Music Minute - DadJoke: Fun Intended

Fun Intended, the much-anticipated debut album for kids and families from Chicago-based DadJoke, is set for release on June 12, 2026, in time for Father’s Day.

DadJoke is the children’s music project of award-winning composer/musician Dave Reminick, best known for almost 20 years as guitarist/singer/songwriter in the post-punk band, Paper Mice, and infamous with his family and friends for being a connoisseur of dad jokes.

Unlike most dad jokes, the songs on Fun Intended will not cause eye rolls or groans. This playfully chaotic kids’ album overflows with imaginative, intricately written songs that celebrate curiosity, kindness, creativity, and a passion for the weird.

“I usually describe my music as ‘Weird Music for Weird Kids,’” says Dave Reminick. “It is unpredictable, playful, and stylistically diverse. While there is a foundation of rock, punk, and post-punk, I also draw on funk, metal, jazz, folk, Broadway/Disney, R&B, and avant rock. It’s fun, it’s grownup-friendly, and it’s full of surprises."

Dave continues, “I didn’t hold anything back on this album. In my writing process, I always have my ‘wish list’ of ideas for the most ridiculous, ambitious, or over-the-top things I’d like to include in a song. Normally, if ideas are too unreasonable or impossible to execute, I have to dial them back, but on this album, I went with my wish list every time. When I wanted both a metal band of monsters and a rodent jazz band in ‘Wakey Wake Up,’ I figured out how to make it happen. When ‘I Tried to Use AI’ got waaaay out of hand, and I thought it needed a ‘70s throwback folk guitar section followed by a lush and dramatic full orchestra, I leaned into it.”

Dave Reminick credits ‘80s cartoons and sitcoms, Looney Tunes, The Muppets, and Mister Rogers as having shaped him as an artist. He attributes much of his aesthetic and sense of humor to filmmakers, authors, and comedians as diverse as David Lynch, Salman Rushdie, John Mulaney, Angelo Colina, Amber Ruffin, Terry Gilliam, Jorge Luis Borges, and Seth Meyers. (Two authors who have had an outsized influence on how Dave interacts with and makes music for children are bell hooks and Jason Reynolds.)

Dave also cites a broad range of musical influences including Argentinian children’s music composer/performer Ruth Hillar, Brian Wilson, Burt Bacharach, Stevie Wonder, the free jazz music of the ‘60s and ‘70s as exemplified by Ornette Coleman, and Broadway and Disney musicals, especially the compositions of Robert Lopez & Kirsten Anderson-Lopez, Alan Menkin, Charles Fox, and Lin Manual Miranda.

About Dave Reminick & DadJoke:

Blending elements from Dave Reminick's diverse musical background and decades of music-making, DadJoke creates colorful, catchy, and captivating music that is intricate, thoughtful, and, perhaps most importantly, guaranteed not to annoy adults.

Dave Reminick was born in New York and grew up in East Northport, Long Island. After high school, he attended Oberlin College and Conservatory, earning two degrees: a BA in Psychology and a BM in Saxophone Performance (studying with Paul Cohen). Dave then earned two concurrent Masters degrees at the University of Michigan: an MA in Music Theory (studying with Andrew Mead, Ramon Satyendra, and Elwood Derr) and an MM in Saxophone Performance (studying with Don Sinta). Finally, he pursued doctoral studies at Northwestern University, where he earned a DMA in Composition (studying with the late Lee Hyla, Jay Alan Yim, Hans Thomalla, and Chris Mercer). Dave spent nearly 20 years teaching university-level music theory, composition, and saxophone while also composing and performing professionally as a saxophonist. He has also spent nearly 20 years as singer/guitarist/co-songwriter for the Chicago post-punk band Paper Mice. New Music Box called his adult compositions “bracing, original, and often jaw-dropping.”

Dave plays guitar, piano, saxophone, banjo, mandolin, and ukulele, and he started early! He explains, “I’ve been playing music ever since I was very young, starting piano lessons at probably 3 or 4. My earliest memories of making music are of visiting my grandparents in Brooklyn and sitting next to my Grandma Eleanor at her piano. She adored Debussy and Chopin (in addition to Beethoven, Fauré, and a ton of other composers). She played lovingly and beautifully, and I would sit at her side and try to copy her. When I finally played the first two measures of the Chopin C# Minor Waltz, my whole family was stunned, and I was beaming. It was awesome.”

