11 minute read
SOCIAL MEDIA SAFETY GUIDE
By Eleanor King
Practical Guide To Tweens And Teens Social Media
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With the rise of smartphones, laptops, and tablets in the hands of tweens and teens, it’s important for parents to be aware of best practices surrounding social media use and their kids. While the internet can be a great resource, it can also be a metaphorical mine-field of misinformation and hidden dangers.
Understanding the Risks
Adolescents can be psychologically affected in a number of ways when practicing unsafe behaviors online. According to mental health counselor Katie Lear, “Access to a smartphone comes with serious risks for teens and tweens. Research shows that half of teens are cyber bullied and one third
Dangers associated with online activity include:
Seeing or sharing of violent, sexual, and pornographic content Experiencing inaccurate or false information and extreme views Oversharing personal information Actively or unintentionally getting involved in bullying or hurtful behaviour Becoming involved with people who have hidden harmful intentions of teen girls are sexually harassed online. Totally unsupervised smart phone use can expose teens and preteens to adult situations that put them at risk of being manipulated or abused. While many teens will never come into contact with a predator online, for those who do the effects can be very damaging.”
Young people may partake in risky behavior for many reasons, but a common occurrence is fear of missing out (also called FOMO) which can lead to feelings of shame or acts of exaggeration, according to internetmatters.org. With still developing minds, if kids encounter harmful or threatening things online they may not know how to cope or handle the situation. This could lead them to engage in or feel pressure to engage in more risky behaviour by accident or by design.
Creating online profiles can also lead to developing unrealistic and perhaps depressing ideals of body image and gender. Teens can become subjected to peer pressure or interactions that are intense or too difficult to handle, and may fall into uncomfortable situations that work their way into everyday life.
What Parents Can Do to Safeguard Their Kids
• Use privacy settings on all internet connected devices. • Frequently check privacy settings on social media platforms, as periodically they may change to allow voice recording or location tracking. • Have open conversations about online risks. • Make it clear that you expect your kids to treat others with respect, and to never post hurtful or embarrassing messages. • Teach kids not to share anything on social media that they wouldn’t want their family, teachers, college admissions officers, or future bosses to see.
Remind kids to avoid “friending” or talking to online strangers. If they don’t know them, don’t interact with them.
Reinforce that your kids must never share passwords or personal information online.
Make sure teens have a variety of free-time activities, like spending time with friends and playing sports, which can help them develop a healthy body and mind.
Turn off all screens during family meals and at bedtime. • Keep the computer in a common area where you can watch what’s going on. kiwi Fall 2020
The Importance of an Open Dialogue
According to KidsHealth from Nemours, it’s crucial to be aware of what your kids do online—and there’s a healthy and balanced way to go about it. Instead of succumbing to snooping, which can alienate and damage trust, you can create an open dialogue between your kids about boundaries and safe social media practices. To start, have understanding conversations about the risks and educate your kids early about how they can safeguard themselves against online dangers.
The nonprofit Enough Is Enough offers their “Internet Safety 101” guidelines to help parents navigate this uneasy path. Their resource, Rules ‘N Tools Youth Pledge offers a great roadmap to follow with your kids to be sure they understand all the dangers facing them online.
Setting Healthy Screen Time Limits
With the recent shift towards online learning and social media-based communication, it’s important for parents to be aware of what too much screen time can do and how to set screen time limits. These restrictions can create balance in your kid’s lives and help prevent screen addiction as well. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends kids and teens between 5 and 18 years old have consistent limits on the use of any media.
According to Dr. Rahul Bhola, pediatric ophthalmologist at CHOC Children’s, one of the biggest health issues related to smart devices are vision related. A recent study by the National Eye Institute found that near-sightedness has jumped exponentially in Americans over the last few decades. Two clear reasons for this are an increased amount of time spent looking at things up close and a lack of outdoor activities.
The AAP recently revised the recommendations for screen time in childhood: • 18 months and younger: no screen time is still best. The exception is live video chat with family and friends.
• 18 months to 2 years: limit screen time and avoid solo use. Choose high-quality programming, and watch with kids to ensure understanding. • 2 to 5 years: limit screen time to an hour a day. Parents should watch as well to ensure understanding and application to their world. • 6 or older: place consistent limits on the time spent and types of media. Don’t let screen time affect sleep, exercise, or other behaviors. • Restrict entertainment-related screen time to two hours or less a day. • Practice the 20-20-20 rule: After every 20 minutes of screen time, take a 20-second break and look 20 feet away.
The Bright Side of Social Media
The internet isn’t all bad news though. It can be a great place for adolescents to stay connected with their friends, participate in activism, and educate themselves on a myriad of important topics.
During the current social distancing guidelines, social media is a place where tweens and teens can communicate with their peers and family about school work, life, and more. Isolation and loneliness can be just as damaging as the dangers posed online, and having teens maintain their friendships through social media can prevent those feelings from taking hold.
Social media offers a place for tweens and teens to connect about social activism and allows them to participate in social movements. The ability to participate in social justice and human rights causes virtually allows them to not only take action, but also encourage others to as well.
Additionally, the internet can be an excellent educational tool for tweens and teens with proper guidance. Not only is all of this information at their fingertips, it comes in a variety of forms that allow for easy learning and access, including posts and shared content on social platforms.
