THE PARENTING BIZ: Keeping Your Kids Safe On Social Media Platforms

Three Teachable Moments Every Parent Should Seize By Stephen Balkam* C oinciding with our cover story on social media for businesses, we now turn our attention to kids and online safety.

Research shows that many children as young as six have access to smartphones or tablets. So, be prepared to talk with your child before they are on social media or near three key moments in their life (see below). What follows are three separate articles that offer helpful tips on getting the conversation started between you and your children about technology in their young life, creating a family agreement and understanding how your teen uses Instagram.

We talk a lot about talking with your kids about being safe online. It is, after all, part of good digital parenting. Talk early and often about safety, privacy, being secure and behaving responsibly online. It’s not like the birds and the bees talk — one time and done. Ideally, it’s an ongoing conversation from two to 18 about an ever-widening array of issues, concerns, opportunities and rewards.

Of course, parents are busy and sometimes we miss opportunities to talk with our kids about a whole host of things. Or we just don’t have enough information or feel awkward about bringing up topics that our tech-savvy kids will simply roll their eyes over.

But, if there were just three key moments in your child’s life that you absolutely should not miss, they would be the following.

1. Your Child’s First Phone Kids are getting their first phone at younger ages than ever before. What used

In the digital world we live in you are guaranteed to see kids on their phones everywhere you go, checking out the latest posts, tweets and more. When a child becomes a teenager he/she can legally set up a social media account. As soon as they are old enough to join Facebook and other social media, it’s a good time for a parental chat about safe sharing, privacy and security.

to be a rite of passage for freshmen in high school, cell phones are being given to middle schoolers (grades 6 to 8) and even elementary school-aged kids, in huge numbers. According to one recent survey, a majority of 10 and 11 year olds had phones, and in the UK, a staggering one out of 10, five year olds were given their first phones. In affluent families, there is also a tendency to hand down devices to the kids as mom or dad upgrade to the latest iPhone or Samsung. Needless to say, giving your child a phone, particularly a smart phone, is a big privilege and one that comes with a number of responsibilities.

To help your kid become a smart user, make sure to sit down with him or her and set the ground rules, be clear what sanctions there may be and set sensible time limits. The most common limits include no phone during meals, homework or late at night. You can always download a ready-made contract to make the conversation go easier. It’s also a good idea to engage your child in the rule setting by asking what she/he thinks is reasonable and what kinds of content or behaviour he/she feels is inappropriate. Try and find the right balance between laying down the law and empowering and trusting your child to use his/her phone the right way.

2. Turning 13 Becoming a teenager is, of course, a big milestone in any adolescent’s life, but the ubiquity of social media sites has made this age particularly significant. Facebook, Twitter and most other leading platforms insist on users being 13 and even provide specific safety controls for these younger users. Before you launch your child onto the world of Instagram, Snapchat and Tumblr (and apps you’ve never heard of!), it would be wise to sit him/her down and talk about what they might encounter, what is appropriate behaviour and how to report a problem when things go wrong.

You may need to do some homework before you have this chat. There are plenty of videos and tip sheets on all the major social media sites and, if in doubt, just search whatever questions you may have. There’s probably a YouTube video on the very issue you have.

3. Getting A Driver’s Licence Another key moment to sit down and talk with your teen is the day before they apply for their first driver’s licence.

The topic of discussion is, naturally, the dangers of texting while driving. This talk might also expand into a broader chat about how technology in general, and hand held devices in particular, can lead to distraction and other attention problems — not just in a car, but also in school, in social situations and life in general. Talk about what it’s like to just switch off and to being present in the world. It goes without saying that your teen will pay much more attention to what you do than what you say. If you are constantly

on the phone, text at stop lights, bring your phone to bed and are not present for your own kids, then they will follow your lead.

Be a good digital role model to your kids. Not only do actions speak louder than words, but your kids will appreciate the time and attention you give them without you being distracted by your own devices.

So keep the conversation going and make sure to listen to your kids as well. It can be a humbling experience to have a nine year old explain the intricacies of “Minecraft” or having to ask your teenager’s help in uploading a video to the web.

By keeping the lines of communication open, you will gain in confidence in your role as a parent while you navigate the increasingly challenging, but remarkably rewarding, digital world we all live in.

*This article was reprinted with permission from Facebook. For the past 30 years, Stephen Balkam has had a wide range of leadership roles in the non-profit sector in the both the U.S. and UK. He is currently the Founder and CEO of the Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI), an international, non-profit organization headquartered in Washington, DC. FOSI’s mission is to make the online world safer for kids and their families. Read more from the Family Online Safety Institute: Fosi.org/good-digital-parenting.

