In this day and age, NOT having a portable technological device is a bit of a handicap, especially to kids in middle and high school. We’ve dragged our feet as much and as long as possible until we FINALLY had to give in on the mobile phones (for our eldest; still in ‘dragging’ mode for the middle one). This year we move to a new school where we have had to bite the extremely expensive bullet and buy laptops for all of the boys, too. Laptops are a necessary evil for kids in

Technically, one could say we are advancing as a society. We have gadgets and gizmos galore, and we can read, shop, or chat at any given moment, in any location. We can search any topic. We can call any point of the globe. We can connect. Except, technically, we don’t. Technically, we do not know people. I mean, not really get to KNOW them. Our circles of friends and acquaintances are diminishing as we become more and more reliant on our devices. In a queue? Whip out y

(Full disclosure: we don't do much tech at our house. I mean, yes, we have computers, laptops and iPads, but we just recently ventured into the gaming world, with the PS4's arrival in February. Kids - big and little - are on it very little, probably less than 2 hours a week) as they love to read and play outside). I've noticed something: kids are born to run. Kids love to run and move and jump and play; they can and should be in constant motion. I was thinking, if we adul

(Also known as : Do you actually NEED your (insert tech device here)?) The answer probably is yes, but not ALL of the time. And certainly not as often as you may think. Unless you are the President of the United States, it probably is okay if your phone goes unanswered for a few hours every day. It probably is okay for you to turn it off, put it aside, and tune in to the real people around you. To have a conversation from start to finish, complete with questions and answe

Friends, I think you should all know that I am a tv/screen nazi. My children think I am quite mean, but I do not allow them to watch much tv at all. They don’t get a lot of screen time on the computer, either. No apps on the phone. No ipad. And while I realize they are falling behind in their computer-ese, I think their brain development is far more important. I’ve said it before: Every parent wants what is best for their child. Every parent thinks their child is the s