Creating a Positive Relationship with Technology:

As parents we need to set the standard regarding technology use. If we want our kids to develop a healthy online/offline balance, they need to see us as parents doing the same. 

How to create a positive relationship with Technology: 

• Sets boundaries regarding Technology use
• Set screen-time limits, downtime and screen-free times for yourself. This could include screen-free meals, screen-free zones in the house (like the bedroom or dinning room), and downtime (like before bed). I also like to include app limits (like on social media apps) so that I'm reminded when I've hit a certain time. Since I do need to use social media for blogging and growing my page by setting app limits I'm more purposeful when I am using the app and don't get sucked into the mindless searching or scrolling that sometimes occurs on these apps. This could also mean restricting device-use in bedrooms so that everyone can get a better nights sleep.
• Sets tech-positive environment 
• How do you look at technology? Is it a tool to make your life easier? Creating a tech-positive environment is about how you react and look at technology. If we can demonstrate that there our times for technology use and times (like family time or meal time) where we unplug we can help create a balance. Try not to judge what your child might be interested in. Certain apps, games and YouTube videos may seem odd to you but try and ask why your child is interested in them. Using curiosity instead of judgement will help foster a tech-positive environment and open communication. Creating a Family Media Plan and following it as a family will also help create a tech-positive environment. 
• Models acceptable and respectful online activities 
• When online we as parents should use positive language and show our kids positive social interactions. We can also demonstrate consent by asking our kids permission before posting images or videos of them. If we can model acceptable online behavior our kids will follow suit. 

Please follow us @TeachingDigitalLiteracy on Instagram for weekly quotes, inspiration and helpful information about technology. 

Setting Up Parental Controls in YouTube Kids

I have always had a love/hate relationship with YouTube and YouTube Kids. It offers a wealth of useful how-to videos and interesting clips but kids can easily fall down a rabbit hole of odd, weird and sometimes inappropriate videos. I have resisted setting up the YouTube Kids App on my 5 year olds iPad. With the onset of complaints from parents regarding inappropriate videos YouTube Kids has been updated with new parent safety controls that make me feel  more comfortable in letting my son use the app. 

How to Set up Parental Controls on YouTube Kids: 

Photo: YouTube Kids

1. Open Settings 
2. Select Child’s profile 
3. Go to “approved content only.” Add channels (like PBS Kids or Sesame Street) that you approve. *This turns off your kids ability to search for content and only will show them channels you approve. 

Some things to note about YouTube Kids’ New Features: 

• There is an older kids mode (geared towards age 8-12) which offers more content such as music and gaming videos. 
• You can add different children into the App so that each child has there own profile with safety setting and channels and search capabilities set to the specific child’s developmental ability. 
• Time Limits can also be set. 
• Block videos you don’t want your kids viewing 
• Check out what your kids are watching with ‘Watch History’

Photo: YouTube Kids

New Year ... Time to Reflect on Screentime and adjust your Family Media Plan

It's a New Year and that means you may have some new devices in the house. Now that the Holiday chaos has ended and we are resetting into 2019, it might be a good time to update those Family Media Plans or create one if you haven't already. Setting up parental controls and screen time rules and procedures and then be consistent with those rules. This will help your kid create a online/ offline balance. Cell Phones, tablets and gaming devices all have enormous power in connectivity and interaction and we want to makes sure our kids are developmentally able to handle the responsibility of the device they are using. We also want to be sure the devices aren't interfering in sleep, school-work and our kids emotional and social well-being. 

If you want to create a Family Media Plan, check out Creating a Family Media Plan Blog Post. 

If you want to learn more about Parental Controls, check out Utilizing iOS12 Parental Controls

Learn to Read Apps & Websites

Tech Holiday Gift Guide

Tech Holiday Gift Guide 

There can be a lot of pressure as parents to get the “it” gift for the Holidays but I’m here to encourage you to make sure your child is ready for the Tech/ device/ game you are considering gifting. The simple act of giving “access” (with parental controls) is a awesome gift in it of itself. Now I don’t know about you but I’m not handing over my iPad unless I have a kid-friendly, kid-proof case for my son. I’ve listed some of my favorites below as well as some amazing headphones (that meet OSHA recommendations of 80dB). Gifting a phone, gaming device or tech-enable watch or other Tech is a big responsibility and you want to make sure your child is 100% able to handle that responsibility. I also would recommend setting up a ‘Family Media Plan’ with the rules and consequences of using the device. We want to help our children have a healthy relationship to Technology and devices. 