Fun Intended will be available on all major streaming platforms. CDs will be available on Bandcamp and on the DadJoke website HERE.

Music Minute - Laurie Berkner: I'm Proud

Beloved children's musician Laurie Berkner's new single, "I'm Proud," is out now, in honor of Pride Month.

Sometimes it’s enough to know in our hearts that we’re loveable, and sometimes we all need a little help to remember that. Laurie Berkner’s “I’m Proud” carries a compelling message: “I’m proud of me, and I’m proud of you.”

“I'm so proud to share this song! I wrote 'I’m Proud' because I believe, as the song says, that 'We all deserve to be proud," says Laurie Berkner. "And I hope that listening to and singing this song will help kids feel that way as well."

"I'm Proud" is featured on Laurie's upcoming album, Walking With The Penguins, which will be released on June 26, 2026.

Net proceeds from "I'm Proud" will go to support Callen-Lorde, a global leader in LGBTQ+ healthcare. Since the days of Stonewall, Callen-Lorde has been transforming lives in LGBTQ+ communities through excellent comprehensive care, provided free of judgment and regardless of ability to pay. In addition, Callen-Lorde is continuously pioneering research, advocacy and education to drive positive change around the world, because they believe healthcare is a human right.

ABOUT LAURIE BERKNER:

Recognized as “the queen of kids’ music” by People magazine, Laurie Berkner is a singer, songwriter, lyricist, author, and founder of Two Tomatoes Records, LLC. With more than 1.7 billion total streams, an average of more than 22 million monthly streams, more than 595 million YouTube channel views, and millions of albums, songs, and DVDs sold, Laurie’s songs have become beloved classics for children worldwide.

Laurie Berkner Performance Highlights June - November 2026

June 13 - Columbia, SC - Koger Center for the Arts

July 11 - Toronto, ON - Queen Elizabeth Theatre

July 12 - Detroit, MI - Royal Oak Music Theatre

August 1 - Highland Park, IL - Ravinia Festival

August 2 - Bloomington, IL - Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts

August 23 - Boulder, CO - Boulder Theater

September 13 - Cary, NC - Koka Booth Amphitheatre

September 19 - NYC - Adler Hall at New York Society for Ethical Culture

September 20 - Carteret, NJ - Carteret Performing Arts Center

October 3 - Rochester, NY - The Theatre at Innovation Square

October 4 - Buffalo, NY - Buffalo State Performing Arts Center

October 24 - Concord, NH - Capitol Center for the Arts

November 8 - Tucson, AZ - Fox Tucson Theatre

November 21 - Fairfield, CT - Sacred Heart Community Theatre

Book Nook - Sage Sails the World

 Diamond Spratling, award-winning environmental activist, storyteller, TEDx speaker, and founder of Girl Plus Environment, has officially launched Book Two of her Sage Sails the World children’s book series, a colorful and educational story designed to help young readers better understand climate change, ocean conservation, and the power of community action.

In the newest installment, “Sage Sails The World: A Little Girl's Journey Across The Great Barrier Reef” Sage and her loyal dog Benji travel to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, where they discover the ocean is no longer as vibrant as the stories Sage once heard from her grandmother. As warming waters and coral bleaching threaten marine life, Sage learns how everyday actions — from turning off lights to planting trees and cleaning beaches — can help protect the planet and restore ocean ecosystems.

Created for early readers, the story introduces environmental themes in an approachable, hopeful, and empowering way while encouraging curiosity, empathy, and responsibility.



“Children deserve stories that help them understand the world around them without fear,” said Spratling. “I wanted to create something joyful, imaginative, and empowering while also introducing conversations around climate and environmental care in a way young readers can genuinely connect to.”

Spratling is widely recognized for her work in environmental justice and youth advocacy. Through Girl Plus Environment, she has helped empower Black and Brown girls and women to become leaders in climate, sustainability, and environmental justice while advocating for more equitable and inclusive environmental futures.

The children’s series expands her mission into storytelling, using vibrant illustrations and relatable characters to make environmental education more accessible for families, classrooms, libraries, and community spaces.