Social Media Ground Rules For Families By MediaSmarts, Canada’s centre for digital and media literacy Understanding the connected world of kids and teens can be challenging for parents because adults don’t communicate online in the same way and are not necessarily using the same social media. Even more challenging is the reality that there’s always something new coming around the corner. Having a family agreement or set of ground rules for using social networks is a good start. It’s a great way for parents and kids to work together on how to be safe, wise and responsible online. Here are some ideas . . . • I will only follow people I know personally. • I will always show an adult any message or post that makes me feel uncomfortable or threatened. • I will never share any personal information about myself, such as my age, where I live, and where I go to school. • I will keep my whereabouts to myself: I will turn off any location settings that tell people exactly where I am or where a photograph was taken. • I will never publish anything I wouldn’t want my parents, teachers, and grandparents to see, because photos can be shared widely, with anyone, in a matter of seconds. • When creating a password, I will make one up that is hard for someone else to guess, but easy for me to remember. I will never reveal it to anyone (except my parents or a trusted adult) — not even my best friend. • I will always check my privacy settings and go over them with my parents. • I will practice the golden rule and always treat others as I would like to be treated. • I will T.H.I.N.K. before I leave a comment or send a message: is it True, Helpful, Inspiring, Necessary, Kind? • I will not upload or tag photos of other people without their permission.

For more parent resources on technology, social media use and screen time visit: MediaSmarts.ca.

Social media platforms such as Instagram provide users with opportunities to post videos, photos, and even personal information, but along with those opportunities come responsibilities. Parents and their teenagers need to form a trusting relationship so those opportunities and the pitfalls which may accompany them can be managed.

It’s hard to know how to have an open conversation with your teens and keep them safe from unwanted posts and attention while we are all learning to navigate the social media landscape ourselves, but it’s important that we do so.

It’s essential that Instagram provides a safe, supportive place for people to express themselves. And there are ways to ensure that happens.

One of the first conversations parents should have with their teenagers is whether or not their Instagram account is public, which allows universal access to anything they post, or private, which means they can control, block or approve anyone viewing their postings.

Users can switch between public and

private at any time and users of a private account can remove followers at any time they wish. Users that your teen chooses to block will not be notified of their change in status.

You should explain to your teens they can block accounts they don’t want to interact with at any time. Comments will no longer appear from a blocked account, which gives teens control of their own accounts and the people who view their postings.

Teens are urged to report any bullying or harassment that may result from any of their posts. Instagram is a judgmentfree, harassment-free platform and all reports of inappropriate activity will be kept anonymous.

Parents should ask their teens to establish filters so they can block unwanted texts, subjects or emojis, which they deem inappropriate.

Your children can create their own list of phrases, emojis, bullying or harassing comments so they can be filtered out of any interactions they have with people using Instagram. Once you and your teen have agreed on some ground rules governing content and privacy, it’s time to talk about how much time spent on Instagram is appropriate.

You should work together to achieve the right balance for your family.

Instagram’s “Activity Dashboard” allows teens to see exactly how much time they have spent on the platform on a daily, weekly and monthly basis.

They can also set a reminder to let them know when they are approaching their daily limit.

Teens naturally want to keep up with all of their friends’ activities and postings and Instagram allows them to do that by letting them know when they are “All Caught Up.”

Once you and your teen have established some guidelines and rules for using Instagram, they will have an opportunity to interact with their friends, keep up with their activities, view videos and share memories and stories in a safe, supportive atmosphere where harassing comments and bullying have no place.

Instagram can be a wonderful way for teens to interact with their peers, once ground rules have been established.

For more information please refer to the website: Parents.Instagram.com.

MARCH BREAK DIRECTORY

It’s going to happen, you just know it. Soon school will be out for five long days and your child (and perhaps even his or her friends) will be looking at you asking, “What can we do for fun?”

If your family has made the decision to stay home this March Break, finding affordable and interesting things to do can seem like a challenge.

Not the case if you make Windsor Essex your entertainment destination!

Locally there are plenty of great choices for your child such as: making a film, exploring his/her artsy side with crafts, playing games, swimming, dancing, participating in scavenger hunts, learning a bit of history, visiting the library and more. The following pages outline specific March Break events, programs and camps. Some activities can be on their own or

with friends and others can be an entire family outing. Keep in mind this is not a complete list of all there is to do this special week in the region, it’s just some suggestions for you to consider for your children.

A word of advice though, don’t plan too much. Kids also need a rest from the regular weekday routine, so schedule in

some down time during March Break. Have a meal out together, take a nature walk, play a few board games, watch movies in bed, etc. And most importantly enjoy some quality family time!

Turn the page to see our highlighted March Break camps, events and activities in Windsor Essex. © Can Stock Photo /pressmaster

SUMMER CAMPS KIDS LOVE. ANY AGE, ANY STAGE.

