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Contact: Courtney Aldrich, aldric82@msu.edu, 517-993-8649

This workshop addresses the risks and challenges that today's youth face as they use technology and social media from a special guest speaker Robin Batten who is the Program Director for Washtenaw Area
Council for Children. The topics included for part 1 will cover bullying, digital reputation, and sexting. Parents will walk away with an increased awareness of youth online life and tips for supporting their children's
well-being and online safety. Helpful resources will also be provided.

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Tag List

4-h character education,

aces,

adverse childhood experiences,

anger,

art,

asd,

autism,

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building early emotional skills in young children,

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communicating through conflict,

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conflict resolution,

cooperation,

co-parenting,

cyberbullying,

digital,

digital reputation,

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dramatic play,

early childhood,

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early childhood professionals,

early literacy,

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parent educationfamilyearly childhood professionalsfamily engagementschool readinessearly childhood developmentmsu extensionparenting the preschooler,

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parenting education classes,

parenting the preschooler,

play,

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powerful tools for caregivers,

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relax: alternatives to anger,

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workshops & series

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building early emotional skills in young children

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Online Extension Extras Parenting Hour Parenting in the Digital Age Part 1

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Extension Extras Parenting Hour is a free online series of parenting workshops that provides guidance for parents of young children as they navigate the challenges, joys, and concerns of parenting.

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Part 2 of this workshop with Robin Batten, the Program Director for Washtenaw Area Council for Children addresses the risks and challenges that today's youth face as they use technology and social media. Topics including online predators, privacy issues, and trafficking will be covered in session 2. Parents will walk away with an increased awareness of youth online life and tips for supporting their children's well-being and online safety. Helpful resources will also be provided.

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Tag List

4-h character education,

aces,

adverse childhood experiences,

anger,

art,

asd,

autism,

autistic,

behavior,

biting,

building early emotional skills in young children,

bullying,

caregiver,

caregiving,

challenging behaviors,

child,

child care providers,

child development,

child & family development,

child & family development workshops,

childhood trauma,

children,

children and stress,

child safety,

communicating through conflict,

communication,

conflict resolution,

cooperation,

co-parenting,

cyberbullying,

digital,

digital reputation,

discipline,

dramatic play,

early childhood,

early childhood development,

early childhood professionals,

early literacy,

family,

family engagement,

feeding,

gun safety,

healthy relationships,

hitting,

kids,

language development,

learning,

literacy,

managing relationships,

math,

mathematics,

michigan state university extension,

mindfulness,

mindfulness for better living,

mindfulness for children,

msu,

msu extension,

music,

neurodiversity,

one time presentation,

online,

outdoor play,

outside,

parent education,

parent educationfamilyearly childhood professionalsfamily engagementschool readinessearly childhood developmentmsu extensionparenting the preschooler,

parenting,

parenting education classes,

parenting the preschooler,

play,

positive discipline,

powerful tools for caregivers,

predators,

race,

racism,

reading,

relax alternatives to anger,

relax: alternatives to anger,

resilience,

school readiness,

science,

science for children,

screen time,

self-control,

series,

setting the stage,

sexting,

social emotional,

speech development,

stress less with mindfulness,

talk,

tantrum,

technology,

teens,

today's mom,

toddler,

toddlers,

together we can,

trafficking,

trauma,

virtual,

workshops,

workshops & series

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
building early emotional skills in young children

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Online Extension Extras Parenting Hour Parenting in the Digital Age Part 2

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Extension Extras Parenting Hour is a free online series of parenting workshops that provides guidance for parents of young children as they navigate the challenges, joys, and concerns of parenting.

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Program Director

Washtenaw Area Council for Children
3075 Clark Rd. Suite 110
Ypsilanti, Michigan 48197
(734) 434-4215
robin (at) washtenawchildren.org

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How to talk to your kids about being online, and how to help them make good decisions and stay safe.

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The official website of the Federal Trade Commission, protecting America's consumers for over 100 years.

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Since 1998, NCMEC (National Center for Missing and Exploited Children) has operated the CyberTipline, a place where the public and electronic service providers can report suspected online and offline child sexual exploitation. The millions of reports made each year uniquely situate NCMEC to identify trends and create prevention resources to address the evolving needs of kids and teens online.

NetSmartz is NCMEC's online safety education program. It provides age-appropriate videos and activities to help teach children be safer online with the goal of helping children to become more aware of potential online risks and empowering them to help prevent victimization by making safer choices on- and offline.

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National Center for Missing & Exploited Children

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Since 1998, NCMEC has operated the CyberTipline, a place where the public and electronic service providers can report suspected online and offline child sexual exploitation. The millions of reports made each year uniquely situate NCMEC to identify trends and create prevention resources to address the evolving needs of kids and teens online.

NetSmartz is NCMEC's online safety education program. It provides age-appropriate videos and activities to help teach children be safer online with the goal of helping children to become more aware of potential online risks and empowering them to help prevent victimization by making safer choices on- and offline.

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Since 1998, NCMEC has operated the CyberTipline, a place where the public and electronic service providers can report suspected online and offline child sexual exploitation. The millions of reports made each year uniquely situate NCMEC to identify trends and create prevention resources to address the evolving needs of kids and teens online.

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EVERY HALF A SECOND, A CHILD GOES ONLINE FOR THE FIRST TIME.
WHILE THIS BRINGS A HOST OF OPPORTUNITIES, IT CAN ALSO BRING SERIOUS RISKS.

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The Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children is a unique public-private collaboration that includes United Nations agencies, governments, industry, regional bodies, civil society, young people, advocates and champions, all focused on one thing:

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Resources for Parents, Educators & Communities (K-12)

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Resources for Parents, Educators & Communities (K-12)

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Our resources for educators offer multiple ways to engage students, parents and communities in important lessons in digital citizenship and online safety.

