Plugged-in Parents:KEEPING TEENS SAFE, HAPPY, & HEALTHY IN A DIGITAL AGE

Plugged-in Parents:KEEPING TEENS SAFE, HAPPY, & HEALTHY IN A DIGITAL AGE

Presented by Beckendorff Junior High Counselors

Natalie Jones (A-E)

Angie Sticker (F-L)

Christina Blanco (M-R)

Alicia Leung (S-Z)

WELCOME

On the front of your card:

Write one non-negotiable rule that you have related to

your child and technology usage

On the back of your card:

Any questions you have related to today’s topic

Choose● Help kids make good choices.

Check● Check what they're doing.

Chat● Follow up with a chat.

3 C’s of Good Parenting

All About That Balance

Ask yourself — How does digital media affect my child in the following areas?

● Physically healthy and sleeping enough?

● Pursuing interests and hobbies?

● Connecting socially with family and friends?

● Having fun and learning in their use of digital media?

● Engaged with and achieving in school?

Why is it difficult

to find balance

in a digital media world?

Why is it difficult to find balance

in a digital media world?

● Accessibility

● How Kids Connect

● Misinformation

● Parents didn’t grow up with technology

● Mixed Messages

● Overwhelming

● Always Changing

● There’s no “One Right Way” Solution

● Complexity of Age (Boundaries Vs. Freedom)

How Junior High Students Spend Their Time Online

Positive Things We’ve Seen

at BDJH

● Speak Up App/Reporting

● Students “Standing Up” for one

another

● Students Socializing through

technology

● Bear TV

● Unlimited Access to Knowledge

● Creative Tool

● Canvas

● Home Access Center

● Connectivity

● Community Building

● Spreading Positive Messages

Inappropriate/Challenging

Things We’ve Seen at BDJH

● Academic Distraction

● Fake Instagrams

● Communicating with Strangers

Online

● Sending Inappropriate Pictures

● Excluding Others

● Cyberbullying

● Inappropriate Language

● Lack of Empathy

● Overexposure/Never Unplugged

● Unlimited Access to All Things

● Addiction

What can you do to

bring balance

to all areas of your

child’s life?

Model● Be a media mentor and set the

standard.

Monitor● Use limits, not lectures, and be up

front about checking their media use.

Mediate● Be ready to step in if necessary,

but let teens make some choices on their own.

Model

● Use media with your kid.

○ use apps with your child on their device and then let

them see you on your device

● Know your own rules and follow them.

○ Time restrictions

○ Family non-negotiables

● Model the media behavior you want to see in your kids.

○ Digital Citizenship

Monitor

● Set expectations and rehearse.

● Device Monitoring software

● Restrict access when needed

● Ask questions

Mediate

● Talk about digital citizenship

● Talk about possible problems/scenarios before they happen

● Talk about real life social media problems

● Hold your child accountable if they break family rules

● Adjust your expectations if needed

● Honest open dialog

Set Yourself Up For Success

What are best practices around digital media and devices ?

● Use media with your kid.

● Know your own rules.

● Set expectations and rehearse.

● Talk about digital citizenship.

● Model the media behavior you want to see in your kids.

Resources

Books

● Social Media Wellness by Ana Homayoun

● Parenting Well in a Media Age by Gloria D. Gaetano

● Generation iY by Tim Elmore

● Glow Kids by Nicholas Kardaras

● iGen: Why Today’s Super-Connected Kids are Growing up Less Rebellious,

More Tolerant, Less Happy-and Completely Unprepared for Adulthood by

Jean M. Twenge

Resources

Websites

● Common Sense Media

● Family Online Safety Institute

Monitoring Apps

● OurPact

● Bark

● NetNanny