Headphones:

2 features to look for: noise canceling and limited volume (under 85 decibels)  

iPad or Kindle Covers: 

    

Technology: A tool or a distraction?

Is Technology a distraction for your Child? Is homework taking hours every night? Is your kid waking up tired because their sleep is being disrupted by devices or notifications? 

These are serious questions parents have regarding their young tween or teenager. I frequently hear these issues brought up by parents as a major concern of technology; Is it a distraction for my kid? 

Tips to help your kids find balance with Technology: 

• Turn off the Wifi: Have kids do their offline work first (even an online assignment or post can be written separately and then uploaded) to help them focus on the task at hand. 
• Remove other devices: If they are working on the computer, the phone doesn't need to be right next to them. It will only be a cause of distraction if a notification comes up. If they insist on having it next to them, turn on the ‘Do not disturb’ setting to help minimize distractions. 
• Make them sit in the kitchen or dinning room instead of their room: Some kids need a little help staying on task and being in the same room will help. 
• Use apps, settings or website blockers to block distractions: Along with turning off WifI you can use tools like Freedom or Leechblock or screen-time limits to block out the distractions. While not all kids will appreciate these tools, it’s nice to know they are available if needed.  
• Model for your kids: It’s important that kids see you putting your phone away during screen free time/ family time or meals. I also found talking about how my productivity goes down when I’m distracted by social media or checking email if I’m in the middle of writing and have a deadline due. 
• Setting time limits: Again this depends on the kid, but setting a time limit for the online work can help some kids focus on the task at hand. 
• Print text: Some kids have a hard time focusing when reading text and articles online. The environmentalist in me hates suggesting this strategy but the teacher in me knows that some learners benefit from having the physical paper in front of them. This allows them to highlight and take notes and takes away the temptation factor when reading text online.  

Every child is different and limiting tech distractions will vary based on the child. It’s easy to get frustrated with our children's inability to focus when using Technology and devices. Instead of getting frustrated try helping them set up strategies for removing distractions. In a 2017 Study of College students published in the Journal of Social Psychological and Personality the authors found that successful goal- attainment was not in fact due to ones self-control but actually attributed to eliminating temptation (aka distractions). As parents we can start teaching strategies to eliminate distractions when our kids are young so that they can be successful when they get to college and beyond. If we take away the idea that self- control is linked to success and emphasis eliminating distractions, we are giving our children tangible strategies they can use to attain their goals. 

Milyavskaya, M., & Inzlicht, M. (2017). What’s So Great About Self-Control? Examining the Importance of Effortful Self-Control and Temptation in Predicting Real-Life Depletion and Goal Attainment. Social Psychological and Personality Science, 8(6), 603–611. https://doi.org/10.1177/1948550616679237

8 Internet Safety Tips to Teach your Kids

8 Internet Safety Tips to Teach your Kids: 

1. Be mindful what you share 

• Does the website ask for specific information such as your name, school, etc. Don’t give away information that someone can trace back to your home/school/et and track your down. 

2. Turn off location services and set privacy settings 

• It’s important that our kids know to turn off location services and set privacy settings on social media platforms. 

3. Always log out of your accounts

• Get your kids in the habit of logging out when in school/library so the next user can’t access their information

4. Never share your passwords (and don’t use the same password for everything) 

5. Think about who you friend/ follow (and don’t feel like you need to reciprocate a friend/  
     follow)

• Encourage your kids to only follow people they personally know (and to not follow or friend someone just because so-and-so knows them). As a parent of a beginning social media user (Elementary age) you should know everyone in their contacts list and everyone they follow/ friend. 

6. Don’t fall for clickbait (articles that have crazy or interesting catch phrases to get you to 
    click on the link) 

7. Keep tabs on your digital footprint 

• Google yourself, think about what photos are posted of you, think about the comments you are leaving. All these marks create a “digital persona” of you online.

8. Don’t respond or click on mysterious messages

• Hackers and scammers are very creative and will try to get you to open and click on links that download virus’ to your device (or access data/ information). Be wary of any message from someone your don’t know. Grammar mistakes, odd wording and seems to good to be true messages should always raise a red flag.