Themes explored throughout the book include:

• Ocean conservation
• Coral bleaching and climate change
• Environmental responsibility for children
• Sustainability and community action
• Friendship, curiosity, and problem-solving

Pre-order Sage Sails the World here: https://www.diamondspratling.com/sage-sails-the-world 

About the Author:

Diamond Spratling is an award-winning storyteller, environmental activist, and founder of Girl Plus Environment, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering girls and women to lead in climate and environmental justice. Growing up in Detroit inspired her mission to create a healthier, more equitable world for everyone. When Diamond isn't championing environmental causes or speaking on global stages, she loves crafting stories that inspire young readers to dream big and care for people and the planet. Through her children’s book series, Diamond hopes to spark curiosity and kindness in

About the illustrator:

Amna Zaki loves bringing stories to life with bright colors, playful characters, and a touch of magic! Inspired by the wonder and imagination of childhood, she creates illustrations that make young readers smile, dream, and explore. She has illustrated multiple children’s books, each bursting with vibrant colors and whimsical charm, available online and in stores.

www.therainbowstories.com

Parenting Pointers - Good Pictures, Bad Pictures

Kristen Jenson, MA is the founder of Defend Young Minds and author of the bestselling Good Pictures Bad Pictures book series for kids, which has sold hundreds of thousands of copies in ten languages. Her new book, Good Pictures Bad Pictures: Guide for Girls, was just released and is the first resource written specifically for young girls that helps parents start that conversation that'll keep them safe online without shame or fear.

Something most parents don't realize: 67% of girls say they've intentionally sought out pornography, and the average age of first exposure is 12. For years, we've treated this like a boys' problem. It's not. And girls are being left almost completely unprotected because of that assumption.

I had a chance to see a copy of the book, as well as the versions written for boys and the junior version for even younger readers. Overall, I thought they were very well done. The junior version is easy to understand, vague enough that it's still appropriate for young kids but descriptive enough that the message about bad pictures is clear. The versions for older kids use more specific language and descriptive terms, but are still appropriate for a wide age range. Reading the books with your children (or having them read alone and following up) can help provide a framework for a discussion about your family's expectations regarding pornography. Both the original and the guide for girls show most of the discussions being led by the mother, but also have the father in the story offer perspective and support, showing that this discussion doesn't need to be the responsibility of only one parent.

I had a chance to learn more in this author interview.

What was the inspiration behind writing Good Pictures Bad Pictures and the read-aloud book specifically for girls?

I wrote the original Good Pictures Bad Pictures: Porn-Proofing Today’s Young Kids after hearing the tragic story of a family whose 17 year-old son was sexually molesting his younger brothers and sisters - from the 14 year-old down to the 4 year-old - and pornography played a big part. At the time, I went looking for a simple, age-appropriate read-aloud resource that would help parents explain what pornography is, why it’s harmful, and what kids should do if they see it. I couldn’t find anything, so I wrote it myself to fill a much-needed resource gap. Through mostly word of mouth, it became a #1 bestseller on Amazon. 

After publishing my first book, parents began requesting a resource for younger children. I wrote Good Pictures Bad Pictures Jr.: A Simple Plan to Protect Young Minds for kids ages 3 to 7. It also achieved #1 bestseller status on Amazon and kids love looking for the 19 hidden cameras. 

The Good Pictures Bad Pictures Guide for Girls: How I Stay Safe, Smart & Confident came later because so many parents began asking for it. Girls face unique pressures around body image, objectification, relationships, social media, and toxic messages in popular culture. Like all the Good Pictures Bad Pictures books, it gives parents a warm, structured way to begin these protective conversations at home.

Why do adults often overlook the numbers of girls who are exposed to or seeking out pornography?

Many adults still believe pornography is mostly a “boy problem.” That cultural myth leaves girls more vulnerable because parents may not realize their daughters can be curious, exposed, targeted, or pulled in. Girls may encounter pornography in ways adults don’t always recognize: social media, music apps, YouTube, anime, erotic stories, romance content, or fan fiction sites. See our many articles for helping girls on DefendYoungMinds.com

Of course parents often want to preserve a daughter’s innocence, and they believe avoiding the conversation is the answer. But silence doesn’t protect innocence. It can leave girls unprepared for what they may see online or hear from peers. At Defend Young Minds, we encourage parents to be proactive by giving kids three things: an age-appropriate definition, a clear warning, and a practical plan. Girls need the same protection boys need, along with specific help to reject objectification, avoid addiction, protect their bodies, and build a healthy self-image. My new book for girls empowers girls to grow up with good mental health and physical safety in a challenging world. 