Empower your students to be safer online with our free collection of teaching materials for families and students in grades K-12.  NetSmartz can help you create a dynamic and engaging Internet safety curriculum.

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National Center for Missing & Exploited Children

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PowerPoint Presentations

NetSmartz offers free, multimedia internet safety presentations tailored for specific audiences - parents and communities, teens, tweens, and younger children. Our innovative presentations make use of online resources, videos, and expert tips to educate, engage, and empower children and adults to be safer on and offline.​

The presentations below are categorized by age of the intended target audience. However, we strongly encourage presenters to review the PowerPoint presentations before deciding which one to use and to consult with the hosts of your presentation (e.g. administration and/or support staff if presenting at a school) to select the most appropriate presentation for your audience. Depending on your audience's previous exposure to internet safety and related topics, you may need to deviate from the age guidelines given below to find the most relevant information and format. Contact us at outreach@ncmec.org with questions or for assistance.

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PowerPoint Presentations NetSmartz offers free, multimedia internet safety presentations tailored for specific audiences - parents and communities, teens, tweens, and younger children. Our innovative presentations make use of online resources, videos, and expert tips to educate, engage, and empower children and adults to be safer on and offline.​ The presentations below are categorized by age of the intended target audience.

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Since 2007, Savvy Cyber Kids has been helping parents and teachers educate children in cyber safety, cyber ethics and other aspects of their daily tech lives. Savvy Cyber Kids offers a platform of FREE educational resources for preschool through high school students in two tracks: one for families, and one for educators.

Download activity sheets, books, and other age-appropriate resources for preschool aged kids 3 to 7 years old on Savvy Cyber Kids.

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Since 2007, Savvy Cyber Kids has been helping parents and teachers educate children in cyber safety, cyber ethics and other aspects of their daily tech lives. Savvy Cyber Kids offers a platform of FREE educational resources for preschool through high school students in two tracks: one

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Homeland Security Investigations iGuardian Program to Prevent Child Sexual Exploitation

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Homeland Security Investigations iGuardian Program to Prevent Child Sexual Exploitation

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ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is committed to combating the sexual exploitation of children. Investigations of child sexual exploitation are among HSI’s primary investigative priorities. The sexual abuse of children impacts the most vulnerable segment of our society.

ICE HSI knows the importance of education and community awareness regarding the dangers of online activity.

Providing children, teens, parents and teachers with information regarding the potential dangers of online environments and how to stay safe online can help prevent many instances of child exploitation. That is why HSI has partnered with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s NetSmartz and the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Forces to develop Project iGuardian.

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About Project iGuardian

Project iGuardian aims to counter a disturbing fact: many online child predators can find victims online because children are not always aware of how dangerous online environments can be.

Project iGuardian is focused on keeping children and teens safe from online predators through education and awareness. The project is an outreach effort to share information about the dangers of online environments, how to stay safe online, and how to report abuse and suspicious activity. In addition, the iGuardians ™ team is here to help kids stay safe online by providing safety tips, a number to call, and a website with links to more information and resources. Project iGuardian helps kids, teens and parents be smarter about online safety and stay safe from online sexual predators.

To request an iGuardian presentation at your school or organization, email iguardian@ice.dhs.gov. To report a crime, call 866-347-2423 (TTY for hearing impaired: 802-872-6196) or visit the ICE Tip Line.

Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, via its toll-free 24-hour hotline, 1-800-843-5678.

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Investigations of child sexual exploitation are among HSI's primary investigative priorities.

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National Cybersecurity Alliance's Stay Safe Online Campaign

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The National Cybersecurity Alliance is a non-profit organization on a mission to create a more secure, interconnected world.

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CISA provides information on cybersecurity best practices to help individuals and organizations implement preventative measures and manage cyber risks.

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Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

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Official websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock (Lock A locked padlock ) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

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Tools and Tricks to Protect Your Kids

The following list provides a bit of both, useful educational tools that can teach your kids, programs that can monitor their activity, restrict dangerous websites, and even block them from engaging in risky behavior.

It also offers a number of helpful tips to pass on to your children or make use of existing tools you may not realize you already have access to.

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Protecting your children online can seem like a daunting task. There always seem to be threats from new angles cropping up on the 5 o'clock news. Children these days are more attached to the internet than ever from an earlier age. There are a number of useful tools that can help you protect your child on your home computers and devices, but you should also teach your child internet safety to protect them when they are away from home. The following list provides a bit of both, useful educational tools that can teach your kids, programs that can monitor their activity, restrict dangerous websites, and even block them from engaging in risky behavior. It also offers a number of helpful tips to pass on to your children or make use of existing tools you may not realize you already have access to.
Tips and Tricks General Tips

1. Keep it Open - Keep the computer in a family room or other high traffic area. Kids are a lot more likely to keep up safe habits when there is a sense of accountability. It also allows parents a chance to notice harassment or other negative experiences a child encounters online.

2. Use Parental Controls - Your operating system has built-in parental controls. Windows 7 has a number of useful and easy to use controls that can help you control which programs your children can run, restrict what rating of games they can play (or restrict certain games all together), filter web content, and even control the days and times your kids can access their account.

3. Set Limits - Kids are web-savvy these days, and if you listen to them tell it, a connection to the internet is vital to their continued well-being. Set clearly defined limitations on web-enabled devices, including cellphones, game systems, and computers. Limiting the time they spend attached to a mobile-enhanced device can help kids distance themselves from what occurs online. Your child may not need their own web-enhanced cell-phones as children.

Resources for Parents about Internet Safety Educational Sites for Net Smart Kids

1. Web Wise Kids - This site is a decade-old non-profit sponsored site covering the range of online dangers for kids. Information for parents, educational tools including games for kids, even classroom resources for educators.

