SAFETY TIP OF THE WEEK

Kids are around connected technology constantly, whether they have their own devices or see adults in their lives using devices. It’s important to set healthy boundaries and expectations for your child as they begin to explore these devices.

TODAY’S TOPIC

Are Your Kids Ready for the Internet?

Have you ever had trouble with technology (your phone, computer, or tablet) that your child was able to help you with? Perhaps you were surprised that your child was so familiar with the technology’s functions, or that they had a kind of natural sense for how to move through the steps to create a solution for your problem. With so much technology and so many digital applications at their fingertips, kids can crack new technology pretty quickly! And it’s no wonder: their minds are naturally curious, and the digital world has so much to explore. Technology can inspire kids to develop new digital skills by giving them a space where they feel competent, comfortable, and in control. 

The down side of this phenomenon is that kids can sometimes be overly drawn in by the positive reinforcement their technology can provide. Many parents have experienced the woes of limiting screen time for their children. Kids can be so attached to their technology that taking it away results in tantrums and other uncharacteristic behaviors that may surprise you as a parent. They can shut down, throw things, cry, and pose absurd ultimatums to get it back. This can be extremely overwhelming and frustrating for parents, especially when you’ve grown up without the same access to technology and can’t understand why kids are so obsessed with it.

_{WHAT CAN YOU DO?}

Digital citizenship, a term used for a set of social standards by which people should conduct themselves with technology, is sometimes a subject taught in schools, but not all schools make time for it. If your child isn’t getting practice with appropriate digital citizenship in school, it’s up to you to set appropriate expectations and boundaries with your child and their technology use. Below are some tips and tools you can use to promote healthy relationships with technology.

• Check Out Age Appropriate Lessons for Kids Using Technology: From setting personal boundaries to cyberbullying and digital privacy, Common Sense Education provides a series of age appropriate lessons for helping your child understand the best ways to conduct themselves while using technology. Google also has a digital literacy lesson series that covers topics like privacy, spotting false information online, and appropriate behaviors with technology. Check out this resource to help meet your child where they are at in their journey to become well rounded digital citizens. 

• Model the Way with Your Own Technology Use: Kids see adults using technology all the time, and if their teachers or parents are frequently on their phones playing games or doom-scrolling, they may become even more frustrated when asked to get off of their devices. Leading by example can only help when it comes time for you to set hard boundaries with your child concerning their use of technology. 

• Set Times in the Evening to Unplug: Routines help kids feel safe and comfortable at home and at school. Having a designated, agreed-upon time for technology use can help support your child’s self-discipline when it comes to using technology. Finding time to do things unplugged, such as reading or boardgame nights, can help kids find joy in interpersonal interactions, rather than sequestering themselves to their devices for entertainment.

▶ Slang Word of the Week: “Just put the fries in the bag, bro.” – This phrase is used when someone is taking too long to do something; it is meant to get them to hurry up.