Over on Pinterest, I have been collecting Digital Citizenship Posters since I wrote about using a poster to kick off the digital talk. Posting one by the computer or on the refrigerator is a fantastic way to remind kids about digital citizenship. Kids cannot learn everything about being responsible online in one big talk. Parents can keep…
One of my top tips for parents on how to manage and guide their family’s technology use is building a family phone contract. I am not talking about a list of rules. Kids will mindlessly sign anything to have that phone in their hands. I am talking about sitting down together and building a contract. By…
When I first started talking to elementary schools about digital citizenship, I rarely mentioned specific apps. With every year, I see more young kids with phones and tablets. So, I have added slides about Instagram and kik. While I understand why kids love these apps, these places are for people 13 years old and up. This is a tough environment…
My eldest is keeping a close count on how many school days are left. Today is day 40. Last night, I had my final middle school parent ed talk for this year. It has been a tremendous year for KidsPrivacy. I published my first book, expanded my blog readership and visited many middle and elementary schools. As…
A few weeks ago, I had chance to talk with elementary school parents about internet safety. It was a great evening and a chance for me to discover what problems young kids were encountering in the digital world. One of the concerns that came up was scary chain emails. These chain emails usually start with a frightening story and end with “if…
With teens spending on average 6 hours online every day, their digital life is as significant as their real life. They need parents to show them how to be safe and true to themselves even in the digital realm. So, it is important to have the digital talk. Last week, I wrote about how sharing a real…
Next week is Digital Citizenship Week. Teaching kids how to stay safe and share smart online is an ongoing conversation. One of the best ways to initiate the digital talk is sharing a real story. It is always easier to talk about someone else and a real world example gives credibility to your talk. The…
We decided she was ready. We picked a phone and plan. Now, she has a phone! My kid spent her first phone weekend searching for the perfect case and texting her friends. On Monday, she discovered her phone journey was not over. We sat down together to draft her phone contract. Her phone contract included rules…
One of the best sites around for families is Commonsense Media. I am always on their website reading app reviews or catching up with Caroline Knorr’s Q&A. Besides helping parents, Commonsense Media also works with schools. One of their popular school programs for grades 3-5 is the “Digital Passport for Kids” app. This summer, Commonsense Media, in…
By Anne Livingston and Lynette Owens Kids spend a lot of time online. They go online to find answers for homework, coordinate school projects, share events, play games and watch videos. While online, they may feel like they are sharing with just family and friends but companies are also listening. Websites and advertising networks use tracking tools…
KidsPrivacy 