2. NetSmartzKids - Videos, games, e-books, and more geared to elementary school kids designed to teach them all about internet safety.

3. Privacy Playground: The First Adventure of the Three Cyber Pigs - An online game designed for children aged 8-10 that teaches children about spam, internet safety, and marketing scams.

4. Safety Land - An online game sponsored by AT&T designed to teach children about internet safety, including protecting private information and avoiding online predators.

5. Welcome to the Web - A series of challenges and activities to introduce kids to using the internet safely, with a parent and teacher resource guide.

6. The Carnegie Cyber Academy - "The world's most prestigious cyber defense training facility in the world." Kids learn through a series of training missions how to stay safe and have fun online.

7. Get Cybersmart with Phineas and Ferb - Phineas and Ferb (the cartoon brothers from Disney) film a public service announcement to teach kids all about internet safety.

8. Think U Know Cyber Café - Very well organized and targeted towards teenagers, this site gives them everything they need to know to stay safe while using social media, chat rooms, playing games, and more.

9. NS Teens - This site uses animation, comics, and games to educate teenagers about online dangers, cyber bullying, web etiquette, and more.

Cyber Bullying Resources Things to Know:
Cyber bullying is becoming a huge problem. As schools and other institutions become more aware and proactive in preventing and addressing bullying among students, children have found other avenues to act out. Cyberspace can often seem like a consequences-free field for kids to taunt one another. Almost half of today's kids report having been bullied online. More disturbing still is the link between bullying and suicide risk for youth. Here are some tools to help you deal with and prevent cyber bullying.

1. Keep a record- There are a number of free programs that allow you to capture an image of whatever appears on your screen, often with a time-stamp. This allows you to track and document incidences of cyber bullying so it can be reported and addressed. One good free program is Jing, which allows you to take screenshots easily and even allows you to selectively choose the portion of your screen you wish to snapshot, or record video of what is occurring on your screen. Save harassing emails, pictures, or videos that are sent or posted in an attempt to harass your child.

2. An email contains the sender's IP address - If someone is harassing your child through email in an attempt to remain anonymous, learn to find the IP embedded in each email. It is often easily located in the header, which can create accountability for the harasser.

3. Report harassment - Most of the cyber bullying that occurs online happens through social networking platforms. Many of the providers of these services have methods of reporting harassment. Make use of it, and learn how to report on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

4. Talk to your kids - Most kids never report the harassment they receive online. They are very unlikely to volunteer the information to their parents. Make a point to discuss online bullying with your children, and ask them about what they experience while online. There are lots of good resources to educate yourself and your kids about cyber bullying (listed below).

5. Foster Awareness - Your child may not fully understand what cyber bullying looks like. It is possible they could be participating in, encouraging, or overlooking bullying with their peers. Make sure they know what it looks like and don't become a part of the problem.

6. Learn to Recognize - Since your child is less likely to tell you outright, learn to recognize the common signs that your child is dealing with online harassment. These include sudden drastic changes in time spent online, seeming withdrawn or upset after time texting or being online, sudden social withdrawal, and lots of new contacts appearing on your child's texts, inbox, or phone.

Anti-Bullying Awareness Sites and Tools

1. Kid's Against Bullying - Designed especially for kids, this site is full of tailored information to help kids learn to spot, prevent, avoid, and get help with cyber bullying.

2. Stop Bullying - A government funded website full of information about cyber bullying, including tips on preventing it for both parents and children and steps on how to address bullying once it is happening.

3. BrainPOP: Cyber bullying - A clever online video about what cyber bullying is and how it affects people brought to you by BrainPop, who also offer information on digital etiquette and online safety.

4. STOP Cyber bullying - The first cyber bullying prevention program, this site empowers teens and tweens to fight back against bullying and teaches them to be leaders and how to provide effective peer support.

5. Cyberbullying.org - This site provides information about what cyber bullying is and how to address it.

6. Common Sense: Cyber bullying - A really well-designed resource for parents to learn about cyber bullying. Includes a well-made video, information about what it looks like at all age groups, and helpful conversation starters.

7. The Bully Roundup - The CDC provides this bully-awareness site tailored to 4th-7th graders. It includes eight excellent tips on dealing with bullies and offers an anti-bullying game. It also has resources for parents.

8. NCJRS: Cyber bullying and cyber stalking - A collection of studies done by various government departments examining the causes and effects of cyber bullying as well as prevention and response tactics and their effectiveness.

Ad Awareness
Ad bombardment has always been a part of a child's interaction with technology. However, advertisement firms get astounding access to children and teens with the internet. While television restricts ad-bombing to commercial breaks, ads appear literally everywhere for the web-browsing child. Ads appear on nearly every page and they are more targeted than ever. Teaching kids to be media literate can greatly improve their internet experience and give them a powerful tool for the future.
Monitoring & Filtering
The first step for many people in protecting their kids online is researching and installing programs that monitor, filter, and restrict access to dangerous content. Each of these programs has different features and offer different levels of oversight. Some will give you simple controls to block inappropriate content, others will monitor every action your child takes and send you a detailed report, and some will even block inappropriate outgoing content. Some of these programs are free and others require a subscription or purchase.

1. CyberPatrol - CyberPatrol is a software solution for parents that grants them the ability to block inappropriate content, set time limits on computer access or access to specific programs like games, and restricts access to specific programs like games or instant messaging programs. It also tracks the child's computer usage and creates reports detailing what they did while online and how long they spent at each activity. Cost is $39.95 for three computers.