If parents and caregivers find out that their children have viewed pornography, how can they discuss its dangers without creating additional shame?

The first step is to stay calm. A child’s exposure to pornography is not the time for panic, punishment, or disgust. Parents need to protect the relationship so the child feels safe telling the truth. I encourage parents to respond with warmth and clarity: “Thank you for telling me. You’re not in trouble. I’m so glad I can help you.”

Then explain the danger in a matter-of-fact way. Children are naturally curious, and their bodies and brains may react to sexual images. That doesn’t make them bad. Pornography is harmful because it can hijack curiosity, teach toxic sexual scripts and objectification, and become addictive. When we explain how the brain reacts, we reduce shame and secrecy.

For step-by-step help, Defend Young Minds created the guide My Kid Saw Porn! Now What? It helps parents respond with a calm, protective plan that preserves trust while helping their child move forward.

How can adults start the conversation about porn in age-appropriate ways before their kids have been exposed?

Parents don’t need to wait for “the sex talk” to begin warning children about pornography. The best time to start is as soon as a child has any access to the internet, because exposure can happen accidentally through phones, tablets, gaming systems, social media, music apps, ads, or another child’s device. Our Jr. book and the free companion play guide is perfect for getting started. 

With young children, keep it simple. Start with the idea that there are good pictures and bad pictures. Good pictures help us remember people, places, and things we love. Bad pictures show private parts of the body or people acting in ways that are not safe, respectful, or healthy. Then give children three things: an age-appropriate definition, a warning that pornography can hurt their minds and hearts, and a plan for what to do.

The Good Pictures Bad Pictures read-aloud books make these conversations much easier. Parents can also find practical articles, guides, and conversation tools at Defend Young Minds and follow us on Instagram and Facebook for ongoing tips.

Travel Tidbits - Best Hotel Rewards Programs

With a busy summer travel season expected and consumers looking for ways to cut costs wherever they can, WalletHub today released its study on the Best Hotel Rewards Programs of 2026 to help travelers maximize their savings.

WalletHub’s study ranks the nine largest U.S. hotel chains’ rewards programs based on 21 key metrics, including the average value of a point, point expiration policies, and the volatility of award-night pricing. WalletHub’s study also includes a handy calculator that allows travelers to customize the results based on their specific spending habits.

Key Findings

• Best Hotel Rewards Program: Choice Privileges is the best hotel loyalty program overall, earning a WalletHub Rating of 62 out of 100.
   
• Significant Savings Available: The five best hotel rewards programs save their members an average of 10%. In some cases, members can save as much as 14% at select hotels.
   
• Award Nights at Any Property: Six of the top nine hotel rewards programs allow members to redeem points for award nights at all of their brands/properties. Marriott Bonvoy, Choice Privileges and IHG One Rewards are the exceptions.
   
• Rewards That Never Expire Are Rare: Best Western is the only major hotel chain whose points do not expire due to account inactivity.
   
• Best Hotel Credit Card: Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard® is 2026’s best hotel credit card, according to WalletHub’s editors. It stands out because it can save the average person more than $4,000 over the course of two years.
  
   

“What can you do when summer travel is both nonnegotiable and unaffordable? You look high and low for ways to cut costs and save up. Joining a free hotel rewards program is one such savings opportunity that people often overlook. Members can save 6% to 14% thanks to perks such as discounted room rates and the ability to earn free nights. Pair that with the right hotel rewards credit card, and you’re looking at some serious savings. This strategy might not solve the puzzle of summer travel affordability all by itself, but it could be an important piece.”

- Chip Lupo, WalletHub Analyst
 

 

More from WalletHub

• Best Travel Credit Cards
• Best Credit Cards for International Travel
• Best Frequent Flyer Programs
• Best Airline Credit Cards
• Best Airlines

Enriching Education - The TurfMutt Foundation Helps Combat “Summer Slide” and Screen Fatigue with Free Outdoor STEM Lessons

 The TurfMutt Foundation, which advocates for the care and use of backyards, public parks, school yards and other green spaces, reminds parents and guardians of its free educational resources designed to entice kids away from their screens and into the green space around them this summer. 

