The Online World of Always Connected Kids:

Implications for Parenting

Simon PowerDavid LetiecqKatelyn Regan

November 27, 2013

Let’s look at some statistics

Helps teens to connect! With friends With family With people like them (religiously, culturally,

experientially, interests…) It gives TCKs the ability to stay in

contact much easier As parents you are able to communicate

more with your teens (when they are out, when they eventually leave home)

Advantages of Technology for Teens

They have access to enormous amounts of information.

It saves time on many levels (communication and information)

Bridges the gaps between cultures (the internet is common ground)

It allow for new ways to express creativity

More Advantages of Technology use Among Teens

Facilitates new ways of cooperative learning and independent learning.

Students have a better attitude towards education

Keeps students engaged Students are exposed to up-to-date

information and practices. Ensures our students will be competitive

in our workforce and global economy

Benefits of Technology Integrated Education

Communicate and interact with peers around the world

There is strong evidence to suggest that technology integration leads to better standardized testing results.

Teachers can track and assess student progress Allows teachers to adapt the curriculum to

differentiate and better meet students needs Students have the opportunity to learn faster

and more in-depth

Benefits of Technology Integrated Education Continued

Where have you seen some of these advantages with your teen?

What other advantages do you see for our teens using technology?

Indirect health problems (they are less likely to engage in physical activities, screen time causes eyestrain, etc.)

There is a false sense of privacy. Bad decisions that our teens will inevitably

make are now more public and permanent. Exposure to many age-inappropriate

content and people There is an addictive component.

Disadvantages of Technology Use Among Teens

There are possible links to inattentiveness. More unregulated screen time is associated

with poorer academic performance. Kids are not learning how to socialize face to

face. Gossip doesn’t just happen at school now.

Cyberbullying is more public, permanent, and harder to contain.

More Disadvantages of Technology Use Among Teens

Where have you seen some of these disadvantages with your teen?

What other disadvantages do you see for our teens using technology?

Lets play!

What are you agreeing to?

By submitting content through the _______ service, you grant ______ a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use, copy, reproduce, process, adapt, modify, publish, transmit, display and distribute such content in any and all media or distribution methods.”

AskFM!

Content Descriptors: Blood and Gore, Crude Humor, Mild Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol, Violence

Other: Includes online features that may expose players to unrated user-generated content

World of Warcraft

“By submitting content to _______, you hereby grant ______ a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, sublicenseable and transferable license to use, reproduce, distribute, prepare derivative works of, display, publish, adapt, make available online or electronically transmit… in any media formats and through any media channels.”

YouTube

_____ may gather and use information about you, including (but not limited to) information in the following categories:(a) Identification data (e.g. name, username, address, telephone number, mobile number, email address);(b) Profile information (e.g. age, gender, country of residence, language preference and any information that you choose to make available(c) Electronic identification data (e.g. IP addresses, cookies);(d) Banking and payment information (e.g. credit card information, account number); (f) Information about your usage of and interaction (g) Products or services ordered and delivered(h) The URL of videos that you have selected to appear in your mood message(j) List of your contacts and related data (k) Your username and password for other email accounts(n) Content of instant messaging communications, voicemails, and video messages(o) Location information, derived from your mobile carrier or from the mobile device that you use. (p) Mobile device information, such as manufacturer’s name, device model number, operatingsystem, carrier network;(q) Location information and device identifiers, derived from your device.(r) Access tokens for other accounts you associate with your ____ account (such as Microsoft account or Facebook), which are like an electronic key provided by the service that acts in place of a password for authentication.

Skype!

“Talk to Strangers! _______ is a great place to meet new friends. When you use _______, we pick someone else at random and let you have a one-on-one chat with each other. You're kept anonymous unless you tell someone personal info”

 Omegle

Managing at Home

Tech in the home can be the source of tension and conflict among many / all family members

As an enlightened parent who wants to change how the family relates to tech, it’s important to consider: Adopting a business-like demeanor, remain

cool and calm! Listening to and validating your kids. Choosing your timing wisely!

Before we start, let’s acknowledge….

Ensure Balance

Articulate individual / family needs and values around family time, exercise, sleep, other social interactions, etc. Parent driven / articulated v. family driven /

articulated Considerations:

Limit school-related screen time Cap time to promote enhanced efficiency

Limit other screen time (after school work is completed) During evening time (30 mins?) On weekends (1-2 hours per day?)

Establish “No Tech Times”

What would be some of your family’s

“No Tech Times”?

