Summer break is upon us and even though our kids won’t be on campus with their friends every day, they can keep the social scene alive on their favorite social media sites.
In a CNN Special Report about the network’s study on social media and teens child development experts found some disconnects between what parents think they know about how their kids are feeling and how kids report they are actually feeling. Almost 94% of parents underestimated the amount of fighting that happens over social media and 60% underestimated how lonely, worried and depressed their kids were. Instagram posts of happy selfies present an image that can fool even us. Subtly hurtful comments on Twitter can elude us.
A Common Sense Media study found that "the majority of tweens say their parents know 'a lot' about what they do on social media. " But, as kids get a little older, that sentiment changes. In that same study "teens say only about one third of their parents know 'a lot' about what they do online or what they do on social media."
I believe in really connecting through in-person conversations with our kids and a good dose of quiet listening. Here are some questions to get the whole family started on sharing their experiences, beginning with yours:
As well as our weekly blog, we publish videos like this one every week on the Screenagers YouTube channel
Summer break is upon us and even though our kids won’t be on campus with their friends every day, they can keep the social scene alive on their favorite social media sites.
In a CNN Special Report about the network’s study on social media and teens child development experts found some disconnects between what parents think they know about how their kids are feeling and how kids report they are actually feeling. Almost 94% of parents underestimated the amount of fighting that happens over social media and 60% underestimated how lonely, worried and depressed their kids were. Instagram posts of happy selfies present an image that can fool even us. Subtly hurtful comments on Twitter can elude us.
A Common Sense Media study found that "the majority of tweens say their parents know 'a lot' about what they do on social media. " But, as kids get a little older, that sentiment changes. In that same study "teens say only about one third of their parents know 'a lot' about what they do online or what they do on social media."
I believe in really connecting through in-person conversations with our kids and a good dose of quiet listening. Here are some questions to get the whole family started on sharing their experiences, beginning with yours:
As well as our weekly blog, we publish videos like this one every week on the Screenagers YouTube channel
With Thanksgiving week upon us, today’s blog is about the nuanced world of family gatherings, where warmth and tension often intermingle. Moving beyond the picture-perfect imagery of Hallmark cards, I have some strategies to cope with family dynamics that can escalate holiday stress. I also share 4 joy-enhancing activity ideas.
READ MORE >Today, I am concentrating on 3 steps to help protect our kids from the downsides of social media and overall screen time, especially given the prevalence of violence, misinformation, and distressing content right now.
READ MORE >If there was an emergency, what are some things you could do now to shore up your tech to help lessen the impact on your family and work? Read in this Tech Talk Tuesday about four key things I did and made sure my family knew.
READ MORE >for more like this, DR. DELANEY RUSTON'S NEW BOOK, PARENTING IN THE SCREEN AGE, IS THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE FOR TODAY’S PARENTS. WITH INSIGHTS ON SCREEN TIME FROM RESEARCHERS, INPUT FROM KIDS & TEENS, THIS BOOK IS PACKED WITH SOLUTIONS FOR HOW TO START AND SUSTAIN PRODUCTIVE FAMILY TALKS ABOUT TECHNOLOGY AND IT’S IMPACT ON OUR MENTAL WELLBEING.