“So what have you learned about love?” people often ask when they find out I’m an editor of Modern Love. “Oh, you know,” I say, “a lot.” Or, “Most clichés are accurate.” Or I delay, promising, “I’ll tell you later.” In case we don’t meet again, I’ll tell you now: …
Read More »5 Children’s Movies to Stream Now
‘Trolls Band Together’ Stream it on Netflix. The third installment in the DreamWorks “Trolls” franchise dives into boy band territory, which is fitting since Branch, the films’ main character, is voiced by Justin Timberlake, of ’N Sync fame. For years, Branch has kept his boy band past secret; he has …
Read More »Does Your School Use Suicide Prevention Software? We Want to Hear From You.
In response to the youth mental health crisis, many school districts are investing in software that monitors what students type on their school devices, alerting counselors if a child appears to be contemplating suicide or self-harm. Such tools — produced by companies like Gaggle, GoGuardian Beacon, Bark and Securly — …
Read More »TikTok Faces Barrage of Lawsuits Around Teens and Mental Health
Thirteen states and the District of Columbia sued TikTok on Tuesday, accusing the company of creating an intentionally addictive app that harmed children and teenagers while making false claims to the public about its commitment to safety. In separate lawsuits, a bipartisan group of attorneys general cited internal company documents …
Read More »For Some Children, Hurricane Helene’s Ruin ‘Could Take Years to Get Over’
Tens of thousands of children across the Southeast remain out of their classrooms one week after Helene, the deadliest hurricane to strike the mainland United States since Katrina. They are cut off from academics, friends and stabilizing routines. Hurricane Helene ravaged school buildings, demolished football fields and killed young children …
Read More »‘Mom, I Want to Live’: A Young Girl Battles War and Cancer
Sonya Liakh was 2 years old when she was diagnosed with a rare form of eye cancer. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine interrupted her chemotherapy. The lapse in treatment allowed the cancer to spread. Soon new tumors emerged. Sonya lost both her eyes. Ukrainian children with long-term illnesses and severe disabilities …
Read More »R.L. Stine’s Favorite Halloween Books Will Give Your Kids Goosebumps
When you write scary stories for a living, everyone assumes that Halloween must be your favorite holiday. But when I think about Halloween, I often remember it as a day of heartbreaking disappointment. My family was quite poor. I grew up in a tiny house in an Ohio suburb three …
Read More »How to Ensure a Peaceful Trip With Your Extended Family
Organizing a vacation with members of your extended family can spark high expectations and happy emotions. The promise of reconnecting with loved ones at a beautiful location or on an exciting tour can make it easy to idealize these trips while in the planning stage. However, travel delays, bad service …
Read More »Community Schools Offer More Than Just Teaching (Published 2022)
This article is part of our Learning special report about how the pandemic has continued to change how we approach education. HARTFORD, Conn. — This spring, Dr. Michael D. Fox elementary school opened a pantry for its students and families. It has fridges packed with prepared food, cupboards filled with …
Read More »Meeting the Mental Health Challenge in School and at Home (Published 2022)
This article is part of our Learning special report about how the pandemic has continued to change how we approach education. Last year, Leticia Guerrero-Castaneda’s 11-year-old son, Isaiah, was struggling. He was in the fifth grade when the pandemic shutdown occurred, and his reaction was to shut himself down; he …
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