2. K9 Web Protection - K9 blocks web content with customizable lists that allow parents to determine what is appropriate for their children. It also forces children to utilize Safe Search on major search engines, allows parents to establish time restrictions on web access, offers anti-tampering security, and creates simple reports to keep parents informed about what their kids are up to. Useable on Windows, MacOS, iPhone and related devices, and Android. Completely free.

3. AVG Family Safety - AVG Family Safety offers a unique solution to guard against cyber bullying. By tracking keystrokes, the program analyses chat room and social networking activity and looks out for terms attributed to bullying. If it picks any up, it alerts parents via SMS or email right away. Other features include mobile protections, time and application management, content restriction, activity reports accessible remotely, and more. Annual subscriptions cost $49.99 a year to cover three licenses.

4. CYBERsitter - CYBERsitter is a 5-time winner of PC Magazine's Editor's Choice award. It works on Windows from XP to 8 and allows parents to proactively block a range of content including web, games, social networking, and malicious sites. It also monitors emails incoming and outgoing. It can restrict access to leisure sites (games, social networks, and the like) during times when children are expected to be studying. Completely customizable. One year of service for up to three home computers costs $39.95.

5. Norton Online Family - A free service from Norton that allows parents to monitor and control web access, keep an eye on social networking activities, search habits, and android smart phone usage. It keeps parents alerted through email updates and also allows them to check in remotely to view reports. Premium service provides greater reporting, more access to android monitoring, and video monitoring as well. Family Premier's additional services run $49.99 a year.

6. McAfee Family Protection - Family Protection software allows parents to block over thirty categories of inappropriate or objectionable web content, restrict access to inappropriate YouTube videos through keyword filtering, manage time and application usage, establish age-range guides to content, records instant message and social networking communications and provides instant feedback when topics range into risky territory, filters music with explicit language, and provides simple feedback via email or text to parents. Annual service costs $49.99.

7. Pure Sight PC - Pure Sight is a respected European based software that monitors social networking, including features that track for cyber bullying, protects against explicit material, violence, and hateful content, establishes internet curfews, restricts file sharing, and provides detailed reports to parents at home or remotely. If it does detect cyber bullying in action, it will automatically cease the conversation, block the bully, and send a message to parents notifying them of the incidence. It costs $5.99 a month for a single computer or $59.90 annually.

8. Net Nanny - Net Nanny is very well-respected parental control software that has been recognized by major media outlets and has won an assortment of software awards around the web. It offers features like profanity masking, which filters and conceals profanity on websites as well as the standard collection of social media and IM monitoring, with cyber bully protection, web content filtering, video game controls, time scheduling, and more. Net Nanny will cost you $39.99 annually.

9. Sentry PC - Sentry PC is parental control software that offers the host of typical features like web content management and filtering, usage controls, gaming filters, and parental reports. It also includes chat filtering, keystroke phrase filtering, and logs and records screenshots of a child's online activity. It allows parents to remotely log and view activity. It works for Windows 2000-8. Basic software will cost $49.95 annually for up to three computers, additional features and add-ons can also be purchased.

10. SafetyWeb - SafetyWeb allows parents to monitor online activity on social networks, chat programs and also keeps track of calls and texting on their mobile phones. It has smart analytical tools that search for risky interactions, including predatory and bullying behavior, and alerts parents. It actively searches for your child's presence in a wide range of social networking sites and alerts parents to their child's online presence. It also tracks topics like eating disorders, drug and alcohol addiction, depression, and hate speech. Accessing SafetyWeb will cost $100 for one year, or as little as $9 monthly when billed to your phone.

11. Screen Retriever - This monitoring software tracks all of a child's activities both online and offline and allows parents to remotely glimpse at what is happening on their child's screen. It captures all chats, including on social media and instant messaging programs like Skype and AIM, and allows parents to review them at their leisure. Access will cost $49.99 for an annual license.

12. uKnowKids - uKnowKids offers the complete technological protection package, including social and web monitoring, mobile monitoring, and location monitoring. The location monitoring sets it apart from its competitors. This service allows you to track your child's exact location using GPS, WiFi, and social media data. Not only can it pinpoint their last location, it tracks their movement every thirty minutes and can provide a worried parent a detailed report of their child's activities throughout the day. This is alongside equally powerful web and mobile monitoring that offers the industry standard features and then some. Works with iPhone and related devices, Blackberry devices, and Android devices. Plans range from a basic limited free version to a monthly $9.95 fee. Additional features can be added.

File Sharing or P2P
A sometimes overlooked risk on the internet for kids is file sharing. Not only do kids frequently get caught up with illegal downloads of music, videos, and games, files are often mislabeled and can harbor all sorts of nasty things. These files can conceal viruses and spyware and even illicit material. You can protect your children against this with a few simple steps.

1. Block your P2P software - As previously discussed, you can limit access to specific programs. Lock your children out of any P2P software you have on your computer already. If you want to eliminate the problem wholly, blocking the software can keep them from engaging in this risky behavior.

2. Legal Download Sites - There are a number of legal download sites available on the internet. Find a few of these and offer them to your child as an alternative to other notorious pirate-friendly sites. To get you started, there is a list of free and legal music download sites listed below.

3. Lay down ground rules - Kids are more likely to follow safe P2P guidelines if they understand the very real consequences risky behavior can have. Make sure they understand why you limit or restrict their file sharing habits.

Information on P2P/File Sharing Legal Music Download Sites

1. Last.fm - Social networking for music nerds with free or inexpensive downloads for acts ranging from indie to mainstream. Share playlists, find other fans, introduce your friends to great music, and more.

2. Jamendo - This service offers lots and lots of free and legal music and music videos from independent acts. Free streaming, downloading, and sharing with friends.

3. Free Music Archive - Tons and tons of completely free to download music, with curated lists to help you find good music that suits your tastes.