Overall, parents should be cognizant of what their children are doing on social media and the internet. Screen time should be monitored and parents need to have open conversations with their children about the risks and dangers of online activities. Social media and the internet are great tools for connecting with friends and family and can be used to the benefit of tweens and teens. It’s up to parents to help safeguard their children and monitor proper use.
By Maureen Frost
With busy school days and evening activities back in full force, it’s time to rev up your meal prepping skills in order to stay healthy (and sane!)
Make a plan Call all the mealtime decision makers into the room and start charting out your meals, including breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks for the week. Once you have this down, put together a grocery list sectioned out by categories like produce, dairy, grains, etc. so it’s easier to navigate the store efficiently.
Tag team the shopping
and prepping While the idea of shopping, prepping, and cooking for the whole week at once can be daunting for one person, split up the responsibilities with your partner. If you are solo, split the shopping trip and meal making into two different days.
Invest in good
containers Having enough food storage containers is key to meal prep success. Glass containers are best for storage and reheating as many plastic containers can be sources for BPA exposure. You can also opt for microwave and dishwasher safe silicone storage bags to pack in your kid’s lunch bags. Buy a few at a time if the investment is too much all at once.
Slice, dice, and store Cutting veggies can be time-consuming if you try to do it every night. Instead, chop up all your produce in advance so that you can pull out what you need quickly for each meal. This practice is a salad-making savior.
Batch cook Make all the protein and grains you will need for the week at once so that you can pull out the prepared ingredients when you need them. The key to easy meal prep is to tailor your menu around ingredients that can function in multiple recipes.
Your brown rice could be a stir-fry one night, a burrito the next, and a side dish the following.
Utilize the slow cooker
There’s nothing better than setting and forgetting your food as it cooks into a tender delicious feast by the end of the day. Be sure to double the recipe to reap the benefits for multiple days.
Don’t forget the snacks
Keep hunger at bay for you and the kiddos with easy-to-grab nutritious snacks already perfectly portioned.
Nuts, hummus and veggies, apple sauce, yogurt—these are all quick and simple bites to pack for your long days out of the house.
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Eleanor King
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INSPIRATION Maylee Wolf, Ella, Connor, and Olivia Douglass, Colin, Sean, and Danny Baker, Drew and Elise Houston, Olivia and Owen Kissinger, Declan Frost, Adelyn Ciance and all the wonderful kids in our lives!
EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD
WELLNESS
Theresa Cerulli, M.D. Psychiatrist, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Lawrence Memorial Hospital; co-founder, ADD Health and Wellness Centers
Laura Coblentz Vice president of marketing and innovation, Pharmaca Integrative
Claire M. Li, D.C., C.C.N. Chiropractor in Glen Cove, NY
Drew Ramsey, M.D. Assistant clinical professor of psychiatry, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons; author of Fifty Shades of Kale Lawrence D. Rosen, M.D. Founder of The Whole Child Center and clinical assistant professor of pediatrics, New Jersey Medical School
Keegan Sheridan, N.D. Naturopathic doctor and natural food and health expert
Sherry Torkos Author of Saving Women’s Hearts, The Glycemic Index Made Simple, and The Canadian Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine
NUTRITION
Kate Geagan, RD Author of Go Green Get Lean: Trim Your Waistline with the Ultimate Low-Carbon Footprint Diet
Jess Kolko, RD, LD Culinary educator, Whole Foods Market; co-founder, Nutrition Hotline
BEHAVIOR AND DEVELOPMENT
Susan Bartell, Psy.D. Psychologist specializing in family-life balance and author of The Top 50 Questions Kids Ask
CHILDREN’S MEDIA
Traci Paige Johnson Co-founder of Yummico; co-creator of Blue’s Clues and Super WHY!
DENTISTRY
Fred Pockrass, D.D.S. Co-founder, Eco-Dentistry Association
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Liz Abzug, J.D. Adjunct professor, Barnard College; political consultant and founder, Bella Abzug Leadership Institute
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KALE
WHY WE LOVE IT: This versatile leafy green and superfood is one of the most nutrient-dense foods on the planet. Loaded with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, kale is low in calories and contains numerous cancer-fighting substances.
HOW TO CHOOSE IT: When shopping for kale, remember to keep in mind what the different varieties are best for. Choose a type of kale that is the right fit for the intended dish. Common varieties of kale include baby kale, curly kale, and Tuscan kale, also known as dinosaur kale.
HOW TO STORE IT: Fresh stems of kale should be wrapped loosely in paper towels stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to seven days after purchase. Bagged and pre-cut kale should be stored in the refrigerator and washed and eaten within three days of purchase.
DELICIOUS WAYS TO USE IT: With numerous varieties of kale, the options are endless. Blend up soft kales into a fresh smoothie, bake homemade curly kale chips with spices and herbs, add dinosaur kale to a perfect pot of fall-flavored soup, or toss chopped kale into a mixed-greens salad for extra crunch.
TRY THESE KIWI RECIPES
Kale, Sweet Potato, and Cheddar Bake
Kale, Caesar! Salad
Easy Cheesy Kale Chips
Head to kiwimagonline.com for more healthy and delicious recipes. Sign up for KIWI Cooks, our FREE newsletter featuring seasonal, and family-friendly recipes.
