I often get calls from parents who are concerned about their kids dyslexia, ADHD, reading, writing, spelling, or math skills. And within our conversations it shortly becomes apparent to me that there is an additional problem that is interfering with their child's learning: having poor executive function skills.

A recent article in the Setonian features the dangers of texting while walking on campus, including bumping into walls and other people, tripping and falling and walking into oncoming traffic. In this way, with the advent of mobile connectivity, I have learned that being present is something that we take for granted, as if it is some kind of an effortless thing when indeed it is not. And the more we experience the impact of mobile connectivity seemingly omnipresent in every device, room, gathering and relationship – well, it frankly, becomes more difficult to simply be present and give one another undivided attention, much less pay attention to our surroundings while traveling by foot or from behind the wheel.

Nationally 7 out of 10 students are below grade level…7 out of 10 students are not proficient in reading, writing, and math…and these are not just the struggling or learning challenged kids. These are national statistics – so out of every 10 kids, only 3 are at grade level or above grade level. They may have basic skills, but they are not proficient! So why are so many students not proficient? Why are so many children and teens doing poorly in school?

Featuring his new book, Hurt 2.0: Inside the World of Today's Teenagers, Clark addressed the social, cultural and biological dynamics of growing up in today’s world and offers insights for parents whose own development experience cannot compare.

Konow’s guidance is also relevant for cyber safe strategies to instill at home. They include knowing and representing yourself honestly, considering social media as a tool to support your personal goals, and realizing the impact of your on-line reputation and dealing with others posting and tagging images of you.

Cyber Safety for Families with Joanna and Jodie on The Fish Family Morning Show 103.9FM

As more and more students are equipped with mobile devices, the challenge for schools is to catch up with the new digital norms of the students. And parents need to be clear about setting expectations for their children regarding the use of devices in the classroom. When is it okay to use their mobile device and for what purpose?

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Massetti's main message is simple: “When you baptized your child, you agreed to the responsibility of protecting and nurturing the divine light in your child, who is new life and a gift from God.” Massetti then explained that the way to do this is to keep the light alive in yourself first.

My two cents

One of the most difficult things for the modern parent to accept is that our minor children are actually responsible for their own thoughts and actions, and the sooner we help them realize this the better.  Learning how to be self-governing, requires holding youth accountable for their own actions with forgiveness and grace. This is the discipline of love.

Consequences + Love = Empowerment

On August 4 and an encore on August …

The biggest challenge for parenting today is that the technology can become a huge distraction, and the children are at risk of having their cyber-powered peer communities becoming a single point of reference for life. Nevertheless parents are the primary teachers for life, and formation of faith is first learned at home. So how can parents impart their faith when kids can easily believe that everything they think they need to know about the world they can simply “Google”? (I call this the “smarty pants syndrome”).

One of the most important things the modern parent can do for their children’s cyber security is to give them quality attention. But the temptation is to yield to screen time because there is immediate gratification; the baby hushes right away and the older children are occupied for long periods of time. And summer time is when kids have lots more free time, which can be surrendered to the device