4. SoundCloud - SoundCloud helps you explore music, share it through social media, and upload your own music.

5. MP3.com - Get free MP3 downloads from indie acts and major acts alike. They offer free daily downloads and are a great way to get introduced to new music.

6. Noise Trade - A link between music fans and indie bands, offering tons of free downloads and a straightforward way to explore new and excellent music.

Identity Protection & Privacy
Identity theft is a rising threat to children. Most adults are now aware that they must protect their personal information from would-be identity thieves, but few of us think to concern ourselves about the identity protection of our Kindergartener. Unfortunately, it is one of the fastest growing areas of ID theft.

Other threats to identity online include one we are more familiar with - predators. Make sure your children know what sort of information to keep to themselves to stay safe.
Online Predators
Online predators are probably one of the most well-known risks associated with children on the web. Most parents are aware that predators sometimes stalk chat rooms that children frequent. This problem has gotten a lot of attention and thus has a lot of resources available to prevent it and still allow kids to get a chance to explore new social connections.
Tips for safe chatting

1. Talk to your kids about safe chatting - Let your kids know what sort of information predators are looking for. Arming kids with awareness can prevent them inadvertently slipping an online predator information which can lead them to your child.

2. Limit direct access - It is best if your child never gives out direct-access information to strangers online, like e-mail addresses and even instant messenger account names. E-mail addresses are particularly worrisome since a lot of information can be obtained from embedded IP addresses. Let your kids know to never share that information with people they don't know in person.

Information on Sexual Predators Online Chat Room Safety
Chat Room Safety - Simple advice to teach your kids about chat-room safety.
Child-Safe Social Networking & Chat Programs

1. Mulch Den - Mulch Den is a program designed mostly for younger children who are interested in chatting online. It utilizes an artificial intelligence program to help your child participate in curiosity sparking conversations with a character named Yuk Yuk and his friends who reside in a world deep inside the Earth's core. This is completely free.

2. Kid Chat - This chat service is specifically designed to provide a safe place for kids to meet and talk online. It features security filters that block kids from sharing private information, blocks and restricts any form of cursing including self-filtered variants, and requires good net etiquette from its users. There is also staff present to actively monitor the chat rooms and keep out predators and inappropriate behavior.

3. Kids Social Network - This social network has been developed for kids, allowing them to connect with each other in a safe and secure environment. It offers a lockdown browser that filters inappropriate content, kid-safe chat programs, and even games. Law enforcement is granted a direct-access portal to help keep the kids using the network safe. Accounts are free.

4. Kidz World - Another social network made specifically for kids, it features advice columns, school help, chat and forums, games, and more. Unfortunately, this site has lots of advertisements and less filtering than other options listed here. It does offer protection against predators and some filtering. This site is geared more towards tweens and teens than younger children.

5. Grom Social - Grom Social was created by a kid, for kids to provide them with a fun place to socialize online. Meant to be a replacement for Facebook just for kids that is safe, monitored, and lets them do everything from chat and game with friends to get help for school. Free to join and features a mobile app. Grom Social takes an active stance against bullying, drug use, and smoking and encourages kids to make healthy choices.

6. Club Penguin - This Disney hosted kids social site features lots of fun activities and games, avatars, and kid-safe networking and chatting. Free accounts can explore the virtual world and play games in this moderated environment, and members can get access to everything to their heart's content. Membership costs anywhere from $5.00-$7.95 per month depending on how long the subscription lasts.

Internet Addiction
Addiction to the wonders of the web is a growing problem for today's youth. In some countries, like Korea, internet addiction in children as young as six is a growing epidemic. Learning to spot the signs of addiction and understanding how to manage it in children who often require some level of access is an important tool to add to the modern parenting kit.
Warning Signs and Prevention Tips

1. Favoring online social interactions - If your child starts eliminating in-person social events in favor of online activities, they may be developing an internet addiction. Encourage them to prioritize time spent with local friends over time spent with online ones.

2. Overemotional responses to removal of web-enhanced devices - If setting the smart phone down for dinner or restrictions to online time trigger emotional outbursts, your child may be developing an addiction. Establish limited time frames for internet access and encourage other offline interests.

3. Restrict access time - Do not allow unfettered access to the internet. Establishing a limited timeline for internet access can help kids prioritize their use of it. Whether it's during specific hours or days of the week or for limited times after tasks are completed, the restriction can help your child develop a healthy relationship with the internet.

Guides for Parents on Internet Addiction Hidden Web Access
Do not forget that kids these days are connected to the internet from more than just their home PC. Cell phones, both their own and those of their friends, are linked in as well as a number of other mobile devices including handheld and console game systems, and obviously tablets. This fact makes it considerably more challenging to monitor and protect your kids, though there are still tools to be examined. The other side of mobile web access is an increased array of tools to help keep kids safe outside of the home.

Infographic on Teen Web-Access via Smartphone - This infographic is a really eye-opening indicator of how traditional internet safety tactics, like making sure the computer is in a common room in your home, are bypassed by modern teen internet usage.
Basic Tactics

1. Shop around - For many families a cell phone is an incredibly vital tool to stay in touch, keep track of teen whereabouts, and organize complicated family schedules. If not allowing your child a web-enhanced phone is an option, shop for a phone and provider that gives you accessible parental controls. Many cell phones offer tracking features, web and text filters, time restrictions, contact restrictions, and more. Find a level of protection that works for your family.

2. Talk, talk, talk - This is perhaps the most important tool around for protecting your kids. All the fancy programs and monitoring devices and webcasts in the world are no substitute for conversations with your child about the risks that exist, their seriousness, and the ways your child can mitigate them. Your child's own wise choices are the best defense against risk.

