TECHx’s Post

Looking for ways to help students disconnect from their phones and connect with each other? This article shares simple strategies like 'super starters' that foster classroom interaction and build a community. Check it out! #SEL https://loom.ly/Pxpv2Qs

🔒 Empowering Children in the Digital Age: SavvyKids’ Children’s Workshop for Digital Safety 🔒 As parents, we all know the challenges that come with raising children in the digital era. While technology opens doors to education, entertainment, and social connection, it also poses significant risks if not managed properly. From online bullying to excessive screen time, children are exposed to a variety of dangers that require proactive solutions. That’s why SavvyKids is excited to announce our Children’s Workshop for Digital Safety—an online workshop aimed at helping children develop the skills they need to navigate the digital world safely. Our mission is simple: Empower children to make informed decisions about their online activities while ensuring that parents can rest easy knowing their child is equipped with the right knowledge. 💡 Why Your Child Needs This Workshop: In today’s world, children are exposed to a wide array of content online—much of it educational, but some of it harmful. Our workshop tackles these risks head-on by covering crucial topics such as: 📱 Digital Awareness: Teaching kids to understand the potential dangers lurking online, from cyberbullying to inappropriate content. 🛡️ Data Privacy: Helping children learn how to safeguard their personal information and avoid scams or phishing attempts. ⏳ Time Management: Encouraging kids to balance their online and offline activities and avoid screen time addiction. 🗣️ Cyberbullying Awareness: Recognizing harmful online behaviors and understanding how to respond effectively. 🧠 Mental Well-being: Creating a healthy relationship with technology to avoid feelings of isolation, anxiety, or depression associated with excessive screen use. Who Can Attend? This workshop is designed for children in classes 6-9, and the content is carefully crafted to be age-appropriate, engaging, and practical. Whether your child is new to the online world or has been using devices for a while, they will gain valuable insights and tools to manage their digital presence effectively. What Sets Us Apart? Our interactive and engaging format ensures that children not only learn but also actively participate. Each child leaves the workshop with actionable skills that will last them a lifetime. We make sure your child learns to self-regulate, self-monitor, and stay safe online. Don’t Miss Out – Limited Spots Available! With only 10 slots remaining, now is the perfect time to give your child the gift of digital safety. This is not just a one-time session—it’s a foundation that will help them develop a balanced, thoughtful approach to technology. 💻 Sign Up Now! https://lnkd.in/gibYVEZU Help your child navigate the digital world with confidence and security. #DigitalSafety #Workshops #Mindfulness #HealthyDigitalHabits #DigitalParenting

A common criticism from educators is that parents should do more to teach their children healthy technology habits. Learn how a program aims to partner with schools to give parents resources on teaching their children healthy tech habits. #EWArchive

Navigating the #Digital Playground: Safeguarding Kids' Online Journeys. In an era where technology permeates every aspect of our lives, children are growing up as #digitalnatives, seamlessly navigating the internet from a young age. While the digital realm offers boundless opportunities for learning and entertainment, it also presents risks and challenges for our children's safety and well-being. I happy to see that some (wish to see more) regulators have started to place stricter rules when it comes to Kids Online Safety. In February U.S. Senators announced updates to Senate Bill1409 Kids Online Safety Act https://lnkd.in/ebB3CFtz. The Kids Online Safety Act will require social media companies to design their products with the safety of kids and teens in mind, provide parents tools to protect their kids and give families more options for managing and disconnecting from these platforms. I would like to share with you a practical guide to #safeguarding your child's online experience: § Education is Key ans Stay Involved: The first step in ensuring your child's online safety is education. Start early conversations about internet safety, #privacy, and responsible online behavior. Teach your child to recognize potential risks such as #cyberbullying, inappropriate content, and online predators. Encourage them to think critically about the information they encounter online and to communicate openly with you about their online experiences. Stay actively involved in your child's online activities. By staying engaged, you'll gain insight into your child's online world and be better equipped to address any concerns that may arise. § Establish Clear Boundaries: Set clear guidelines for your child's internet usage. Establish rules around screen time, appropriate websites and apps, and what information should never be shared online. Consistently enforce these boundaries and revisit them regularly as your child grows and their online activities evolve. § Utilize Parental Controls: Take advantage of parental control tools and settings available on devices, internet browsers, and apps. These tools allow you to monitor your child's online activity, block inappropriate content, and set limits on screen time. Familiarize yourself with the parental control options relevant to your child's devices and utilize them to create a safe online environment. § Model Responsible #Digital Behavior: Children learn by example, so be mindful of your own digital habits and behaviors. Model responsible internet usage by practicing good digital hygiene. By demonstrating responsible digital behavior yourself, you'll set a positive example for your child to follow. By educating yourself and your child you can create a safe and supportive online environment where your child can explore, learn, and thrive with confidence. #kidsonlinesafety #digitalnatives #digikids #onlinesafe #DigitalParenting #digitalliteracy Photo: Julia M Cameron

As a parent of a middle schooler, I get the challenges and concerns around managing technology use. Spokane Public Schools recently implemented cellphone restrictions, and it’s been great to see the positive outcomes—better focus, more social engagement, and fewer distractions. If your school or district is looking for ways to foster healthier tech habits or needs support with solutions, let’s connect. It’s all about creating environments where students thrive. #Education #TechBalance #StudentSuccess #usccemp #uscellularpublicsector