The TurfMutt Foundation offers downloadable activity guides, interactive lesson plans and outdoor exploration challenges tailored for children in grades K-8. These hands-on lessons are rooted in STEM standards and encourage kids to engage with the “outdoor learning labs” of their backyards and community parks. 

“Our lessons are designed to help kids see the world through the eyes of Mulligan the TurfMutt’s – where every backyard is a living laboratory to be explored,” explains Kris Kiser, President and CEO of the TurfMutt Foundation. Mulligan is a real-life rescue dog and “spokesdog” of the Foundation. “By following Mulligan’s lead into the green spaces around them, students develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills while forming a lifelong connection with the environment.”

Families can watch a quick “Mulligan Minute” for inspiration before heading outside to start their own exploration. See the latest segments from CBS Lucky Dog at https://www.turfmutt.com/education/videos.   

The TurfMutt educational suite includes lessons on: 

•    Environmental Superpowers: Understanding how green space produces oxygen, combats heat islands and traps carbon. 
•    Bio-Mapping: Identifying and charting local flora and fauna to understand neighborhood diversity.
•    Rain Gauging: Tracking rainfall patterns to understand drought and water conservation.
•    Wildlife Support: Learning how backyard biodiversity helps ecosystems thrive and supports pollinators.

To download TurfMutt’s free educational resources, visit TurfMutt.com.

About the TurfMutt Foundation
TurfMutt, which celebrated its 15th anniversary in 2024, was created by the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute’s (OPEI) TurfMutt Foundation and has reached more than 70 million children, educators, and families since 2009. The Foundation is title sponsor of “Lucky Dog,” the Emmy Award-winning CBS broadcast television show in support of dog rescue and rehabilitation. Both TurfMutt spokesdogs have been rescue dogs, and Mutt Mulligan is a cast character on the show, where her “Mulligan Minute” segments teach viewers about the benefits of green space. In 2024, the Great Lawn at Louisville’s award-winning Waterfront Park on the Ohio River was renamed the TurfMutt Foundation Great Lawn as part of a $1 million sponsorship. Championed by Mulligan the TurfMutt, and through education partners such as Scholastic, Discovery, Weekly Reader, and the USBGC Global Learning Lab, TurfMutt has taught students and teachers how to “save the planet, one yard at a time.” TurfMutt has been an education resource at the U.S. Department of Education’s Green Ribbon Schools, the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Green Apple, the Center for Green Schools, the Outdoors Alliance for Kids, the National Energy Education Development (NEED) project, Climate Change Live, Petfinder and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. In 2017, the TurfMutt animated video series won the coveted Cynopsis Kids Imagination Award for Best Interstitial Series. More information at https://www.turfmutt.com/ 

Enriching Education - Learning from Greek Drama

Since You’re Mortal: Life Lessons from the Lost Greek Plays by James Romm, PhD is a collection of short passages from ancient Greek plays that no longer exist.

I had a chance to learn more about what ancient Greek wisdom has to offer today in this interview.

How did Greek drama serve a role as moral education?

Greek drama was one of the primary ways citizens explored ethical questions in the ancient world. Tragedies and comedies presented characters facing difficult choices involving justice, power, loyalty, ambition, family, and mortality. Audiences were invited to reflect on the consequences of those choices and consider what it means to live wisely and honorably. In that sense, the theater served as a public classroom for civic and moral reflection.

What can modern students learn from ancient Greek plays?

Modern students can learn that many of the challenges we face today are not new. The Greeks grappled with political polarization, abuses of power, social conflict, grief, love, friendship, and the search for meaning. These plays encourage critical thinking, empathy, and self-examination while showing that human nature has remained remarkably consistent across centuries.

Why is it important to recognize lesser-known tragedies and comedies, even if we only have excerpts?

The surviving masterpieces of Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, and Aristophanes represent only a small fraction of ancient Greek drama. The fragments of lost plays preserve voices, ideas, and perspectives that would otherwise have disappeared entirely. They broaden our understanding of Greek culture and remind us that history is often shaped as much by what survives as by what was originally created. Even a single surviving passage can contain insights that continue to speak to readers today.