Table Talk

No Tech Times

Examples During meals or other designated family time

(including family events) When guests are present (including peer

sleepovers) While getting ready for school in the morning During transition time (after arrival home) 30-60 minutes before bed At church / synagogue / temple

Allow for alternative solitary or family activities Reading Creating art Exercise Playing / listening to music Playing board / card games

No Tech Times (cont’d)

Afternoon & Evening Time

Typical component parts: Afterschool activities / athletics Transition time (after arriving home) Homework Tutoring / lessons Dinner Leisure / family time Bedtime

Transition Time

Transition time (after arrival home) Oftentimes, it’s too long

Research indicates less success with HW initiation & completion the longer it takes for student to start HW

Oftentimes, kids play games or use computer Suggestions:

Transition time = 15 minutes or less Allow snacks, changing, playing with pet, washing up No tech allowed!

Homework Time

Establish expectations and routines: Homework done in a common space (for

enhanced supervision) Create a routine

Example: 15 mins after arrival, all at the dining table Encourage focus & efficiency, discourage multi-

tasking Connect the dots to what children want Phones & devices are kept elsewhere during HW time Skype and other social media sites remain closed

Expectations (cont’d) Non-school-related tech time is the reward after

HW is completed May be semi-private (in bedroom), but parents should

be able to walk through and monitor HW in bedroom may be a reward once good

work habits are established, but parents should still be able to monitor

Homework Time (cont’d)

Homework Time (cont’d)

Structure the start, the process & end of HW time START: Check agenda & blog

Bookmark blogs for efficiency If your child must contact a peer to clarify HW, allow a

brief telephone call in your presence (not a Skype chat) Encourage your child to:

Identify whether internet is needed for each task Estimate time for each HW task (including internet time) Create a basic schedule of tasks

Structure continued… Parent checks in occasionally on progress

of HW (against schedule created by the child) and briefly explores lags

END: Parent reviews HW for thoroughness and completion, provides feedback, etc.

Homework Time (cont’d)

Process Considerations

Encourage laptop being closed on tasks not requiring the computer

Allow for breaks as appropriate Watch for opening and closing of websites and

chats, changing desktops (the swish of fingers), open chats

Encourage that child’s sound is on and not muted Listen for chat-like sounds, videos, music Swing by occasionally to check that sound is on

Observe your child’s approach to HW and overall process Length of time Quality of work Completeness Problems of efficiency (online distractions?

multi-tasking?) Other issues?

Process Considerations (cont’d)

Group Work

Teachers typically provide adequate time for group work in class

If your child insists that group work must occur online: Have your child estimate time needed, limit /

cap the time, child to inform peers of the limit For an extension of time to be granted, have

your child show the online work, chats with peers, etc.

If productive, consider allowing an appropriate extension

If not productive, do not allow continuation of online group work. Have child contact peers by phone -- in your

presence -- to inform them and brainstorm alternatives for completing work

If no alternatives are possible before deadline, child emails teacher (cc’ing parent) Child faces natural consequences

Group Work (cont’d)

Group Work (cont’d)

If doubting “online group work” reason: Check with teacher (trust but verify!) Disallow further online collaboration for a period of

time Have your child inform teacher/peers by email

(cc’ing parent) Encourage your child to brainstorm viable

alternatives for working with peers on group assignments

In the case HOT is considered, child to email teacher/peers (cc’ing parent) to schedule

As Bedtime Approaches…

Establish expectations and routines: No laptops, phones or other devices in the

kids’ bedroom during the night Kids to turn in electronics before bedtime

(or, better yet, 30 -60 mins before bed)

Establish a charging station in parents’ bedroom, a home office, etc.

Tech Contracts & Pledges

www.SafeKids.com Kids’ Pledge, Teens’ Pledge & Parents’ Pledge

www.commonsensemedia.org Family Media Contract

www.healthychildren.org Media Time Family Pledge

www.fosi.org (Family Online Safety Institute) Family Online Safety Contract

www.themodernparent.net An Internet Contract

Other Considerations…

VPN / internet access Password use on WiFi / routers, if

possible Parental controls

Controls on Mac do not work effectively Other options

Time management programs Monitoring software

Time Management (Rescue Time)

Time Management (Rescue Time)

Time Management (Rescue Time)

Monitoring Software

Filtering & blocking inappropriate online content Social networking sites, chatting and IM-ing,

online search filtering, file transfer blocking, application blocking, gaming content filtering (based on ESRB ratings), profanity masking

Recording Capabilities Websites visited, online searches, usernames

and passwords, social networking, remote reporting, email, chat, screenshot playback

Installation & Management Remote management, local installation,

stealth options, hot key / password access, scheduled monitoring, licenses included

Compatibility Range of phones and operating systems

Help & Support Free tech support, email, phone, live chat

Monitoring Software (cont’d)

Source: http://parental-software-review.toptenreviews.com/

WebWatcher

Top 4 (Mac compatible)

Website

http://www.netnanny.com/

http://www.webwatcher.com/

http://www.internetsafety.com/

http://www.intego.com/mac-family-protector

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS