Best of the Web: TikTok, YouTube Kids and more – what parents need to know

(ParentTV)

So, you’re on Facebook, and think you’ve got a pretty good handle on this social media thing. Think again – there is a whole new and rapidly evolving world online being explored by young people, and as this article details, some of it is putting kids at risk. This is a guide to some of the social media apps and games that are now popular, from TikTok to Fornite, with a risk rating on each.

(Maryam Abdullah, Greater Good Magazine)

The pandemic has put plenty of stress on families, with lockdowns and the challenges of remote learning. But there are positives, highlighted by this article that explores how the experience can help children deepen their sense of care. The author outlines three ways this can be encouraged, such as showing compassion to kids so they experience receiving it.

(Patrick Galloway and Johanna McDiarmid, ABC News)

You’ve probably heard of Mixed Martial Arts or MMA, a combination of boxing, jujitsu and wrestling. Internationally, the sport’s household names include the likes of  Conor McGregor and Ronda Rousey. This article looks at how MMA is finding an enthusiastic following among some families. ‘They come home with a lot of discipline,’ one mum explains. ‘Here, when they tell them “no”, it means no.’

(Sally Weale, The Guardian)

New research shows that fathers playing with their kids at a very early age helps children control their behaviour and emotions.  The study looked at how mothers and fathers played with their children up to the age of three, and the impact on development. ‘While there are many similarities, it found that fathers tend to engage in more physical play like tickling, chasing, and piggy-back rides, which researchers claim appears to help children to learn to control their feelings.’