Jessica Watson

Gifted and Talented Programs have become an institution of our educational system. Where there’s a school system with a select group of highly-achieving kids, there is usually a special program designed to challenge them. Often started after a push from parents of gifted children, these programs are said to offer a place for quick-studies to thrive.
But are they really necessary? Do children with high achievement scores actually benefit from being set apart from their peers and being offered ...

There are collective cheers going up all over the world from parents and educators of girls. The all-female space walk, originally scheduled for late March, is back on. Astronauts Christina Koch and Jessica Meir completed this monumental walk in space early this morning.
Koch and Meir’s space walk was postponed in March because of the lack of medium-sized space suits to fit both women. The STEM-loving women of the world were disappointed to say the least, but NASA assured the public that they...

Sesame Street has done an excellent job of tackling tough subjects over the years. From creating their first homeless character to the first muppet with autism, they’ve aimed to teach our children understanding through exposure to situations they might not be familiar with. At the same time, these characters offer support and representation to kids who are facing some of these tough issues themselves. Last year, Sesame Street introduced us to Karli, a character in the foster care system.
They...

Congenital Heart Defects (CHD) are the most common form of birth defect in infants. In a recent study, researchers found the amount of alcohol parents consume to be a contributing factor to these heart defects in infants, giving way to new guidelines for prospective parents.
According to the CDC, “CHDs affect nearly 1% of―or about 40,000―births per year in the United States.” This new study, published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, reviewed a compilation of 55 previous stud...

This week is the National Week of Action to End School Pushout. Unlike the term “dropout,” which is generally due to a decision or behavior on the part of the student, “school pushout” refers to the way zero-tolerance school discipline can push students out of school through suspensions, expulsions, and even arrests for minor misbehaviors.
The campaign to end school pushouts began out of a need to retain at-risk students in schools rather than have them end up in detention facilities. Statist...

When a principal in Iowa saw the number of students spending their lunch hours with their faces in their phones, she knew she needed to do something about it. Janet Behrens, principal of Iowa Valley Junior-Senior High School, was disheartened by how many of the students in her school spent their lunch hour on social media rather than on socialization — so she decided to make a change.
Principal Behrens created a lunchroom policy requiring all students to leave their phones behind during Frida...

With each new year come new predictions for the top trends expected in the next 12 months. Many parents wouldn’t have guessed just a year ago that in 2020 things like scheduling…

This advice from an expert about what parents should take credit for on Christmas is as true today as it was when her viral plea initially went out two years ago. Megan Dunn, a social worker and Family Court Case Manager in Atlanta, wrote an impassioned Facebook post about heartbroken families who can’t afford big ticket items, and pleaded with families to make sure expensive gifts don’t come from Santa. Thanks to internet sharing, her post is headed for viral status again this year.
In the p...

New parents often fret over their newborn’s frequent hiccups. As parents of a new baby, it’s natural to get nervous about just about everything but, according to science, those adorable baby hiccups might be teaching our babies something.
A new study conducted by the University College London and published in Clinical Neurophysiology looked at the brain scans of preterm and full term babies ranging in gestational age from 30 to 42 weeks to study their reaction to hiccups. Researchers monitore...

In the past, children under age 5 have been one of the most undercounted populations in the U.S. Census, which is conducted every 10 years. The 2020 Census team is working to stop this from happening again in the upcoming year. They stress that every child needs to be counted, because those numbers help our lawmakers determine where and how federal and state funds are spent on programs that benefit kids and their families.
Nearly 1 million children were not counted in the 2010 Census, a stati...

Recent studies show that screen use during the toddler years has exploded well beyond what is recommended for this age group. On average, the amount of time a child is on a screen nearly triples from age one to age three.
Two studies recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) alert parents and experts to these growing statistics. Toddlers are in front of screens more than ever, which can impact their screen use later in life and potentially even their brain d...

The decision to homeschool is not an easy one. Homeschooling is a huge commitment that requires all kinds of time and patience. If you're on the fence as to whether it's the right thing to do for you and your family there are a few things you should consider before making a final decision.
We've been homeschooling for four years now but this is the first year I'm homeschooling the majority of my kids. It has been a huge undertaking and I'm still learning to relax and trust my instincts when i...

Kids who are struggling academically or socially in school can make huge gains from having a peer buddy. Creating a peer buddy system is an easy way to support students and grow a caring community within a school. So what is a peer buddy and how can you get one for your child?
Here's everything you need to know...
A peer buddy is a student chosen by you or someone at your child's school to help your child throughout their day. Usually a teacher will suggest someone who is a leader in the clas...

When your child has special needs, back to school preparation can be stressful for both of you. It may take a little more work, but adding a few extra steps to your back to school routine can pay off greatly in the long run.
Try these techniques to get the new school year off to a great start:
1. Ask to tour the classroom and meet the teacher with your child. Many kids with special needs have more anxiety about a new classroom and new teacher than other students. Getting a preview of the new ...

Nothing makes me crazier during the holidays than the greedy attitude my children tend to get when asking for presents. Every year I have to make a conscious effort to remind my kids to be giving during the holiday season and with a few easy steps you can too.
Something about sitting on Santa's lap and the twenty relatives asking my children what they want for Christmas turns them into greedy little elves. It takes a lot of redirection to remind my children they are already lucky to have what...