Nine years ago when I wrote Important Conversations to Have with Your Kids About Instagram, my 11 year old daughter had just entered middle school and gotten her first phone. Today she’s an almost 21-year-old college junior and we know so much more about how kids are impacted by online experiences. We also know it’s…
Online Safety
Talking to Kids About Healthy Technology Use
This healthy technology use post is sponsored by The National PTA Ready, Tech, Go! When my kids were little, there was a time when they used to always ask “why.” Even when their curiosity felt overwhelming, taking time to explain the why behind their question always satisfied them. I learned that working with my kids…
5 Ways Teach Cyber Confidence to Prevent Cyberbullying
October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month which not only involves protecting our data but also protecting people from cyberbullying. While cyberbullying and cybersecurity are different, they both involve harm caused to others through technology. As adults, we understand this but the idea of harm through a digital device can feel very abstract to kids. Since October…
Cybersecurity Awareness Month: 4 Things to Do to Keep Yourself Safe
The connectedness of our world has both benefits and drawbacks. There is convenience in shopping online, using social media as a tool to stay in touch with friends and discover new things, and teleworking as long as we take steps to stay safe when using our phones, laptops, and smart devices. October is Cybersecurity Awareness…
How National PTA’s Ready, Tech, Go! Teaches Healthy Digital Habits
This post is sponsored by National PTA Ready, Tech, Go! Parenting in the digital age isn’t easy especially since our kids often want digital devices before we’re ready for them to have them. Before we put cell phones, tablets, and computers in their hands, it’s important to figure out when they’re truly ready for these…
Why Aura Parental Controls are a Must for Your Child’s New Phone
This post is sponsored by Aura If a new phone is at the top of your child’s wish list this year, you’re not alone. More new smartphones are activated on Christmas Day than any other day of the year! If your child will be unwrapping a new phone this holiday season, include guardrails, like Aura…
Why Aura is the Best Proactive Protection to Keep Your Family Safe Online
This post is sponsored by Aura The Internet offers unlimited opportunities for us to learn, explore, and connect but it also presents overwhelming challenges. Keeping kids safe from online predators, cyberbullying, and inappropriate content feels like a formidable task especially when monitoring screen time and ensuring their personal information stays safe. There hasn’t been one…
How to Teach Cyber Confidence to Stop Cyberbullying
This post is sponsored by Bitdefender The third Friday in June is recognized as global Stop Cyberbullying Day. Designed to celebrate and promote a truly inclusive and diverse online environment, the day’s goal is to take action against online bullying and abuse by creating a safer, more inclusive online world. But what if we directed…
Protecting Yourself on the Internet with a VPN
This post is sponsored by Bitdefender Premium VPN As my seventh-grade students entered our classroom, they picked up the day’s Entrance Ticket that contained a simple question, “How do we keep ourselves safe online?” Before we started our final unit of cybersecurity, I wanted to know how much they already knew. One by one students…
7 Favorite Resources for Teaching Digital Safety to Kids
Every year I’m asked to speak to our school PTA about digital safety. Teaching digital safety to kids isn’t easy, especially when cell phones, laptops, and tablets provide convenience and connectivity that we need. We want our kids to be connected to us through their cell phones if they need us but that also means…
