Child development

Japanese Americans have played baseball in SoCal for 100 years, but the last Japanese American youth league in LA County — Sansei Baseball — is shrinking.

from KCRW Features

In “Possible Selves,” Shaun Kadlec captures the inspiring stories of LA foster teens as they navigate their dreams of graduating college.

from KCRW Features

Black students do better academically when they have at least one Black teacher, research shows. But LA Unified is struggling to recruit and retain those educators.

Facing a shortage of Black teachers, LAUSD gets creative

Black students do better academically when they have at least one Black teacher, research shows. But LA Unified is struggling to recruit and retain those educators.

from KCRW Features

Lulu’s Place will offer LA kids free sports and academic programs inside state-of-the-art facilities funded by major donations.

Lulu’s Place: $150M philanthropic project for LA youth breaks ground

Lulu’s Place will offer LA kids free sports and academic programs inside state-of-the-art facilities funded by major donations.

from KCRW Features

Expansions of The Broad museum and the Colburn School represent investments in the arts on Grand Ave. Neither design is oriented toward drivers or parking.

Museums, concerts, and no driving? Grand Ave enters new era

Expansions of The Broad museum and the Colburn School represent investments in the arts on Grand Ave. Neither design is oriented toward drivers or parking.

from KCRW Features

Technology has devastated kids’ abilities to connect and learn. Pew data from 2022 says nearly half of teens were online almost constantly.

‘Forever elsewhere’: Social media is worsening youth mental health

Technology has devastated kids’ abilities to connect and learn. Pew data from 2022 says nearly half of teens were online almost constantly.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

In the 1990s, a reading strategy called “balanced literacy” took over CA public schools. The problem? Kids didn’t learn to read. Now, phonics is making a comeback.

CA kids learning to read may finally get hooked on phonics

In the 1990s, a reading strategy called “balanced literacy” took over CA public schools. The problem? Kids didn’t learn to read. Now, phonics is making a comeback.

from KCRW Features

“The ABCs of Book Banning” is an Oscar-nominated short documentary about the recent push by conservative states and school districts to ban books about race and gender identity on…

Reading is freedom of speech, says ‘ABCs of Book Banning’ director

“The ABCs of Book Banning” is an Oscar-nominated short documentary about the recent push by conservative states and school districts to ban books about race and gender identity on…

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Reporter Helena Bottemiller Evich unravels issues with the global food chain in the case of cinnamon applesauce pouches tainted with lead.

How did lead get into children's applesauce pouches? Officials still don't know

Reporter Helena Bottemiller Evich unravels issues with the global food chain in the case of cinnamon applesauce pouches tainted with lead.

from Good Food

Senators berated Mark Zuckerberg and four other social media CEOs on child safety and their platforms. But there’s no consensus on legislation to address it.

Emotions run high at Senate hearing on social media and child exploitation

Senators berated Mark Zuckerberg and four other social media CEOs on child safety and their platforms. But there’s no consensus on legislation to address it.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

With state governments largely abdicating any role in getting kids back into classrooms, some schools have turned to private companies for a reimagined version of the truant officer.

Chronic absenteeism crisis: Quarter of kids miss 10+ days per year

With state governments largely abdicating any role in getting kids back into classrooms, some schools have turned to private companies for a reimagined version of the truant officer.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Preschools that receive state funding largely can’t expel or suspend students. What does that mean for schools that have seen an uptick in bad behavior?

CA generally can’t kick out unruly preschoolers. How are teachers faring?

Preschools that receive state funding largely can’t expel or suspend students. What does that mean for schools that have seen an uptick in bad behavior?

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Caleigh and Candice touch the “third rail” of climate change: Is it better for the planet if you decide not to have a child – and should you factor that into your own family planning…

Should I have children?

Caleigh and Candice touch the “third rail” of climate change: Is it better for the planet if you decide not to have a child – and should you factor that into your own family planning…

from The Anti-Dread Climate Podcast

California and dozens of other states are suing Meta, alleging it intentionally built Facebook and Instagram with addictive features that harm young users.

States take Meta to court. Can they rein in big tech?

California and dozens of other states are suing Meta, alleging it intentionally built Facebook and Instagram with addictive features that harm young users.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

For some teens nationwide, LinkedIn is currently the hot social media platform. That’s according to Anya Kamenetz, a writer who covers parenting.

Why are some teens choosing LinkedIn over Instagram and TikTok?

For some teens nationwide, LinkedIn is currently the hot social media platform. That’s according to Anya Kamenetz, a writer who covers parenting.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Orange Unified School District is the latest in the state to require schools to notify parents if students come out as transgender. What’s driving these policies?

‘Forced outing’: Parental rights activists clash with LGBTQ advocates

Orange Unified School District is the latest in the state to require schools to notify parents if students come out as transgender. What’s driving these policies?

from Greater LA

CA Attorney General Rob Bonta on Monday sued the Chino school district over its policy requiring staff to notify parents if students identify as a different gender at school.

Chino school district’s ‘forced outing’ policy: Student safety at risk?

CA Attorney General Rob Bonta on Monday sued the Chino school district over its policy requiring staff to notify parents if students identify as a different gender at school.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Los Angeles Unified has opened a new grade to all 4-year-olds — called universal transitional kindergarten. Who’s enrolling? Why are many families opting out?

LA Unified has a brand new grade. Will 4-year-olds enroll?

Los Angeles Unified has opened a new grade to all 4-year-olds — called universal transitional kindergarten. Who’s enrolling? Why are many families opting out?

from Greater LA

The Huntington Beach City Council recently moved ahead with a plan to restrict access for children and teens to books deemed “obscene” at public libraries.

Who gets to decide what's ‘obscene’ in restricting access to books?

The Huntington Beach City Council recently moved ahead with a plan to restrict access for children and teens to books deemed “obscene” at public libraries.

from Greater LA

Family estrangements have become increasingly common in recent years between adult children and their parents. What's changed and what can be done to bridge the divide?

Rules of estrangement: Why are adult children cutting off their parents?

Family estrangements have become increasingly common in recent years between adult children and their parents. What's changed and what can be done to bridge the divide?

from Life Examined