aug 2009 | Permalink | Comments (4) | Filed in Bath, Beauty & Health; Family Issues; Tweens & Teens
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Last night I visited WGBH for a preview of FRONTLINE’s Digital Nation – an upcoming documentary that will explore how the Web and digital media are changing the way we think, work, learn, and interact - and a discussion with the documentary’s producer, Rachel Dretzin. The preview and discussion were truly thought provoking and I found that some of Dretzin’s opening comments really touched a nerve. She referred to her dominant emotion around the current digital age as anxiety, with a feeling that people are “drowning in a sea of emails and text messages.” She also expressed her disdain over realizing that her kids “reach for technology to fill an empty space.”

Continue reading "Digital Nation" »

Posted by Christine Koh on 22 May 2009 | Permalink | Comments (1) | Filed in Development & Behavior; Family Issues; Pre & Postnatal Services; Tweens & Teens
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Today, Sara Cabot of Little Lettice reviews teen chef Sam Stern’s new cookbook, Get Cooking. Read on for Sara’s review, as well as to learn how to be one of 5 winners to receive a copy of Get Cooking!

"Sam Stern is a British teen celebrity chef who is now – amazingly – on his third cookbook. The premise of his latest cookbook - Get Cooking - is simple: get up and get cooking. Cleverly, Sam got eight friends to inspire with the contents, resulting in eight chapters based around ingredients that teenagers really love: cheese, pasta, chocolate, potatoes, and so on.

Continue reading "Get Cooking" »

Posted by Christine Koh on 23 Apr 2009 | Permalink | Comments (5) | Filed in Books & Entertainment; Feeding & Nursing; For Babies & Kids; Tweens & Teens
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Today, PPLM Parent Education Program Manager Amy Cody shares tips for parents and teens regarding sexting:

As parents, we know that taking certain risks is a natural part of development for teens. However, a recent survey by The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy and CosmoGirl.com indicates a troubling trend of teens electronically sharing sexually suggestive content (text, photos, videos) with people they know as well as complete strangers. Furthermore, the study showed that what teens are doing electronically seems to have an effect on what they do in real life.

Continue reading "Talking to Teens About Sexting" »

Posted by Christine Koh on 10 Apr 2009 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Family Issues; Tweens & Teens
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Welcome to Boston Mamas Rock! – where we’re giving a voice to fabulous local mamas from all walks of life. Read on for today’s interview with Isabela Garcia, a young mother who has overcome the challenges and stereotypes associated with teenage pregnancy to create a loving environment for her son, while pursuing her education and contemplating future aspirations of becoming a psychologist or doula, writing a book, and advocating for more realistic sex education in schools.

Continue reading "Featured Mama Isabela Garcia" »

Posted by Christine Koh on 9 Mar 2009 | Permalink | Comments (9) | Filed in Boston Mamas Rock!; Family Issues; Local; Tweens & Teens
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Today, PPLM Parent Education Program Manager Amy Cody shares tips for talking to kids about teen pregnancy:

“Unplanned pregnancy, especially teen pregnancy, has been high on the media radar in the last year, both locally via the increase in teen pregnancies in Gloucester, and through several media-hyped celebrity pregnancies, including Jamie Lynn Spears and Bristol Palin.

Continue reading "Teen Pregnancy Talking Tips" »

Posted by Christine Koh on 3 Feb 2009 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Family Issues; Tweens & Teens
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After posting about Boston area skating rinks and the lack of media buzz in advance of the recent US Nationals, I was offered the wonderful opportunity to chat with Kimmie Meissner, national and world figure skating champion, member of the 2006 Olympic team, and 2010 Olympic contender. Read on for my interview with Kimmie, where we talk about everything from competitions, to shows (she’ll be in Boston in April for Stars on Ice), to the amazing family that has kept her grounded, to tips for skating safely with kids.

Continue reading "Chatting With Kimmie Meissner" »

Posted by Christine Koh on 2 Feb 2009 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Family Issues; Fun Indoors; Local; Sports & Fitness; Tweens & Teens
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And now for our weekly dose of web highlights from some of our stylish blog partners:

Visit MomFinds to enter to win a Perfect Spa bath set from Chloe & Jane. Moms’ Buzz is calling all moms of daughters entering puberty to participate in a poll. And The Bump addresses basic questions and concerns about trying to conceive.

Posted by Christine Koh on 23 Jan 2009 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Bath, Beauty & Health; Pregnancy & Postpartum; Tweens & Teens
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For parents seeking guidance on how to negotiate their kids through today’s sexualized commercial culture, tomorrow (Thursday, Nov. 20 at 7pm), Jean Kilbourne and Diane Levin will speak at Simmons College about issues and coping strategies raised in their book So Sexy So Soon: The New Sexualized Childhood and What Parents Can Do to Protect Their Kids. For details on the event, click here.

