Excessive screen time is a major problem
If your child's first word was "ipaddy," you might be in trouble. The UK government is warning parents to closely monitor their toddlers' screen time usage.

New research has found that children aged two with the highest screen use (five hours a day) can say significantly fewer words than those who only had 45 minutes of screen time. The study also determined that 98% of two-year-olds are watching screens daily.

The UK's education secretary, Bridget Phillipson, acknowledges that "screens are part of family life" now, so the question isn't if we should use them, it's how we should use them.

She also notes that "too much passive screen time can start to crowd out the talking, play and reading that are so important for children’s language and development in the early years."

So, what can you do about it? Well, you can start by reading this article, which gives you three ways to lower your household's screen time usage.

Then you can check out our "Things You Need" section below for some great screen-free toy recs!

🧈 How were the pyramids built? Butter, baby!
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. revealed a new food pyramid last week, with red meat, cheese, vegetables and fruits pictured near the top. The new dietary guidelines warn against ultra-processed foods and place importance on eating "real foods," but some experts are concerned with the glorification of saturated fats, specifically the promotion of red meat, cheese and butter. Read all about it here.

💉 CDC reducing recommended vaccines for all kids
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention made a pretty shocking change to vaccine guidelines for children. Vaccines that had previously been recommended for all children (rotavirus, hepatitis A and B, meningitis and RSV) will now only be recommended for high-risk children. Read more on the medical consensus here.

🦄 Three food myths we can throw out in 2026
Ever heard the myth that you shouldn't eat anything you can't pronounce? Can you pronounce Dihydroxycholecalciferol? Chances are you can't, but you do need it! Check out the full list here.

💪 What the heck is friction-maxxing?
You may have seen this term popping up on your social media feed, but what exactly is it? Well, broadly, it's about building up our collective tolerance for "inconvenience," in order to strengthen our character. What would this look like for kids?

📈 IVF has led to a record number of single mothers
Is that a bad thing?

👱‍♀️ There's a new Barbie in town
and she's autistic!

🧀 Oh, and there's a major cheese recall
Check your fridge for Pecorino Romano cheese.

Your toddler doesn't need a screen to be entertained! We've scoured the web to find the best screen-free toys for the toddler in your life.

First up? We're going old school with Stretch Armstrong and this $12 Play-Doh starter pack. Both options are super affordable and can help build fine motor skills and boost imagination!

We've talked about magnetic tiles before, but magnetic blocks are even better for toddlers because they're easier to build with and have stronger connections. Some parents have noticed their kids become frustrated with the unreliability of the tiles. The blocks correct this issue! 

Melissa & Doug Wooden Pretend Play Sets are so fun and can keep your little one entertained for hours. There's a number of different sets, with one of the most popular being their Ice Cream Counter & Coffee Maker Bundle.

Everyone loves trains, right? BRIO's battery operated wooden toy train set boosts imagination and encourages fine motor & planning skills.

Finally, the Toniebox makes screen-free play simple and fun. It's easy-to-use, and features screen-free audio stories and songs that encourage imagination, listening skills, and simple controls toddlers can manage themselves.

Crunchy Asian-Inspired Slaw with Rotisserie Chicken
My favorite thing about a recipe like this is that it's fast, it’s filling, and it somehow feels intentional — even though the main protein came from the grocery store already cooked.

Ingredients

• 3–4 cups shredded cabbage (I like a mix of red and green or you could cut prep time even more by using a pre-made coleslaw mix)
• 2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken
• 1 cup shredded carrots
• ½ cup sliced almonds or cashews
• 2–3 scallions, sliced
• Optional extras: snap peas, edamame, red bell pepper, cilantro.

For the Dressing

• ¼ cup sesame or neutral oil
• 2 tbsp rice vinegar
• 1 tbsp soy sauce or tamari
• 1 tbsp honey or maple syrup
• 1 tsp toasted sesame oil
• 1 clove garlic, grated

Instructions

a. Add cabbage, chicken, carrots, nuts, and scallions to a large bowl.
b. Whisk dressing ingredients until smooth (or shake in a jar).
c. Toss everything together until well coated.
d. Taste and adjust — more acid, more salt, or more crunch as needed.

Quick Tip: Plating this salad on an oversized platter (here's one of my favorites!) is a great way to level up dinner and fool everyone into thinking this took more time to prepare than it did.

Also, this holds up surprisingly well for leftovers. If you’re planning ahead, keep the nuts and dressing separate and add them right before eating to keep everything crunchy.

Last week, we asked you about flu status in your household, and the majority of you said, "No flu shot, no flu" while "No flu shot, got the flu" and "Got flu shot, got flu" came in a close second and third. So, uh, we've learned nothing!