Parenting Webinar
Parenting in the Digital Age: Finding a Healthy Balance
Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Fortnite and more… Technology is a big part of our kids’ world! Keeping up can be challenging, but a positive and well informed approach can have a big impact on a child’s future and habits. Learn how through the webinars recorded below. Join Mathew Meyers, a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist specializing in family relationships and healthy technology use including video game addiction and Dave Eisenmann, Director of Instructional Technology & Media Services for Minnetonka Public Schools, as they discuss Parenting in the Digital Age: Finding a Healthy Balance. Get tips and ideas for maintaining open dialog about technology and understand the significant role you play in helping youth be responsible and safe in today’s high-tech world. You can watch the videos in their entirety by starting with the first topic below or skip ahead to specific topics of your choice:
Part I, 53 minutes, audio recording: Screen Time & Balance, Attention & Focus, Addiction, Parenting & Modeling, Monitoring & Filtering, and Age Recommendations
Part II, 54 minutes: Parenting Strategies and Tips, Digital Footprints, Cyberbullying, and Pornography and Sexting- Part I: Screen Time & Balance
- Part I: Attention & Focus
- Part I: Addiction
- Part I: Parenting & Modeling
- Part I: Monitoring & Filtering
- Part I: Age Recommendations
- Part I: Implementing Changes
- Part II: Parenting Strategies & Tips
- Part II: Digital Footprints
- Part II: Cyberbullying
- Part II: Pornography & Sexting
- Part II: Next Steps & Further Resources
Part I: Screen Time & Balance
(Approximately 9 minutes, 3:50 - 12:50)
- What is the difference between entertainment and educational screen time?
- Apple Screen Time a Huge Win for Everyone, Including Parents!
- How do you meeting obligations at home and at school?
- Can your children work within the parameters you set, and how to manage this without screaming and yelling.
- How to set limits and create natural consequences, and allow failure.
- Screen time becomes problematic when it replaces real world relationships and real world passions.
- Put technology to bed at night, not in the bedroom.
- Just three taps to see your app use in past 24 hours or past week.
Part I: Attention & Focus
(Approximately 4 minutes, 12:50 - 16:50)
- Two types of attention:
- Reactive attention system- help our kids limit this
- Focused attention system- homework stretches these "muscles." Help kids build capacity increase their focused attention time.
- K-12 school years are the opportune time to learn to focus
- Help kids put boundaries in place. We need decide to put boundaries in place, not let the technology set the boundaries for us.
- Apple Screen Time a Huge Win for Everyone, Including Parents!
Part I: Addiction
(Approximately 4 minutes, 16:50 - 21:00)
- No tech at the dinner table or in the car: Be where your feet are.
- FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out)
- When are kids addicted? When kids become deceptive about their use of technology. When they don't know what to do with their free time or are jittery. If they pull back from face to face relationships. If they aren't meeting their obligations at home and school.
- When you feel that technology has taken over, reach out for support. Contact a counselor (see Student Well Being Resources)
- Apple Screen Time a Huge Win for Everyone, Including Parents!
Part I: Parenting & Modeling
(Approximately 9.5 minutes, 21:00 - 32:20)
- Dealing with different rules due to divorce/separate homes: need to have courageous conversations. Start with vision for family to get on same page. Support rules of parents rather than confuse kids by disagreement. - Contact a counselor (see Student Well Being Resources)
- Common Sense Media's Parental Concerns section
- How do I set a good example in the amount of time/timing of usage I spend with digital devices in the home? Being present.
- It's OK to have different rules for parents than kids, such as moving ratings.
- Be where your feet are.
- Just three taps to see your app use in past 24 hours or past week.
- Cutting back on digital distractions
- Your phone is a pocket slot machine
- Apple Screen Time a Huge Win for Everyone, Including Parents!
- Lack of depth and authenticity in online relationships such as online gaming. Help your kids be known and belong.
Part I: Monitoring & Filtering
(Approximately 7.5 minutes, 32:20 - 39:40)
- Be transparent.
- If you want to use technology, this is how it's going to be. You are the parent and are a steward of their belongings.
- Open DNS home Internet WiFi filter
- Cellular, instead of using Curbi as mentioned in video:
Part I: Age Recommendations
(Approximately 5 minutes, 39:40 - 46:40)
- Best age for a kid to get a smartphone- be clear about the purpose first. Privilege is an outcome of responsibility.
- 34% of Minnetonka parents don't allow social media until high school
Part I: Implementing Changes
Part II: Parenting Strategies & Tips
(Approximately 15 minutes, 4:50 - 20:38)
- Lead with curiosity. Powerful Conversations with Kids: Start with "What if.." vs. "Have you..?"
- Natural consequences. If it becomes a power struggle, step back.
- Kids are going to make mistakes. Use them as teachable moments with unconditional love. Be careful to separate judgment and shame.
- Trust and check, provide oversight. How Much Should Parents Snoop?
- Our job is to parent, not be their best friend. Say no and create solid boundaries. As you see mastery, give more responsibility.
- Apple Screen Time a Huge Win for Everyone, Including Parents!
- See Part I: Age Recommendations
Part II: Digital Footprints
(Approximately 6.5 minutes, 20:38 - 27:19)
- How Long is Stuff Really Out There? My Students' 1995 Digital Footprint
- Creating a positive digital presence/footprint
Part II: Cyberbullying
(Approximately 9 minutes, 27:19 - 36:12)
- Providing some oversight- what are your kids posting, seeing?
- Don't overreact and judge.
- Avoid anonymous tools and posts, don't give those sites an audience.
- How do you represent yourself and interact with others online?
- Parent modeling- how are you interacting with others online?
- Use technology with empathy, compassion, and integrity. Remember the golden rule.
Part II: Pornography & Sexting
(Approximately 11 minutes, 36:12 - 47:47)
- Snapchat
- Hidden apps to hide photos
- Only digitize things that Grandma would approve--nothing digital is private.
- Privacy vs. secrecy
- Sexting
- Seeking validation
- See Part I: Filtering
- Side effects of pornography- impact on relationships, objectifies and places physical connection above emotional
- Secretive taboo topic gives it enormous power when hidden--kids are learning about sex from the Internet. Take shame out of the equation. Powerful Conversations with Kids: Start with "What if.." vs. "Have you..?"
Part II: Next Steps & Further Resources
Contact us
Submit questions and feedback online and receive a response within one business day through the Family Technology Helpdesk.