Need help keeping your kids safe on social media?
Posted on 03/13/2018
SAPULPA PUBLIC SCHOOLS - Snapchat. Instagram. Twitter. Facebook. YouTube.

There are so many social media apps it will make your head spin.

If you're not on social media, it's hard to know what's going on. Especially with your friends. And that's where students come in.

Do you know what to look for to make sure your child is safe online? Do you know how the digital world is changing the way students learn? Do you know the skills students need today that they will need in their adult life?

We were able to help you with that. SPS Parent University presented RAISING CHILDREN IN A DIGITAL WORLD Tuesday night. The speaker for the event was Mark White with the International Center for Leadership in Education.

If you weren't able to make it, we got video of the presentation. Below the video player we posted the 10 tips Mark suggested for parents.



TEN TIPS FOR PARENTS

1. Always pay attention to your child’s digital habits. Treat the digital environment as any other environment. Know which sites your child is visiting and who your child is chatting with.

2. Constantly stress digital safety. Remind your child not to share passwords, leave devices unattended, or visit harmful or inappropriate websites.

3. Work with your child to establish digital guidelines. Establish hours when it’s okay to be online and when the device should be turned off. Make sure your child knows which online activities are permitted and which ones aren’t.

4. Establish tech-free family times or tech-free zones. Create routines, such as meal times or family movie nights, when the devices are turned off. Make the dinner table or other special areas tech-free zones.

5. Let your child understand digital accountability. Discuss consequences before mistakes are made to help prevent them —and then follow through with the consequences to help your child understand responsibility.

6. Be prepared for your child to make mistakes. When they occur, keep a positive attitude and make the experience a teachable moment.

7. Continue to make face-to-face communication the main way you communicate with your child. It’s okay to communicate with your child online, but let your child know you are always ready to talk in person when your child has problems.

8. Follow your child online. Visit some of the same sites to see their content and join the same social media sites to see how they operate. Play online games with your child. Let your child know you are connected and watching.

9. Be a good digital role model. Your child will imitate your actions. Be careful, polite, and ethical online.

10. Explore tips from helpful sites on how to keep kids safe online. Check with online experts about the latest sites, games, and social media trends.

RESOURCES FOR PARENTS

Common Sense Media
Scholastic
Wired
Parenting
Norton