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Blog Jessica Speer

Jessica Speer‘s books, resources, and articles focus on social-emotional topics and ways to cultivate connection and healthy relationships. To subscribe to her free monthly eNewsletter enter your email below.

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Parenting

  • Back-to-School and Friendships
    It’s back-to-school time, and that means back to friendships too. Making and maintaining friendships can be challenging at times for kids. Given the wide range of social skills in a single classroom, it’s no wonder that friendship struggles unfold. For many kids, the return to school and their social worlds is filled with unknowns. Will their friends still … Read more
  • Helpful Tips for Family Tech Agreements
    Thinking about creating a family tech agreement and looking for tips? A family tech agreement is a set of rules about how devices like smartphones, tablets, computers, TVs, and gaming consoles are used in your home. Besides establishing boundaries for screens, these agreements encourage families to come together and discuss healthy technology use. A family … Read more
  • 5 Surprising Statistics About Kids and Screens
    The technology train has left the station and reshaped childhood in the process. The following statistics illustrate the influence of screens and tech on the daily life of kids. It’s important to note that not all of the statistics are negative. Depending on its use, technology has positive, neutral, and negative effects on the lives … Read more

Understanding Your Kid’s Social World

  • Back-to-School and Friendships
    It’s back-to-school time, and that means back to friendships too. Making and maintaining friendships can be challenging at times for kids. Given the wide range of social skills in a single classroom, it’s no wonder that friendship struggles unfold. For many kids, the return to school and their social worlds is filled with unknowns. Will their friends still … Read more
  • Middle School Stuff #8: Mean and Bullying Behaviors
    This series of posts explores the tricky side of middle school. Here’s post #8 – Mean and Bullying Behaviors.  If you missed earlier posts, here are links: #1 – Judgment, #2 – Friendship Changes, #3 – Popularity,  #4 – Crushes & Dating, # 5 – Cliques & Groups, #6 – Gossip and #7 – Social … Read more
  • Middle School Stuff #7: Social Media
    This series of posts explores the tricky side of middle school. Here’s post #7 – Social Media. If you missed earlier posts, here are links: #1 – Judgment, #2 – Friendship Changes, #3 – Popularity,  #4 – Crushes & Dating, #5 – Cliques & Groups, and #6 – Gossip. While researching Middle School – Safety Goggles … Read more

Family Dinner Topics

  • Family Dinner Topic: What Word Would You Choose to Guide You in the New Year?
    One-word intentions have grown in popularity in recent years. Unlike traditional New Years’ resolutions, one-word intentions are simple and straightforward.
  • The Surprising Benefits of Family Dinner
    Studies find that family dinner offers benefits such as increased academic performance, lower obesity rates, improved well-being, and more.
  • Family Dinner Topic: What’s on your post-quarantine bucket list?
    As we sat around our dinner table last night, I posed this question to my family: “What’s at the top of your post-quarantine bucket list?” The responses were heartfelt and simple: “Hang out with friends and neighbors, eat at a favorite restaurant, go to the library, walk to the ice cream shop, get back to a sports practice or fitness routine. It’s only been a few weeks, but the nostalgia for these regular activities was apparent.
Text that reads: Dear parent, your job is not to be perfect.

Please share! I welcome your thougths and comments.