Child Safety Apps

1. Mobicip - This cloud-based web filter makes it easy to set up personalized web filters across every web-enhanced device in your household, including Windows 7, Ubuntu, Android, iPhone and iPad devices, and even Kindle Fires. Basic accounts are free and come with real-time content filtering, data encryption, and standard filtering levels. A premium account costs $9.99 annually per device and offers more control, category blocking, time limits, activity reports, and more.

2. North Star Child Safety Monitor - This handy app tracks the progress of a child and the school transportation they utilize. This helps parents look for poor driving, track arrival times at pick up and drop off sites, and verify attendance. Parents receive an instant SMS alert when the bus is within 10 minutes of a pickup or drop off site, when a child boards the vehicle, and in cases of accident.

3. Children TV - This application helps create a child-friendly video listing utilizing YouTube content. Designed for mobile devices, it creates an easy to use menu of videos sorted by language, fun, and age range. Totally free.

4. Kids Place - This app offers parental controls to Android devices that allow parents to block outgoing calls and text, the android marketplace, app downloads, and prevent curious kids from using the phone. It can also establish a timer lock, so children can use accessible apps only for a certain length of time. Best of all, it's free.

5. FBI Child ID - This free app provided by the FBI is designed to help you electronically store vital information and photos about your children so in the case of an emergency you can instantly provide important identifiers to police and security personnel. It also offers handy tips on keeping children safe and a guide on what to do in the vital first hours after a child goes missing.

6. Family GPS Tracker: Life 360 - This application provides you with a personalized family map that shows you the location of all of your family members at a glance. You can personalize messages and check in to let your family know you have safely arrived at an intended destination, and even pull up a built in chat feature that lets you update everyone all at once without sending out half a dozen individual messages. It also includes emergency roadside assistance for all connected family members. They offer a basic free plan, but to get the best offering the premium plan costs $5 a month or $50 for a year for your whole family

7. Sprint Family Locator - This service allows you to locate your child in real-time with interactive satellite maps from your computer or any web-enhanced mobile device. You can even set up arrival times for your children and your phone will update you when they get home and send you an alert if they fail to arrive on time. You can even lock your child's phone remotely.

8. Famingo Sandbox - This app helps parents provide the best mobile applications to their kids and gives them control over ones they find objectionable. A+ apps are suggested in an easy to navigate interface while ones to avoid are restricted from kids. It creates a virtual sandbox safe for kids to explore so parents don't have to worry.

9. Kids Mode - Designed for kids aged 8 and below, this fun application features a number of educational and fun games organized in an easy to navigate menu. It includes a child lock feature to keep kids away from other parts of the phone, video mail so kids can chat with family members, an art studio, and a weekly report for parents to track what their kids have learned. Free to use.

10. Ranger Pro Safe Browser - This Android application offers a secure mobile browser environment that users can customize to suit the needs of their family. It offers a range of blockable categories and methods to whitelist or blacklist specific sites. They also continuously (once an hour) update their lists and categories so users can be sure the environment remains safe. The browser itself features copy & paste, pinch & zoom, landscape mode, multi-tabs, browsing history, URL suggestion, cookies, and more. Free to use.

11. Find My Kids: Footprints - This iOS application allows users to track in real-time the location of loved ones. Parents can establish virtual fences, like a child's school or a friend's house, and get notifications when those digital boundaries are crossed. Parents can also view a map of where their children have been throughout the day. Further, it does so automatically, not requiring any sort of manual check-in. The application itself is lightweight to preserve battery life. Available in the Apple App Store for $3.99 for a one-year subscription.

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The Concerned Parent's Toolbox - Tools and Tricks to Protect Your Kids

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Protecting your children online can seem like a daunting task. There always seem to be threats from new angles cropping up on the 5 o'clock news. Children these days are more attached to the internet than ever from an earlier age.

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Sharenting-the dark side of AI--shows how innocently sharing your child's image on your social media platforms can create a digital footprint for your child with dangerous potential.

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Deutsche Telekom - Sharenting (Germany, 2023, Subtitled)

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We all know the internet is a fantastic world of learning and entertainment for kids, but, like the real world, there can be dangers, too.

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We all know the internet is a fantastic world of learning and entertainment for kids, but, like the real world, there can be dangers, too.

With some precautions, you can set your children up to become upstanding digital citizens that will lead the future. On the other hand, giving children uninhibited access to the internet can put your child, computer, and personal data at risk.

Remain positively engaged

Pay attention to the online environments your children use. Surf the web with them. Appreciate your children's participation in their online communities and show interest in their friends. When they encounter inappropriate material, rea ct constructively and make it a teachable moment.

Support good choices

Expand your children's online autonomy when appropriate, especially as they demonstrate competence in safe and secure online behavior.

Keep a clean machine

Cybersecurity starts with protecting all household computers with a security suite, meaning antivirus, antispyware, and firewall software. Set all this software to update automatically so you don't have to worry about it - software companies often create updates that deal with the latest cybersecurity threats. Keep your operating system, web browsers, and other software current as well. Importantly, back up computer files on a regular basis either on the cloud, on an external hard drive, or both.

Know the protection features of the websites , software , and apps your children use

Review privacy settings

Explain the implications

Help them be good digital citizens

Remind your children to be good "digital friends" by respecting personal information of friends and family and not sharing anything online about others that could be embarrassing or hurtful.

"Just say no" rarely works

Empower your children to handle issues

Encourage your children to be "digital leaders"

Help your children become proficient in the safety and security techniques of all technology they use. Support their positive and safe engagement in online communities. Urge them to help if friends are making poor choices on the internet or are being cyberbullied .

6 Tips for Securing Your Family's Digital Lives

1. Keep your home computer in a central and open location

If your main family computer lives out in the open (like in a living room or family room) , you can physically monitor your children while they are online.

