#Familybonding

Across the world and in Thailand, the adolescent years can often feel like a season of distance between parents and their teens, as young people gravitate toward independence and peer circles. Yet, a recently viral parenting story has captured thousands of hearts online—and offers important food for thought for families everywhere. Stemming from a simple, daily challenge shared by a mother on TikTok, the experience of intentionally spending time with her teenage sons each day is sparking fresh conversations about the power of shared routines in nurturing family bonds during turbulent teen years.

Children in preteen years who regularly dine with family and spend quality time with parents enjoy longer, healthier sleep than peers caught up in family conflict or glued to screens, according to groundbreaking research presented at the SLEEP 2025 annual meeting. The findings, revealed in a study conducted by a team led by a postdoctoral researcher at SRI International in Menlo Park, California, shine a spotlight on how family dynamics and parental involvement can work as powerful levers to boost sleep health in Thai children aged 9 to 11—a critical stage for growth and development (Neuroscience News).

The recent “Four Fun (Parenting) Things” article on Cup of Jo spotlights light-hearted family activities—from letting kids wield a camera on vacation to innovative breakfast ideas, playing creative games like “Priorities,” sharing poems, and joining community livestreams. While these may sound like simple, everyday fun, emerging research reveals that the very things parents do to make daily life playful and creative are fundamental to children’s development, and that trending parenting practices globally are now embracing these joyful approaches.