James Romm, PhD.  is the James H. Ottaway Jr. Professor of Classics at Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York. He specializes in ancient Greek and Roman culture and civilization and is the author of numerous acclaimed books, including Plato and the Tyrant, Ghost on the Throne, and Dying Every Day. In addition to writing narrative history, he has edited and translated major works of classical literature for modern readers, helping bring the ancient world into contemporary conversation.

Romm’s reviews and essays have appeared in The New Yorker, The Wall Street Journal, The London Review of Books, The Daily Beast, and other publications. His honors include a Guggenheim Fellowship, a Birkelund Fellowship at the Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center for Writers and Scholars at the New York Public Library, and a Biography Fellowship at the Leon Levy Center for  Biography at the City University of New York.

Book Nook - The Twin Stars and the Soccer Superstar

 le grade story as the NWSL game was just announced to be in Atlanta and the World Cup this summer will be hosted there as well! Inspired by the author’s desire to see more stories where girls in sports are portrayed as more than just competitors, The Twin Stars and the Soccer Superstar (June 9, SparkPress) by Atlanta local Kristine Rudolph follows soccer-obsessed sixth grader, Cassaty, as she faces a season that will test both her heart and courage.

For Cassaty, Spring in Texas Hill Country means two things: state soccer playoffs and the anniversary of her twin brother’s death. When the Battling Billies’ star midfielder suddenly disappears, Cassaty throws herself into finding her teammate and hopefully, doing so will help her family heal.

 

Blending the thrill of a sports mystery with the deeply relatable exploration of loss, The Twin Stars and the Soccer Superstar unpacks the pressure to perform, the ache of silent grief, and the complicated beauty of family.

 

I had a chance to learn more in this interview.

What inspired the storyline of your book?

I have three children and two of them are girls who play soccer. They’ve played since they were four years old and now I have a high school senior who is committed to play in college as well as an 8th grader excited to play in high school. My girls are about the same years apart as Katey and Cassaty, the two soccer players in the book.

Watching my girls interact with the game, I got really interested in questions around pressure and expectations. I think most parents get their kids involved with sports and other activities because they hope they will stay physically active plus learn skills like teamwork, discipline, collaboration and how to win or lose well. But I also think most parents expect their kids to have fun and, somewhere along the path from childhood to adolescence, I think kids often lose their joy in what they do. 

Sometimes the loss of joy means the child needs to shift her interests. Sometimes it’s the normal loss of exuberance that accompanies puberty. As a parent both of those can be difficult to witness and tough to navigate but not excruciating because it feels developmental and normal. On the other hand, when activities stop being fun because of external pressures and oversized expectations, that’s something we need to unpack. Thinking about these ideas helped me carve out my story.

What has been the biggest surprise about the publication process?

This isn’t something I’ve learned through publication, but more from the decades spent working to be published. I have a longtime critique partner. She’s so talented. She’s dedicated so much time to her craft and to the business of books. Her manuscripts are fantastic and she makes mine infinitely better than they would be without her advice. She has two novels that I absolutely adore. Both are better than so much in the marketplace now. Yet, she has struggled to get representation and still hasn’t sold a book as of this writing. It’s shocking to me that work can be that good and yet readers can’t get their hands on it!

How would you describe your writing style?

I write contemporary realism for kids around the age of 9 up to about 12. I try to write for today’s readers, so that means shorter paragraphs than the books I grew up devouring. I try to present characters who grow and change through challenge. I have a lot of respect for children and especially child readers, so I hope my style reflects that.

What do you hope readers take away from the book?

While The Twin Stars and the Soccer Superstar is a rompy mystery with soccer at its center, it’s also about loss, grief, mental health and the ways in which those things can get integrated into the daily life of a family to the point that they can be difficult to recognize. I hope my young readers will finish Cassaty’s story with heightened self-awareness but also feeling less responsibility to solve their grown-ups’ problems.

Kristine Rudolph is a mom of three with two soccer-playing daughters, a left-winger and a defensive back who won her high school state championship in 2024. Kristine splits her time between Atlanta, Georgia, and Austin, Texas. 