2. Be aware of all the ways people connect to the internet

3. Talk to other parents

When and how you decide to let your children use the internet is a personal parenting decision. Knowing what other parents are thinking , and what they are allowing their children to do online, can be helpful for making decisions about what your children do online.

4. Know the rules

Not all online services are for kids. Even some of the most popular social networking services are meant only for use by people 13 and older. There are many terrific sites designed specifically for younger children that provide a safer, more secure , and age-appropriate environment.

5. Keep pace with new ways to stay safe online

The online world is ever changing. New services with great features continually emerge. Knowing about them , and how young people use them , can help you better understand the digital life of your children . By keeping current, you can also better mitigate any concerns you may have for your children 's online experience .

6. Create separate accounts on your computer

Computer operating systems allow you to create a different account for each user. Furthermore, you can edit certain permissions for each account, like limited what websites the account holder can access. Separate accounts can lessen the chance that your child might accidentally access, modify, or change your computer settings , o r delete your files.

When to Call the Authorities

If you know of a child in immediate risk or danger, call law enforcement right away. Report instances of online child exploitation to the

Additional Resources

ConnectSafely.org has basic guidelines for teens and parents about cyberbullying, sexting, social networking, and more.

FBI's Safe Online Surfing (SOS) Internet Challenge is a free, fun, and informative program that promotes cyber citizenship by educating students in third to eighth grades on the essentials of online security. For teachers, the site provides a ready-made curriculum that meets state and federal Internet safety mandates, complete with online testing and a national competition to encourage learning and participation.

iKeepSafe.org seeks to give parents, educators, and policymakers the information and tools which power them to teach children the safe and healthy use of technology and the internet.

NetSmartz is a safety resource from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) and Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) for children aged 5 to 17, parents, guardians, educators and law enforcement that uses activities to teach internet safety

OnGuardOnline.gov is the Federal Trade Commission's main consumer-facing page to educate everyone on staying safe and secure online.

Cyberbullying: What is It and How to Prevent It? is a complete guide to navigating Cyberbullying created by Purdue Global.

Children's Online Safety Test is a resource page by Virgin Media O2 created to build trust with your child and talk to them about the potential issues they may face online.

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The internet is a wonderful place for learning and entertainment, but like the world around us, it can pose dangers if precautions are not taken.

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Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin

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Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

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Official websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock (Lock A locked padlock ) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

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End Violence teamed up with our partners in the technology sector – Microsoft, Twitter, TikTok and Roblox – to boost awareness of online sexual exploitation and abuse of young people across the globe. Together, we have created two videos, of which Playdate with a Predator is one, which help illustrate some of the sexual risks children face online. Learn more at end-violence.org/protect

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Tips for Internet Safety:

Tell your parents immediately if you come across something that makes you feel uncomfortable.

Remember that people on the Internet may not be who they seem. Never give out identifying information such as your name, home address, school name or telephone number in a public message, such as in a chat room or on a bulletin board.

People who are dangerous may represent themselves online as a young boy or girl to entice you to a face-to-face meeting.

You should never arrange a face-to-face meeting without first asking a parent. If a parent agrees, you should meet in a public place with your parent accompanying you. Be careful when someone offers you something for nothing.

Be very careful about any offers that involve you coming to a meeting or have someone visit your home.

Always get to know your online friends just as you would get to know all of your friends.

Never send your picture without first asking a parent.

Never respond to messages or items that are suggestive, obscene, belligerent, threatening or make you feel uncomfortable.

Be sure that you are dealing with someone you and your parents know and trust before giving out any personal information about yourself.

Diligent parental supervision will help ensure your safety on the Internet.

More Safety Resources

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Tips for Internet Safety: Tell your parents immediately if you come across something that makes you feel uncomfortable. Remember that people on the Internet may not be who they seem. Never give out identifying information such as your name, home address, school name or telephone number in a public message, such as in a chat room or on a bulletin board.

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Our mission? We show families, schools, and churches how to create safer digital spaces. We do this with a pretty great website, powerful presentations, and a private learning community where you can "go slow" and learn with other, like-minded families #delayistheway

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Protect Young Eyes explains digital trends, social media, & parental controls. We teach internet safety via webinars, our app, & live talks.

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Use this toolkit to help families nurture young children's development in the digital age.

Facilitate meaningful conversations with parents and caregivers with these six workshops, available in English and Spanish. Share strategies to help young kids develop essential life skills, both with and without the use of screens.

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Use this toolkit to help families nurture young children's development in the digital age.

Facilitate meaningful conversations with parents and caregivers with these six workshops, available in English and Spanish. Share strategies to help young kids develop essential life skills, both with and without the use of screens.

Get started with the workshop series guide in English or Spanish.

Common Sense's in-depth analysis of how kids use high-quality media content, as well as their development of executive functioning skills, informed these workshops. Learn more in our research overview.
Ver en español

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Young Kids & Screens | Common Sense Education

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Common Sense Education provides educators and students with the resources they need to harness the power of technology for learning and life. Find a free K-12 Digital Citizenship curriculum, reviews of popular EdTech apps, and resources for protecting student privacy.

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Parenting in the Digital Age - eSafety Report

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Parenting in the Digital Age - eSafety Report

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Children ages 0-3

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Recently, I presented to a group of parents at a charter school about our digital culture. At the end of my talk, a father named Anthony asked me, "Chris, my 5-year-old likes to use our tablet. What should I say to him so he uses it well? Do I talk about pornography? What should I do?"
These are great questions!
During my presentation, I typically spend a lot of time talking about the importance of talking.

See, most parents get all caught up in the fact that they really don't understand all of the technology their kids are using, and therefore, they conclude there's little they can do to teach their kids how to use technology well.

This is an incorrect conclusion.