YMCA CAMP QUEEN ELIZABETH YMCA DAY CAMP YMCA Day Camps are the best way to spend fun summer days. New adventures and new friendships have kids coming back day after day, week after week, and year after year. On the sunny shores of Beausoleil Island, kids have overnight summer experiences that last a lifetime. 65 years strong at YMCA Camp Queen Elizabeth!

REGISTER NOW! Online: ymcawo.ca Or in Branch: Windsor YMCA at Central Park Athletics 3402 Grand Marais Road East Windsor, ON N8W 1W7 Phone: 519.419.1267

YMCA CAMP HENRY Located in Point Pelee National Park, YMCA Camp Henry offers four and five night camping experiences, perfect for those trying overnight camp for the first time.

Check out our March Break Camp! ymcawo.ca

Be sure to call the phone numbers listed and/or check the website of each business or organization profiled here to get the particulars on how your children can attend a specific camp or activity. *Unless noted the area code to use is 519. SCHOOL BREAK IS MARCH 16 TO 20, 2020

A Place To Grow Childcare At the St. Angela location, 816 Ellis Street East in Windsor, there will be different fun activities each day! From Science and Discovery, “Minute to Win It” games, Treasure Hunting and a Dress Up Dance Party to Backwards Day Freeze Dance and other games, your child is guaranteed to have a great time. For further info, visit: APlaceToGrowChildcare.net or call 252-8707.

Cathy’s Dance Studio The Windsor Studio (2220 B Foster Avenue, enter off Walker Road) offers a recreational dance camp for all ages. Children can participate in all styles of dance and a daily craft. Full day: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. or half day: 9 a.m. to noon. Dancers will perform at the end of the week. All dancers must bring their own, peanut free lunch. To learn more refer to: CathysDanceStudio.net or call 969-7956.

Essex County Library #Staycation — spend your March Break holiday with the Essex County Library! They have a fantastic lineup of activities and programs planned such as Stuffie sleepovers, Elephant and Piggie parties, game days, and more! From Leamington to LaSalle, Stoney Point to Amherstburg — knowledgeable and friendly staff are at each location to assist you. For all their March Break happenings, check out: EssexCountyLibrary.ca.

Film Camp for Kids & Youth Sign up today to make a movie this March Break! Coaching in filmmaking, photography, visual art, set design, animation, stop motion and more for those aged 9 to 16. Please register at: FilmCampForKids.com. To learn more email: info@filmcampforkids.com.

Montessori Academy of Windsor Come visit their safe, nurturing and inspiring environment located at 1775 Sprucewood Avenue in LaSalle, for fun activities each day during the March Break that are sure to make your child giggle! Early drop off and late pick-up is available. To learn more log on to: MontessoriAcademy.ca or call 967-9977.

Museum Windsor Visit the Chimczuk Museum, located at 401 Riverside Drive West in Windsor and explore the new exhibit: “Bustles & Bows: Women’s Fashion from the Victorian Era to the 1920s”. New self-guided crafts and scavenger hunts daily with chances to win great prizes are also offered. General Admission $5.50 per person. For further information view: MuseumWindsor.ca.

The Fort Fun Centre Head over to 689 Texas Road in Amherstburg for bowling, arcade games, a round of laser tag and delicious food to devour at the on-site restaurant and pizzeria with daily specials for everyone to enjoy. Separate fees for each apply. Open daily at 11 a.m. Visit: TheFortFunCentre.com for full details or phone 736-4382

YMCA at Central Park Athletics The YMCA March Break and summer camps are five days of fun-filled activities designed with an emphasis on daily outdoor and active programming. Swimming, sports, games, art and lots of laughs make the Y the best place for campers to spend their week. Register today! Go to: YWindsor.ca; stop by 3402 Grand Marais Road East in Windsor or phone 419-1267 if you have any questions.

Running A Business While Raising Kids? It’s Possible!

(NC) Raising a family and running a small business at the same time can be challenging, but a recent survey shows that many Canadians feel it’s possible.

In fact, 71% of parents with children under 18 say they’re confident they could do both and 20% already do.

It’s becoming less of a black-and-white choice between pursuing an entrepreneurial career or raising a family.

“A growing number of younger parents feel that starting and running a business with kids in the home is indeed possible, and parenthood can even be the driver in some circumstances,” explains Lori Darlington, Vice President of Small Business, Strategy and Partnerships for Business Financial Services at RBC. “While business ownership is hard work, it can also offer control over one’s schedule and career, which is valuable at all stages of life, but particularly during the demanding parenting years.”

In fact, most younger owners say the ability to work while staying home with kids at the same time and creating something they could pass on as a legacy to their children, were draws for starting a business.

Regardless of which life stage you’re starting your entrepreneurship journey at, there’s no shortage of digital solutions and advice to make it easier for you to manage and grow your business with greater flexibility, anywhere, anytime.

Find more tools, resources and solutions at: RBCRoyalBank.com/business.