Digital health&safety

Helping Kids with Technology BalanceXiamen

A Preventative Approach

Sta

When was the last time you went 24 hours

without yourtechnology?

Reflect on the day and some of the feelings you experienced.

**This would include any sort of digital media (TV, Music, the Internet, games, phone, etc.)

A recent study asked students in ten universities worldwide to go 24 hours without any media. No internet, no phone, no email, no tv. In an age of constant connection, this study asks how our dependence on media technologies have changed the way we think about the world, our communities, and our relationships.

-Unplugged 2011

http://withoutmedia.wordpress.com/

In a 2011 study by the McCann Worldgroup, 53% of 16-22 year olds said they would rather give up their sense of smell than give up their technology.

To our children (and many of us as well), technology

is becoming almost as important as a basic need.

We must teach them to live and thrive with it,

because without it, they risk feeling lost and

disconnected.

When striving to

raise a balanced

digital native...

what

approach should we be taking?

Students

Parents School

Students My.U.P.

ParentsFamily

Agreements

SchoolA.U.P.

Let’s approach Technology Balance the way we approach Nutrition

Teaching proper diet from a very young age. Food groups, balanced diet, personal responsibility (and the occasional treats!)

As children get older, they begin to have more control over their own diet.

Students My.U.P.

ParentsFamily

Agreements

SchoolA.U.P.

www.commonsensemedia.org

Tips for parents (including comprehensive reviews of movies, TV shows, and games

Developmentally appropriate guidelines

Family Media Agreements

-Safety-Citizenship

-Values-Balance

-Trust

Safety

Citizenship

Values

Balance

Balance:Lack of Impulse Control

Think back (not that far, of course) to when you were 12....

TV/Music

Phone/Friends

Family Time

Bedtime!

Balance: The Digital Cocoon

Connection

Knowledge

Entertainment

Identity

Trust

Trust: But I don’t want to intrude...

Importance of establishing perceived parent trust...

A study at the Center for Health Promotion Research shows that negotiated unsupervised time is a protective factor against many adolescent high-risk behaviors. (2003)

But here’s why you should...

In children of well-educated, affluent parents, two risk factors repeatedly come up as the cause of high emotional difficulties: achievement pressure and isolation from parents. --The Price of Privilege Madeline Levine, Ph.D (2010)

Stay Involved: Tips for Parents

Set clear limits (the My.U.P. can help!)

Watch their favorite TV shows with them.

Ask about their interests and give them time to explore new passions and ideas.

Know the programs they’re using and how they work.

www.commonsensemedia.org

www.teachparentstech.org

Education

1) Tech Curfew: Whether or not I have finished my homework, I will shut down by _________ p.m. on school nights and ______________p.m. on the weekends.

My.U.P. My Tech Use Policy

Template created by 2011 8th grade health classes

My.U.P. My Tech Use Policy

Template created by 2011 8th grade health classes

2) Time Limit: Outside of school, I agree to use technology for no more than _______ hours a day on weekdays and ________ hours a day on the weekends.

My.U.P. My Tech Use Policy

Template created by 2011 8th grade health classes

3) Breaks and Breathers: For every _________ minutes I’m on the computer, I will take a _________ minute break.

** Some possible things I could do during these breaks are:1. 2.3.4.

My.U.P. My Tech Use Policy

Template created by 2011 8th grade health classes

4) Family Agreements: Our family has these agreements when it comes to the following programs (gaming, Skype, etc)

a) When it comes to _____________, we’ve agreed that:

b) When it comes to _____________, we’ve agreed that:

My.U.P. My Tech Use Policy

Template created by 2011 8th grade health classes

5) Time Management: My biggest tech distraction is __________________. To help me keep it under control, I will…

My.U.P. My Tech Use Policy

Template created by 2011 8th grade health classes

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

www.commonsensemedia.org

www.teachparentstech.org

Most importantly: Stay open, stay involved, and stay

informed!

Be sure to grab the handouts on your way out and check out these great online resources.