How+to+Parent+in+the+Digital+Age

It would be great if everyone could print this and bring it so we all no one we are doing How to Parent in a Digital Age ( what we are going to do)


 * Take out cell phones
 * [] (first half to 1:31)
 * what is your reaction to the video? (Open discussion)
 * What is healthy family? (5 min group discussion and share)
 * Define what Ryan found
 * How has “Play” changed? (5 min group discussion and share)
 * Rachel’s findings
 * Technology is extremely integrated into students lives which has opened a lot of opportunities for students educationally, creatively, and socially but also has negative repercussions
 * Bekahs stats and Rachels graphs
 * Katie talk about FBI
 * Becky wrap up with how to Parent (show rest of film)

If the goal of parenting is to create a healthy family, what is a healthy family? These nine traits define a healthy family. How does technology effect each one of them...

C - Commitment- loyal R – Roles – clear roles I – individuality – encourage individual talents C – Crisis and coping tools – can cope well S- Structure – clear, no triangles, good boundaries C – Communication – they speak openly and respectul A – Appreciation, build one another up, expressed freely T – Time with one another, rituals, holidays, birthdays S – Spirituality strong spiritual

What is a family – some too lose (circle of love) some too tight. Family- concentric circles (the sibling subsystem, extended family) of covenant love enjoying a shared path anticipating a hopeful future and experiencing a present day people making world of positive interaction.

http://family.jrank.org/pages/594/Family-Strengths-Qualities-Strong-Families.html

How can you protect your child? “ A Parent's Guide to Internet Safety.” //The FBI: Federal Bureau of Investigation//. The FBI: Federal Bureau of Investigation, n.d. Web. 14 Sept. 2011. < http://www.fbi.gov/stats-services/publications/parent-guide/parent-guide >.

What sex offenders do:
 * Send gifts
 * Call children or give children their phone number so that they will call the sex offender
 * Act like a child’s best friend and then exploit their knowledge of family/home issues to get the child to come to them
 * E-mail pornographic photos and other materials to children
 * Arrange meetings with children (they may even go so far as to buy a plane ticket for the child they wish to victimize)

Warning signs for parents:
 * Child is withdrawn
 * Child tries to hide and does not want to talk about online activity
 * Child is making phone calls to or receiving phone calls from unknown numbers
 * Child is receiving packages, gifts, and letters from unknown people

The most vulnerable children:
 * Children who engage in online, public chat rooms
 * Children who are online in the evening or at night
 * Children who are curious about sex
 * Children with home issues

Preventative Measures:/How to protect your child:
 * Talk with your child about on-line sex offenders.
 * Ask your children to show you their favorite sites and to teach you about on-line activities and tools.
 * “Keep the computer in a common room in the house.” (i.e. one which the family commonly occupies)
 * Only allow your child to be on line if you, your spouse, or a dependable, older sibling is home. (This is my suggestion, not the FBI’s.)
 * Block sites you feel are harmful for your child and monitor your child’s favorite chat rooms. Chat rooms are where your child is most likely to meet a sex offender.
 * Have the phone company “block your number from appearing on someone else’s Caller ID.”
 * When your child gets an online account, let them know that their usage privileges rest upon your right to know their passwords and to check their accounts as often as you see fit. Do not be mean or mysterious about this. Let your child know from what you are trying to protect them. Then the two of you can work together so that your child can use the Internet safely.
 * Instruct your child in how to be a responsible on-line user.
 * Learn what on-line preventative measures are in place at locations outside of the home where your child has internet access.
 * The best preventative measure is to have a good relationship with your child. Spend time with and listen to your child to help protect them from sexual predators. Your healthy and respect filled relationship with them may be the thing to save them from becoming a rape statistic.

Class participation: Give me some adjectives to describe sex offenders?/How would you describe a sex offender? Sex offenders are real people, not stereotypical characters. This means that they can be men or women, teens or adults in their 70’s.
 * A lot of sex offenders have day jobs.
 * Can be men or women.
 * “[C]an be any age.”
 * Can be any ethnicity.
 * Can come from any SES.

Parent Further. "Children and Media Nurturing Savvy Communication Consumers" []
 * Tips for . . .**
 * **parents with children ages birth to 5**
 * Limit young children’s computer, television, and video exposure. Make sure they have ample opportunity for imaginative play.
 * Pay attention to what your kids watch. Know the general content and themes of the shows and videos you let them see. Research shows that some children begin to build “brand loyalty” at age two, so choose shows that include little or no advertising.
 * **parents with children ages 6 to 9**
 * Talk about differences between commercial advertising and program content on the television. While very young children cannot make a distinction, by this age they can begin to understand the difference.
 * Set aside media-free family time on evenings or weekends. Play games, read aloud together, toast marshmallows, listen to music, play outside, go on an outing, or plan some other enjoyable activity together.
 * **parents with children ages 10 to 15**
 * Discuss with your children the ways advertisements persuade us that certain products will make life better. Talk about whether, and how, “stuff” can make us happy, healthy, and more secure.
 * Know the sites your children visit on the Internet. Ask them to show you a few favorites. Talk with other parents about what they know. Ask your child’s teachers to tell you about popular sites.
 * Let your children know you may occasionally check your computer’s log of Internet activity. Talk to them about any Web sites that are unfamiliar to you.
 * **parents with children ages 16 to 18**
 * With your teenagers, check out [], which offers information about becoming savvy media consumers.
 * Instruct your teens never to give out personal information or sign up for promotions and programs without first checking in with you.

Other resources: [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] []