Parent & Caregiver Guides

Despite the challenges this year, teachers really came through for students and families. Let them know how much you appreciate them!

Recognizing outstanding media, Common Sense Selections include age-appropriate movies, TV series and specials, and games that have the potential to spark family conversations, entertain families of all kinds, and have a positive, lasting effect on society.

Struggling to keep up with the media and tech your kids are using? Whether you're trying to figure out Tik Tok, Roblox Snapchat, Fortnite, or more, we've got you covered.

Host Ann Marie Baldonado checks in with authors, educators, and celebrities to bring you real-world stories and tips. You'll hear parents' candid stories because, let's face it: Raising kids in quarantine is a challenge none of us saw coming.

Create a media agreement with your kid to set expectations and ground rules about device use.

Receive free text message tips about how to practice healthy media habits at home with your family!

Prepare kids to think critically and use technology in positive, creative, and powerful ways (available in multiple languages).

Get kids engaged with words and give them the supports to understand definitions, uses, and meanings.

Dramatic, disturbing news events can leave parents speechless. These age-based tips on how to talk to kids about the news -- and listen, too -- can help.

Show you care by sending a thank you card. Choose to print, color, or send electronically.

Join Elephant and Piggy creator Mo Williams for Thank-You Thursdays. Think of someone to thank, make them a card, and sing a thank-you song.

Create cool images and designs in minutes with this easy-to-use tool.

These few simple practices can help your family find a healthy balance with media and tech, even during distance learning.

Use this flowchart to find the best way to support a healthy and age appropriate use of YouTube with young kids.

This guide explains the benefits of digital learning and helps parents and caregivers understand best practices for distance learning.

Are you wondering why your child is struggling? Use this step-by-step tool to help you figure out whether the struggles you’re seeing might be signs of a learning or thinking difference.

Five steps to help your child stay on track, no matter where learning takes place.

Three simple steps to help you partner with your child's teacher.

Help keep kids focused, interested, and balanced while learning from home.

Set expectations for device care, online behavior, learning responsibilities, and more with this customizable agreement in English and Spanish.

Discuss expectations for online communication, safety, device use, and more with your tween or teen using this customizable agreement in English and Spanish.

Set kids up for success by doing a trial run, testing your equipment, and reviewing appropriate behavior for online lessons.

Even though media and tech are essential for distance learning, families can find balance by following a few simple practices.

More time online might expose kids to more mean online behavior. Help kids dodge the drama and stand up for others with these key tips.

Try these simple tips to help your kid find a love of math.

Use these worksheet packets for kids in grades K–5 to get them up to speed with essential math skills.

These plans have daily math activities, along with digitally accessible and downloadable resources.

Look for opportunities to practice basic math concepts every day with young kids.

Practice math by incorporating these ideas into your daily routine.

Check out the games and choose one that provides practice on a familiar or new concept.

Learn easy tips to incorporate basic math activities for young kids.

Innovative online math curriculum offers live whole- and small-group instruction along with adaptive independent practice.

Access over 1,000 free video lessons to enhance your math instruction or tailor the learning to kids' needs.

Guide kids through the transition from foundational concepts to deeper math skills with engaging activities that build their math fluency and confidence.

Jump into early math with tools to help kids learn counting, estimation, rounding, representing data, and measurement skills.

Prepare students for learning beyond high school with advanced algebra, calculus, test practice, and lots of real-life problem-solving.

Get kids engaged with words and give them the supports to understand definitions, uses, and meanings.

Support children’s positive identity development while enhancing their language and literacy skills with activities, museum objects, and new words.

This free program includes nine weeks of daily literacy practice to help kids in grades 1 to 3 catch up or stay on track.

Learn about the benefits of writing and how you can encourage your kid's writing abilities.

Find advice, recommendations, videos, and more for teachers and families of English-language learners.

Choose a book, read it yourself, or listen and follow along to fiction and nonfiction.

Read these tips to support specific reading skills at home.

Playful literacy activity ideas for young kids you can add to your everyday routine. Available in English and Spanish.

Use your daily routine as an opportunity for vocabulary building with these tips.

Choose your grade level (2–9) and then an interactive lesson to build vocabulary and reading comprehension.