Posted by Christine Koh on 19 Nov 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Books & Entertainment; Development & Behavior; For Grownups; Local; Outreach; Tweens & Teens
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It’s not easy drumming up new material when your kid asks you to conjure a story, but luckily, parents now can find relief and inspire their child’s creativity with a nifty twist on choose your own adventure. Written by Newburyport based author Jennifer Karin Sidford, The DreamStarter Book offers 50 story beginnings that serve as the catalyst for your child to create their own adventures. Well suited for quality time with the tween set at home or on the road, what’s not to love about an activity that offers parents a way to read and bond with their kids, while encouraging kids to hone and become confident in their unique style of narrative?

Want to win 2 copies of DreamStarter*? Here’s how:

Continue reading "Create Your Own Adventure" »

Posted by Christine Koh on 27 Oct 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Books & Entertainment; For Babies & Kids; Travel; Tweens & Teens
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Although guest contributor Sara Cabot of Little Lettice is one of our family food experts, today Sara – a mom of four children approaching or in their tween years - takes a diversion from nutritional content to provide a review of Pressured Parents, Stressed-out Kids. Read on for Sara’s review, as well as to learn how to be one of 5 winners to receive a copy of Pressured Parents!

Continue reading "Pressured Parents, Stressed-out Kids" »

Posted by Christine Koh on 19 May 2008 | Permalink | Comments (3) | Filed in Books & Entertainment; Development & Behavior; For Grownups; Tweens & Teens
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Like it or not, talking the talk is necessary to keep your kids safe in our increasingly complex world. Today, PPLM Parent Education Program Manager Amy Cody recommends Dr. Sharon Maxwell’s The Talk: What Your Kids Need to Hear from You About Sex as a helpful new resource to ready you for these conversations. Read on for Amy's review, as well as to learn how to be one of five winners to receive a copy of The Talk!

Continue reading "The Talk" »

Posted by Christine Koh on 10 Apr 2008 | Permalink | Comments (6) | Filed in Books & Entertainment; For Grownups; Tweens & Teens
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Few things characterize the tween/teen years like puberty; or more specifically, who has hit it, and who hasn’t. And if you were in the same boat as me and my peers back in the day, your parents didn't prep you for what to expect and when. Today, PPLM Parent Education Program Manager Amy Cody offers tips to help you talk to your kids about puberty:

Continue reading "Puberty and Its Many Changes" »

Posted by Christine Koh on 5 Mar 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Development & Behavior; Tweens & Teens
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Today, Kate takes us on a walk down memory lane…with Judy Blume.

For girls of a certain generation - mine, and those directly before and after - the experience of reading the novels of Judy Blume was a double-layered rite of adolescent passage: the books themselves were sacred texts, and the universal stories they told - of being teased, of being not the prettiest, of being kissed, of having your parents split up, of loving and being loved, and of losing (love, virginity, friendship, your lunch in public) - were the stories we were all living, vividly and in real time and with an empathy that our parents couldn't come close to.

Continue reading "Remembering Forever" »

Posted by Christine Koh on 31 Jan 2008 | Permalink | Comments (1) | Filed in Books & Entertainment; For Grownups; Tweens & Teens
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We received word about the Boston University Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders, which recently launched a new website offering resources for parents of adolescents with panic disorder and other anxiety disorders. The center offers cognitive behavioral therapy treatment (i.e., no medication) with free treatment for qualifying families. I’m grateful to guest contributor Amy Cody, who canvassed some colleagues for feedback about the clinic. Here’s what they had to say:

Continue reading "Treating Teen Panic" »

Posted by Christine Koh on 29 Jan 2008 | Permalink | Comments (1) | Filed in Local; Outreach; Tweens & Teens
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Today, PPLM Parent Education Program Manager Amy Cody recommends this resource for parents and youth:

“AmberMadison.tv is a unique Web-based video channel informing young adults about sexual health and sexuality in a safe and interactive environment. Amber Madison, author of Hooking Up: A Girl's All-Out Guide to Sex And Sexuality, delivers accurate information through her own humor and real-life perspectives to teens and young adults who are curious about sex, relationships, health, and overall well-being. The programming covers sexual health topics including body image, pregnancy, relationships, sexual assault, sexual orientation, and STDs.”