Research from the eSafety Commissioner identifies that maturity, along with the ability of young people to be discerning and resilient, significantly influences their experiences on social media, both positively and negatively. A point of contention in discussions regarding the appropriate age for young people to engage with social media is the emphasis on chronological age. The establishment of age 13 as a minimum requirement is primarily a consequence of the U.S. Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 (COPPA), which restricts the collection and storage of personal information from children under 13 years of age. According to American social psychologist and author Jonathan Haidt and U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, age 13 is too young for social media engagement, with the research strongly suggesting "social media often does a disservice to many children." Despite this, parents frequently yield to their children's requests to join social media platforms well before the age of 13, fearing that their child might miss out socially. Reports from various schools indicate that students as young as 8 are engaging with social media. This digital engagement uniquely creates anxiety both for those who use social media and for those who do not (FOMO) however we also know it can provide great benefits, especially for marginalised children. What seems to be missing from the discourse is the question, "What skills and competencies should young people demonstrate before they are granted access to iPhones and social media?" Consider the possibility of an assessment or test, akin to driving tests, that provides a young person with a license to use social media. Parents can indeed perform this evaluative function by referring to the guidelines provided by the eSafety Commissioner: https://lnkd.in/gCcZJAzB Before handing over a digital device, it is worth contemplating the following questions: Does my child exhibit a strong sense of responsibility? Are they able to adhere to rules consistently? Do they understand the consequences of their actions? Do they seek assistance from me or another trusted adult when distressed or encountering problems? What are the rules regarding when and where my child can use their smartphone? For example, will they be permitted to use it only when away from home and not in their bedroom at night? I contend that it is appropriate for young people to 'earn' their access to technology by demonstrating readiness, rather than merely meeting chronological age thresholds or succumbing to social pressures. However, establishing a collective standard is often easier for parents to follow, and I empathise with the challenges of contemporary parenting. Similar to regulations on alcohol consumption, school attendance, and driving licenses, minimum age legal requirements might not suit every individual but may offer a broader societal benefit.

The stats say it all.. mind blowing the amount of screen time kids get but that's a different discussion..if your kids are online..ensure they're safe! see our post this week on tips to keeping your kids safe online

Online Safety for Kids: A Call to Parents & Guardians🔒 As the internet becomes an integral part of our children's lives, it's crucial for parents to take proactive steps to ensure their #OnlineSafety. From social media to gaming platforms, young users can encounter risks they may not be prepared for. CyberSafeKids published their Annual Trends and Usage Report, ‘Left to their own Devices’, providing a detailed overview of data collected in the 2023-24 academic year from over 7,000 children (aged 8-14) across Ireland.  Here are some of their key findings from the study: 🔵 25% of primary school children (aged 8-12) and 21% of secondary school children (aged 12-14) have been bothered or upset by online experiences. 🔵 For the 25% of 8-12 year olds, it most commonly occurred on YouTube (37%) and Roblox (23%). For the 21% of secondary children (aged 12-14), Snapchat (41%) and TikTok (30%) were identified as the most common platforms where these negative experiences occur. 🔵 42% of 8-12 year olds, and 62% of 12-14 year olds do not talk to their parents about their online activity. 🔵 77% of 8-12 year olds say their parents can't see what they are doing online and 83% can use devices in their bedrooms. 🔵 38% of 8-12 year olds gamed with strangers online. 🔵 Almost 65% were contacted by a stranger during an online game. 🔵 55% of 8-12 year olds did not tell a parent when bothered by harmful content or unsolicited contact, rising to 63% for 12-14 year olds. This report sheds light on the growing risks faced by children in the digital world and the need for greater parental involvement and education on safe online practices. At VMGroup, we believe in empowering parents with the knowledge and tools they need to guide children in developing healthy digital habits. Open communication is key—talk to your kids about the potential dangers online and ensure they know they can always come to you if something feels off. It's essential to have open and honest conversations with your child about online safety, providing them with the knowledge they need without causing unnecessary fear. Focus on explaining the risks and potential dangers, ensuring they understand how their actions online can have real-world consequences, both positive and negative. Equally important is creating an environment where they feel heard. Encourage your child to come to you if they encounter anything online that makes them uncomfortable or unsure how to handle a situation. Keeping communication open and building trust will help them feel supported and safe. 🤝 We have also included some topics in the comment section of this post that you can address with your child when having the talk about their safety online - communication is key! 💬 Please like and share to get this message out so parents, guardians, and educators can play an active role in protecting and educating our youth online. 💡 Team VMGroup 🔎 #DigitalWellbeing #CyberAwareness #ChildProtection #CyberSecurity

Some excellent tips on keeping your children safe online.

Parenting in the 2020s means constantly confronting the screen time paradox. On the one hand, we want to give our children an edge in a competitive world by helping them develop technological and critical thinking skills. That invariably means incorporating some screen time into their early education. But on the other hand, parents know how much screens are taking over, and they want to give their children the joy and fun of a screen-free childhood. They remember going to restaurants when they were kids themselves without being handed a mini-TV, and everybody survived. Screens weren’t omnipresent. I think that with the right tools, it’s possible to bridge the gap between protecting kids from overexposure to tech while still equipping them with the skills they’ll need for future success. That’s what makes Tonieboxes such a great tool for navigating screen time. They’re technologically-adjacent, in that they give kids narrative and critical thinking skills and keep them entertained, but they’re not iPads. In other words, tonies® USA keeps all the good that can come from screen time and leaves off the bad. If parents have access to great options for screen-free education, they can help their kids flourish.