#1 Threat To Kids? Screen Time

TOP OF MIND

Screen time is a bad time
Part of being a parent is accepting the fact that your kid would likely save their phone over you if your house caught on fire.

And while we can often laugh off the addiction to screen time, some experts believe we should be taking it much more seriously. According to a recent study coming out of the U.K., a third of 4-year-olds can't dress themselves or communicate their needs to an adult. 45% are unable to sit still and nearly a quarter aren't properly potty trained.

What's this have to do with phones? Well, more than 50% of teachers believe screen time is the #1 contributing factor.

More than 25% of three- and four-year-olds own their own smartphone and over 50% of children under the age of 13 are active on social media.

The important bits
Speech and language therapist Sandy Chapell revealed she has seen a noticeable decline in children's communication skills over the last 10 years. She has seen more young children being referred with delayed speech and language abilities as well as poor social, attention and listening skills.

And while nearly half of secondary schools in England ban students from using smartphones, new research shows these bans don't have much of an impact, because by that point, kids are already addicted.

This is why some experts are suggesting a "baby phone ban."

More evidence that reducing screen time at a younger age is crucial? New research shows that a quarter of 13-18 year olds use devices for two hours each school day. By this point, the addiction has already set in.

What's it all mean?
Set screen time limits. Here's how to start early.

DID YOU HEAR

💸 Is your kid destined to become a billionaire?
A bored writer looked at Forbes Real-Time Billionaires List to determine the most common names for some of the wealthiest men and women. According to the stats, Michael is the top billionaire baby name for boys and Maria is top for girls. We suggest not taking any chances though. Name your baby MichaelMaria. View the full list here.

🤰 Does it really take two years to recover from childbirth?
Mom-of-three, Alexandra Kay, went viral on Instagram after posting a video suggesting it takes two years to recover from childbirth. "To have hormones regulated, to feel energized again, to feel a different mentality, I truly believe it takes two years," she proudly states. Is there evidence to back up this claim? Well, maybe. Take a look here.

🛍️ Kids are being banned from shopping malls
Before the age of social media, teens would typically gather in person to get a healthy dose of social contact. And often, the local mall would be the preferred hangout spot, but that's a little more difficult these days. Not only have a lot of these malls closed, but those that are still open often ban unaccompanied minors. This journalist (and mom) says it's bad for business and for teens, noting how her local mall bans teens past 4 p.m. Additionally, AMC theaters will often turn away kids under the age of 17 if they don't have a parent, even if they're trying to watch a PG movie.

💄 43 best beauty products under $30
When it comes to beauty products, more expensive doesn't always mean more effective. In fact, some of the best beauty products can be found at your local drugstore. Click here to view the 43 best beauty products under $30. 

🧻 Reusable toilet paper?
This mom swears by it, and she's getting lots of hate for it.

DOSE OF GOOD

breakfastsam

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BITES WITH KIYAH

Eggs are eggspensive!
A dozen eggs at my local Kroger were $7.99 this weekend. My family will eat a dozen eggs on Saturday morning, without breaking a sweat. And I still need them throughout the week for other recipes and baked goods (hello, snacking cakes!)

Thankfully, I recently came across a cheat sheet for egg substitutions, and it's honestly been a lifesaver. Check out the cheat sheet here.

You're welcome!

HERE’S A QUESTION

Last week, we asked you if you'd send your kids to an influencer camp and 100% of you said, "No way!"

RECALLS

Not the baked goods!
Last week, we told you that broccoli from Walmart was being recalled, which okay... take our broccoli. We'll manage.

But now they're coming after our donuts? Nooooo!

The FDA recalled more than 2 million baked goods due to listeria concerns. Dunkin' was hit hard by this recall, being forced to remove a number of products, including Just Baked Yeast Rings, Just Baked Yeast Munchkins, Just Baked Sour Cream Cake Donuts, Just Baked Coffee Rolls, and Just Baked Eclairs.

Get all the info here.