Parenting Pointers - AI and Child Development

This summer, parents will once again debate with their children about how much screen time is too much. But the rapid increase of AI available to kids may make it even harder to replace the screens with swimming pools.

 

I had a chance to interview distinguished educator, developmental theorist and author Dr. Jonathan Strecker. He discusses why unstructured summer play matters more than ever in this AI worl, drawing insights from his new book Emergence and his YouTube channel. Learn how AI is shaping how children learn and think - and why this convenience doesn't always lead to improved intelligence.

How does screen time affect child development?

Screen time affects child development most when it begins to replace the real experiences children need to grow. I’m not anti-technology per se, and I don’t think screens are evil. The concern is overdependence, causing underdeveloped children. Children develop through friction: physical movement, social conversation, ethical dilemmas, intellectual challenges, and emotional difficulties that trigger our fight, flight, and freeze responses, requiring us to regulate ourselves. When screens become the default solution to every uncomfortable moment, kids miss opportunities to build those capacities. Too much passive screen time can weaken attention, patience, emotional balance, physical exertion, and social confidence. It can also train children to expect constant stimulation and immediate answers. In the age of AI, that matters because children need to learn how to think, not just how to access answers. So the issue is not only screen time. The issue is what screen time is replacing, as well as other conveniences.

Why is it actually good for kids to experience boredom and unstructured play time?

Boredom is underappreciated. It’s not a parenting failure. We love our children, but there is a difference between entertainment and ease, and love. Boredom often the beginning of creativity and self-development (Knowing who we want to become). When a child is bored, they have to generate something from within themselves. They have to imagine, explore, build, move, talk to someone, invent a game, or sit with their own thoughts. That is incredibly important developmentally. Unstructured play is powerful because it develops the whole child. A simple backyard game can build physical, social, emotional, ethical, and intellectual intelligence all at once. Kids have to negotiate rules, handle frustration, take turns, resolve conflicts, and adapt. That kind of play may look inefficient to adults, but it’s actually deeply developmental. In Emergence, I argue that children don’t develop by accident. They emerge through friction. Boredom and unstructured play provide exactly that kind of healthy breeding ground for development.

How can families reduce kids’ dependence on screens?

I think the first step is to stop treating screens as the default response to boredom, discomfort, or inconvenience. Families don’t have to become extreme or anti-technology, but they do need to be more intentional. Start with a few screen-free anchors: meals, the first hour after waking up, the hour before bed, and short car rides. Those moments create space for conversation, reflection, boredom, and connection.Second, replace screen time with real-world alternatives. If you only take the screen away, the child experiences loss. But if you offer outdoor play, books, sports, art, chores, building projects, cooking, or time with friends, you’re giving them another place to put their energy. They will resist at first, but they will come to love it when their minds begin to activate. Third, parents have to model it. Kids notice when adults say screens are a problem while constantly checking their own phones. And finally, make boredom normal. A simple phrase I like is: “Being bored is not an emergency.” Children need to learn that they can survive boredom and often create something meaningful on the other side of it.

What are some engaging summer activities for kids that build skills AI can’t replace?

Summer is a huge opportunity because it gives kids more space for real-world development. In an AI age, I think families should focus on activities that build deeply human capacities. Some great examples are building something with their hands, starting a small summer business, playing a sport, joining theater or music, hiking, camping, cooking, volunteering, reading real books, or learning practical life skills. A lemonade stand may sound simple, but it teaches communication, planning, math, responsibility, confidence, and dealing with disappointment. Building a garden box teaches measurement, patience, physical effort, and problem-solving. Volunteering teaches empathy and ethical awareness. These are the kinds of skills AI can’t replace because AI can’t live a child’s life for them. It can provide information, but it cannot build their character, move their body, form their friendships, or teach them the confidence that comes from doing something hard. 

AI Intelligence is built for ease, comfort, and optimization. Human intelligence is built for wisdom, social connection, resilience, virtue, and health. AI will never be able to think in that way without lived experience.  That’s why I think summer should not just be about keeping kids busy. It should be about helping them emerge.

Jonathan P. Strecker, Ed.D., is a distinguished educator and developmental theorist who hosts his own YouTube channel aimed at helping individuals realize their own unique human potential. His book Emergence: How Modern Convenience is Dumbing Down Our Children––And What Parents and Schools Can Do About It is available now.