Posted by Christine Koh on 22 Jan 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Tweens & Teens
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Are you the parent of a young daughter and are dreading - or already are deeply entrenched in - arguments over questionable clothing choices? Today, PPLM Parent Education Program Manager Amy Cody addresses the question “What to do when your pre-teen daughter wants to wear makeup and skimpy clothing?” Amy offers general guidelines and links to additional resources for strategies and talking points on this tough topic:

Continue reading "Strategies for Clothing Battles" »

Posted by Christine Koh on 19 Dec 2007 | Permalink | Comments (2) | Filed in Development & Behavior; Tweens & Teens
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Today, Sharon reports on safe driving techniques that families (especially those with new drivers) could benefit from:

“In late September I traveled via Boston Mamas to the GM Proving Grounds in Michigan to test out the GM 2008 lineup. This was a new trail blazed for this road warrior (who fancies sneakers over wheels), but I discovered parallels between the two transport modes; that a little knowledge goes a long way in taking advantage of safety features.

Continue reading "Re-Inventing the Wheel: Putting Safety First" »

Posted by Christine Koh on 5 Nov 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Eco Living; Travel; Tweens & Teens
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Being a parent often means being at a loss for words when it comes to tough topics, no matter what your kid’s age is. For parents of teens, Amy Cody sent us a great article written by one of her interns; the content offers parents advice for how to navigate the rocky adolescent communication road:

Continue reading "Teen Talk" »

Posted by Christine Koh on 26 Sep 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Family Issues; Tweens & Teens
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As an adolescent, my parents never discussed anything human body-related; I subsequently got all of my (somewhat sketchy) information about sex, periods, etc. from my older siblings and friends. I’m thus determined to keep the communication channels open with Laurel (and she’s already been testing me here…). Today, Amy Cody offers ideas to help frame your conversations about sex and sexuality with your child:

Continue reading "Open Communication" »

Posted by Christine Koh on 25 Jul 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Family Issues; Local; Outreach; Tweens & Teens
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As a daily blogger who’s long been technically savvy (I learned to build web pages when HTML was the only way to do it), it may seem surprising that as of a year ago, I barely was aware of blogs, and that I currently intentionally keep texting, IMing, and Skype off my radar (it’s a preventative thing, given how much time I already spend with my laptop). As a parent though, keeping up with the technological times is as much a safety necessity as a means to try to keep communication channels open. If the lingo seems overwhelming, Anastasia Goodstein’s Totally Wired: What Teens and Tweens Are Really Doing Online likely will provide clarity.

Continue reading "Totally Wired" »

Posted by Christine Koh on 29 May 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Books & Entertainment; For Grownups; Tweens & Teens
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These days, it seems as if events oddly align as a directive for my writing. And as much as it makes this mama bear bristle, two recent events pointed me on the trajectory of child safety.

The first event involved chatting with a friend about her daughter’s three-year well visit. Towards the end of the visit the doctor told the three-year old that it was time to check the areas of the body under the underwear to make sure that they were healthy, and that it is OK for a doctor to do this if mommy or daddy are in the room. Not surprisingly, my friend couldn’t help but think, “Crap, it’s already time to start talking about this stuff?”

Continue reading "Keeping Kids Safe" »

Posted by Christine Koh on 18 Apr 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Development & Behavior; Family Issues; Tweens & Teens
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My mom and I never discussed menstruation (or anything related to sexuality, short of a discussion well into my 20’s where she advised me to beware, that “men have urges”), and that phase of life vividly stands out as one of anxiety (I was a late bloomer), cluelessness (I had but brief, periodic perusals of my pal Kate’s Our Bodies, Ourselves, and general confusion (when my period finally did come I had no gear).

The Dot Girl’s First Period Kit was designed to try to curb these all too frequent female experiences. The pink or blue carry kit ($18) includes a 12-page booklet with answers to common questions about periods, a yearlong calendar to track periods, a small reusable heating pad for soothing cramps, pad and liner samples, and hand wipes. (The case is just a bit too small for standard length tampons, but compact tampons would fit fine.)

Posted by Christine Koh on 13 Feb 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Bath, Beauty & Health; Tweens & Teens
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Earlier this week my ears perked up when NPR’s feature on college preparation, stress, and teens aired. Obviously, this phase of Laurel’s life is many years off (assuming she opts for college instead of a painting commune) but even now, as I see her and her little friends becoming more complex little people, I alternatively feel joyful and anxious about the years to come. I so want Laurel to be peaceful and happy and confident but times as a teen are invariably tough.

NPR’s feature, the catalyst of which was a report from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) on the negative impact of stress and pressure on teens, focused on the stress associated with the college application process. At the end of the broadcast I was interested to hear that the AAP devised a new web site where teens could design personalized stress-reduction plans.

Continue reading "Teen Stress" »

Posted by Christine Koh on 12 Oct 2006 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Childcare; Tweens & Teens
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