February 2018 There are so many teachable moments in our children's lives. Many times we just need to take advantage of the teachable moments. The teaching doesn't have to be perfect, but the more prepared you are, the smoother those moments will go. Two critical moments in the digital world are first phone and turning 13 . Let's dive into those moments. First Phone Establish rules and maybe even a contract with your child. Some things to consider: Where should the phone be charged? Is the phone allowed in your child's bedroom at night? Is the phone allowed to be at school with your child? Will you be monitoring the phone? Who can your child contact with the phone? What social media sites can your child be on? Is the phone allowed at meals? Is your child allowed to send photos? What sites is your child allowed to access independently? How will your child create a positive digital footprint while using the phone? (See digital activity below.) What are
January 2018 Parenting in the digital world can be tricky. I often hear students share how excited they are about their new digital devices. I also hear parents express their worry about the potential harms of their child's digital device. Most parents' primary goals are to help their children avoid the harms of the digital world and reap the benefits of using technology. In this blog, I want to offer you support. I will share resources to help you parent in the digital world. Here are a few resources I have found recently: Seven Steps to Good Digital Parenting from the Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI) As you look at the resource, you'll notice that number one to being a good digital parent is talking with your kids. Sometimes that is the hardest thing to do when we are full of fear or anger or simply feel like we do not have the time, but talking with our children about their technology use is critical in helping them avoid harms and reap benefits. The secon