Browse high-interest articles on everything from current events to science—each available in five Lexile levels ranging from grade 3 to 12.

Focus on essential early literacy skills like sight words, word families, and letter-sound recognition.

Dramatic, disturbing news events can leave parents speechless. These age-based tips on how to talk to kids about the news -- and listen, too -- can help.

Use this resource to help your kid learn how to push through all kinds of challenges.

The sense of belonging is important for kids' physical and mental well-being. Learn how to help them feel part of their school community.

Use these age-based tips and questions to have conversations as a family about disturbing events.

In a world where even little kids learn about horrific subjects, it's important for parents to put things in perspective, field questions, and search for answers together

Learn more about keeping media and tech use healthy and positive for older kids and teens.

Cut out the cards and drop them into a jar. Try one, two, or 10 to keep the family thinking and creating while school's out!

A positive growth mindset can make kids more resilient when it comes to learning. With this tool, you can learn more about it.

Learn how slowing down and taking some time to focus on mindfulness can help you and your family enjoy this holiday season.

Discover which character strengths your kid displays most often and how to help them develop them further.

Practicing gratitude is key for happiness and resilience. Use these tips to teach your kids about this important character strength.

Watch Common Sense for a discussion about how you, media, and tech companies can help give all voters, and especially young voters, the resources and tools necessary to separate fact from fiction and make sense of election news and social media coverage this election season and beyond.

Watch this video about using Family Link with a school account on a Chromebook. Learn about safety and accessibility features.

There are no silly questions when it comes to the technology your kid will be learning on.

Learn more about this popular classroom management tool so you can best support your kid's online learning.

What is Zoombombing? Is Zoom safe for kids? Get answers to your most pressing questions about this popular video-conferencing tool.

Watch this video to learn how to use this translation app.

If your kid's teacher is using Seesaw Class to share assignments, check out these tips on how to use the app from your mobile device.

Watch this video to learn about the tool many educators use to communicate with families and students.

If your kid's teacher is using Microsoft Teams for distance learning, follow these steps to use the app from your mobile device or desktop computer.

From parental controls to consequences for misuse, here's everything you need to know about using your kid's school computer for distance learning.

If your kid's teacher is using Schoology to run classroom activities, check out these tips on how to use the app.

Watch this video to understand the basics of Zoom.

Despite the challenges this year, teachers really came through for students and families. Let them know how much you appreciate them!

Show you care by sending a thank you card. Choose to print, color, or send electronically.

Join Elephant and Piggy creator Mo Williams for Thank-You Thursdays. Think of someone to thank, make them a card, and sing a thank-you song.

Create cool images and designs in minutes with this easy-to-use tool.

Help your child talk about appreciation by making cards for the special people in their life.

Grab a piece of paper and some colored pencils and make something beautiful for your family member!

Mix up some yummy cookies with pantry staples. Add whatever you have in the kitchen and learn some solid substitution skills.

Make a simple tree of thanks together, and bolster your family’s gratitude practice—maybe even start a new family tradition!

Watch this video to find out why being grateful makes us happier. Then take a minute to focus on the things you're thankful for.

This easy-to-use digital book-making tool lets kids publish their own writing with images, sound, and video.

Recognizing outstanding media, Common Sense Selections include age-appropriate movies, TV series and specials, and games that have the potential to spark family conversations, entertain families of all kinds, and have a positive, lasting effect on society.

Struggling to keep up with the media and tech your kids are using? Whether you're trying to figure out Tik Tok, Roblox Snapchat, Fortnite, or more, we've got you covered.

Host Ann Marie Baldonado checks in with authors, educators, and celebrities to bring you real-world stories and tips. You'll hear parents' candid stories because, let's face it: Raising kids in quarantine is a challenge none of us saw coming.

Create a media agreement with your kid to set expectations and ground rules about device use.

Receive free text message tips about how to practice healthy media habits at home with your family!

Prepare kids to think critically and use technology in positive, creative, and powerful ways (available in multiple languages).

These few simple practices can help your family find a healthy balance with media and tech, even during distance learning.

Even though media and tech are essential for distance learning, families can find balance by following a few simple practices.

Conversation with Common Sense brings together authors, experts, and thought leaders for meaningful and timely dialogue on what it means to raise healthy and happy kids in the digital age.