Imagine this: You’re chatting with your teen, and they suddenly pause, struggling to recall a simple word. Or maybe your preteen groans over their homework, saying, “I just can’t think straight.” At first glance, these moments might seem like typical growing pains. But could they be pointing to something deeper? Let’s talk about Digital Dementia. Coined by German neuroscientist Manfred Spitzer in 2012, digital dementia isn’t a medical diagnosis, but it’s a term used to describe cognitive...
3 months ago • 2 min read
Hi Alexandra, A few weeks ago, my daughter surprised me. Out of nowhere, she handed me a handwritten note: “Thank you for helping me with my project, Mom.” Simple as it was, it hit me right in the heart. We’ve all been there, hoping our kids will someday recognize all the unseen work we do as parents. But here's the thing—gratitude doesn’t just happen. It’s a learned skill, nurtured by experience, reflection, and guidance. But, this past Thanksgiving, I found myself reflecting on the...
3 months ago • 2 min read
Let me tell you a story—a moment of sheer panic that turned into one of the most important parenting lessons I’ve learned. It was Halloween night in Los Angeles. The sun was setting, kids were running everywhere, dry ice smoke curled out of glowing pumpkins, and the clowns? Let’s just say they were scarier than ever. My kids were ecstatic, darting from house to house in their costumes, their candy bags filling up fast. Then, it happened. I lost sight of them. One second, they were just ahead...
3 months ago • 2 min read
Hi Friends, It's been a few weeks since my last MindSwitch Monday’s issue landed in your inbox, but I have exciting updates to share with you! 👉🏼 On Book Club: Unwiring “The Anxious Generation” 🎉MindSwitch Education was published as the first Central American Aligned Organization helping end the phone-based childhood and restore the play-based childhood for AnxiousGeneration.com This is an exciting first step to bring this movement to our region! But if you want to read the book, haven't...
3 months ago • 4 min read
Hi Friends, It’s been a while since my last newsletter MindSwitch Mondays, but I assure you I haven't stopped thinking about EduParenting. Now more about screen time and smartphones. This summer I was struggling to keep my kids off screens and get them engaged in play-based childhood activities. I can feel some eyebrows raising now, mhm, I think I’m not alone in this. Aren’t I? We went through arguments, having timers to stop screen time use, and even setting consequences because they would...
6 months ago • 3 min read
Hello MindSwitch Community, I am back! Today, we're diving into a topic that most parents can relate to – setting respectful boundaries versus permissive parenting. Probably your socials are swamped with posts about Respectful Parenting or not.Perhaps you have heard your parent friends talk about “Respectful Parenting” and are trying things out. The thing is, many parents are confusing Respectful Parenting with Permissive Parenting, and this is causing a problem for our kids and for society....
over 1 year ago • 6 min read
One of the most common questions I get from parents is, “Will my kid fall behind if I don’t keep them engaged in academics during summer?” Children need to have a break and enjoy their summer vacation. But the first thought that pops into my head is mindswitching from thinking that we need to keep our kids engaged in academics, to thinking about continuous learning. The Summer Slide is real. The summer slide refers to the tendency for students to lose some of their academic progress over the...
over 1 year ago • 3 min read
Hi Friends, I'm writing this issue with an exciting heart, there’s so much I want to share. Today’s MindSwitch Mondays is a summary of the ten premises of the future of education I’ve been exploring for the past year. When we think about education we need to understand that its main purpose is to empower individuals with knowledge, skills, and values to help them reach their full potential and contribute positively to society. We want our kids to thrive in their future, right? But, we live in...
over 1 year ago • 2 min read
“What do I do, Mom?” My daughter kept asking me this question as we talked about a situation she kept having with her sister. “You know what to do, take a step back, think about your feelings, reach out to your sister to express your concerns, and consider what limits you need to set. You are strong and capable and will find your way through this.” I recently revisited SEL and how learning to manage emotions and others affects students learning. SEL stands for Social and Emotional Learning....
almost 2 years ago • 3 min read