Parenting

Professors warn that the race among parents to give their children an advantage has intensified to unprecedented levels, with families investing more time, money and effort than ever in activities meant to boost their kids' prospects. The commentary taps into broader anxieties about education, college admissions and raising children in an increasingly competitive environment.

The European Union is preparing to restrict social media access for children under the age of 15, according to news reports. The measure would place the EU among the strictest regulators of minors' online activity, and it has already sparked discussion about age verification, parental responsibility and how platforms would enforce such a ban across member states.

A new study finds that parents with two daughters rank among the happiest in the world. The finding has sparked discussion about how family composition affects parental wellbeing, with readers debating whether having daughters specifically makes a difference or whether other factors explain the link. Parenting commentators are weighing in on the research and what it suggests about family life and happiness.

A commentary argues that teenagers entering their first jobs need explicit guidance from parents about workplace risks, including harassment and unsafe situations, with the blunt advice to 'teach them where to run'. It highlights how little preparation young workers receive for the realities of employment, and how parents are being urged to have frank conversations before teens start work.

Leeds is preparing to host a major conference on inclusion for West Yorkshire next month, according to the Yorkshire Evening Post. The event is expected to bring together people from across the region to discuss inclusion issues, though details on speakers, attendees and the programme have not yet been announced.

The Washington Post is examining platonic co-parenting, an arrangement in which friends or committed non-romantic partners raise children together without being a couple. The feature asks whether this model could become a mainstream family structure as more people delay or opt out of marriage while still wanting children. It highlights how single adults and friends are increasingly choosing to build households and share parenting responsibilities deliberately.

Debate is growing over whether social media platforms should carry health warnings similar to those on tobacco or alcohol, aimed at encouraging young users to spend less time online. Supporters argue such labels could raise awareness of risks to mental health and sleep, while critics question whether warnings alone would change behaviour among teenagers.