MLK Day: The Power of Young People – A Teachable Moment
Recent events make it more challenging than ever to be the parent of a Black child. Parents must steer their kids through seeing a violent assault on the Capitol and unfounded objections to a national election where Black voter turnout was the highest it’s ever been. We still have to give instructions on what to […]
Teach Children the ABCs of Finance
Roger W. Ferguson Jr. is President and CEO of Teachers Insurance and Annuities Association and the College Retirement Equities Fund (TIAA). TIAA is the leading retirement provider for people who work in academic, medical, governmental, research and cultural fields. As parents, we all want the best for our children. But while we rightly focus on […]
Tips on How to Talk to Kids About Race: Thoughts from Noted Psychiatrist Dr. Alvin F. Poussaint
Note: Beccastone originally spoke to Dr. Poussaint in the wake of the killing of 17-year old Trayvon Martin in Florida in 2012. Dr. Poussaint’s words of advice are equally relevant today as parents try to help kids grapple with racial issues and the continuing violence against Black people. Beccastone: At what age do you recommend […]
7 Tips To Help Young Teens Navigate Social Media
We have learned a lot of negative things about social media, but it is very hard for parents to effectively ban a young teen with a smartphone from using social media. Parents can restrict kids’ data plans, but kids can still use Wi-Fi. Or they can use their friends’ phones. Plus, trying to ban social […]
Parent-Child School Contract
Start the school year off right by discussing and signing the Parent-Child School Contract reprinted below. The Contract emphasizes some basic habits and principles that have been shown to contribute to academic success, including school attendance, persistent effort, practice and studying, positive attitude, and high expectations. The Contract allows you and your child to agree […]
In Conversation with Kem
Kem is a musician and philanthropist. He has been nominated for a number of Grammys. Q. What piece of advice did your mother give you that was particularly valuable and useful in life? A. My mother always encouraged me to be true to myself. The older I get, the more I appreciate and understand the […]
School Discipline – The Unwritten Rules
A recently published government report concluded that starting in pre-school, Black children are disciplined at a higher rate than other students due to implicit racial bias. An earlier government report concluded that public schools punish Black students more severely than their white peers. (See article here). As just one example, Black students are 3-1/2 times more likely […]
Finding the Right Punishment: To Spank, or Not?
Corporal punishment was in the news when a group of familial caretakers in Michigan was arrested for spanking a child and posting a video online. We can all agree that putting your child’s bad behavior and subsequent punishment on public display is probably not a good idea. The goal of discipline should be to correct destructive behavior and […]
Sugar: The Unsweetened Truth
“Too much sugar does not just make us fat; it can also make us sick.” That’s the message of a medical journal article saying that sugar is more than just “empty calories”; overconsumption by itself can lead to higher risk of chronic disease such as heart disease, diabetes and liver disease. The article suggests that fewer than […]
Dr. Freeman A. Hrabowski on Developing Black Scientists
Beccastone: What kinds of career opportunities are available to minority students in the sciences? Dr. Freeman Hrabowski: In my view, the areas that offer some of the most exciting and rewarding career opportunities to students with math and science backgrounds are healthcare; the environment and energy; and technology, intelligence, and security. These areas play a […]
Interview with Dr. Bethanne Moore on Your Child’s Mental Health
Dr. Bethanne Moore sits down with Beccastone to discuss mental health issues for children in the Black community. Beccastone: Do you find that there is a reluctance in the Black community to acknowledge and seek help for mental health problems? Dr. Bethanne Moore: In some ways people are becoming more accepting of the whole issue […]
Noted Cardiologist Dr. Jesse McGee on Heart Healthy Kids
Q: What can parents do to help ensure their kids have healthy hearts? A: Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the US for men and women in all population groups. For African Americans, heart disease is more likely to be severe and at an advanced stage when diagnosed. There are a number […]
Tooth Talk With Dr. Battle
Recent press stories have reported that dentists are seeing increasing numbers of very young children, including toddlers in some cases, with a mouthful of cavities. Beccastone asked Contributor Dr. Michael Battle, a practicing dentist in Florida, to comment on how this happens and suggest some preventative measures. Q: Have you seen an increase in cavities […]
Talking to Kids About Online Porn
The Internet has most everything to satisfy the curiosity of our children, but this also includes pornography and sexually graphic materials, which can sometimes appear just from using certain search terms. So it’s important to give kids early the tools to understand online porn: that some of what is on the Internet is just […]
How Much Homework is Too Much?
Recently, a controversial study raised questions about the benefits of homework. Agree or disagree, it’s worth thinking about some of the ideas discussed in the study as our children head back to school. Denise Pope, senior Stanford lecturer, vodcaster and co-author of the study, took some time to talk to Beccastone about homework, “busy-work, why neither works well and what to do instead. […]
Q&A with Rev. Dr. Calvin Butts III of Abyssinian Baptist Church
Beccastone talks to Rev. Dr. Calvin O. Butts, III, Pastor, Abyssinian Baptist Church, Harlem, New York City, and President, State University of New York College at Old Westbury, about parenting, religion and the church. Beccastone: What role can the church play in helping parents to raise their children? Rev. Calvin Butts: The church should be […]
Top Ten Ways for Our Children to Give Back
In a time of social justice protests, job losses, and a pandemic which probably isn’t going away anytime soon, many people are seeking ways to help others. Children are no different, and finding ways to volunteer can help children manage the hard times they face. Giving to others also fosters selflessness and a generosity of […]
Discipline: Harsh Words Can Hurt
It’s not easy to figure out what kind of discipline works for your child. There is lots of trial and error, and what works at one stage doesn’t necessarily keep working. At some point, most parents, even those who might not engage in physical discipline, resort to yelling at children when they do something wrong. […]
Ready, Set….Read!
It can be quite challenging to get kids to tackle their summer reading lists or read books that are not “assigned” for school. Beccastone spoke with Katie Titterton, communications director for the Children’s Literacy Foundation (CLiF), for some tips on why summer reading lists are important and how we can get our children to read […]
Encouraging Girls in STEM Studies
We should encourage our girls as well as our boys to study science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Job growth is likely to be higher in these areas and the jobs can provide long-term career opportunities. Girls in particular may need more encouragement to focus on STEM study. How do raise and encourage girls to […]