Although it might be true that parents don't understand all of the hardware and software, they do have the most powerful tool available for helping their kids become responsible digital natives-consistent and persistent conversations. I'm not talking about meaningless chit-chat. Rather, parents can start having age-appropriate conversations with young kids about what they are experiencing through their screens.

What's the right age to talk to my kid about pornography?

Parents often ask us this question at our presentations. Here's my standard response:

I don't know your family, but if you wait until you're ready, it's too late.

I don't know your family, but your kids are ready for the talk before you are. Just get it done!

Does your kid ride a school bus? Then he/she needs to know the word and what to do when (not if) they hear it.

In other words, get it done! Are the home for Christmas break? Look for an opportunity, pray, and talk!

How do I talk to my son about porn?

Let's go back to the conversation I was having with Anthony about his 5-year-old son.

Is a 5-year-old ready to hear about pornography? Kind of. You might not use the word "pornography" with your kindergartner, but should he/she know what to do when they see someone without their clothes on? Absolutely.

They need to know what to do! This means being specific! It probably doesn't mean going into great detail about different types of pornography but talk about it with age-appropriate language.

I think kids are ready to handle conversations of this nature far sooner than their parents are. Let's keep in mind that the average age of a child's first exposure to pornographic online content is somewhere in the elementary school years according to almost any study. They need to be ready.

At age 5, I told Anthony he has a fantastic opportunity to lay a foundation of trust and transparency with his boy.

I gave Anthony a very tangible illustration to use the next time he spoke to his son. He might say, "Hey, you know that your dad would do anything to protect you, right? Good. So, just pretend for me a minute. Imagine you're out in the woods with your friends, walking down a trail, and something really scary happened. Like some animal or even some person jumped out and scared you. You would tell me about that right? I know you would.

Well, every time you use this iPad, it's just like going for a walk in the woods. And, the Internet gives us all kinds of trails that we can walk down when we click around on games and have fun. Now, me or mom are going to probably be right here with you when you use the iPad, but, if you ever see anything weird or scary, or something that shows people without their clothes on and we're not right with you, promise me you'll tell dad all about it, ok? I'll never, ever be mad if you tell me. Remember, I want to protect you!"

For a 5-year-old, that's a great start. Tangible. Understandable. Foundational. And, Anthony needs to have follow-up conversations regularly, checking in, asking, "Hey bud, have you bumped into anything kinda weird on the iPad recently? Anything funny? Has anyone shown the private parts of their body on the Internet?" He can just continue to build from there.

I believe that conversations like this begin to create a family culture of trust and transparency so that kids know what to do when they see something inappropriate, whether they're five or 15.
Related post: What to do if my kid has already seen pornography?
The porn talk: "Blake you know what your private parts are, right?"

[Standing in the kitchen at the island]

Dad: "Hi, Blake! I see you're using the iPad. That's great. You like using it, don't you?"

Blake: "Yea, dad, I love this thing."

Dad: "Well, put it down for just a second. Cool. Blake, you know what your private parts are, right?"

Blake: "Um, yep. I sure do." (Come on now...he's a 5-year-old boy, which means he plays with them all the time. If you've raised boys, you know what I'm talking about!)

Dad: "Okay, great. Now, mom or dad will usually be with you when you're using the iPad, but if you ever see anything weird, scary, uncomfortable - if you ever see someone else's private parts, do you know what I want you to do?" [Now he's really listening]

Blake: "No, what?"

Dad: "I want you to put it down and tell someone. That's it! Can you say that back to me?"

Blake: "Sure, put it down! Tell someone!"

Dad: "That's awesome, buddy! Can you give me an example of a someone you might tell?"

Blake: (thinking) "Aunt Susie, Dad, Grandma McKenna, Mom."

Dad: "Yes! Exactly! Awesome job, Blake. You can always tell me. Okay?"

And, as often as I remembered, I would ask him, "Hey, Blake, what do you do if you ever see something strange or any private parts on the Internet?" And, he would tell me, "I put it down, and tell someone."
I just taught my 5-year-old son what to do when he sees pornography and I never said the word. Guess what? Now that he's six and sometimes rides the school bus, he knows the word "pornography" and what to do if he ever hears it. "Tell someone!" No big deal. It's just a word. Here's what the conversation at age six looked like:
Dad: "Blake, do you remember when I told you about seeing weird things on the Internet? Like someone's private parts?"

Blake: "Sure, dad."

Dad: "Well, there's a word for that. It's called pornography. And, if you ever hear a kid say the word pornography, do you know what I want you to do?"

Blake: "What, dad?"

Dad: "Same as before! Just tell someone. Tell me! No big deal. Sound good?"

Blake: "Yep!"

If you're not sure what to say, one of our favorite set of books for younger kids are the Good Pictures Bad Pictures series by our friend, Kristen Jenson.

Parents, you can do this! Be observant, engaged, and informed. Get in their business, sit down, shoulder-to-shoulder, and talk to them early and often about what they are experiencing through their screens (that includes talking to them about all of the things no one talked to you about). We can teach our kids how to use technology well.

Now What? 2 amazing ways to keep up:
*There may be affiliate links throughout this post because we've tested and trust a small list of parental control solutions. Our work saves you time! If you decide that you agree with us, then we may earn a small commission, which does nothing to your price. Enjoy!

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Talk! That's what we tell parents. Even when it comes to talking about pornography with your kids. This post shows you how to do it in an appropriate way.

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The Ultimate Guide to Understanding Routers

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Your router (WiFi) is the most important digital device in your home! We tested multiple routers - here are the results!

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Guide for Choosing Tech for Preschoolers

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Guide for Choosing Tech for Preschoolers

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From smartphones and social media to TV and tablet-based toys, today’s kids are constantly inundated by technology. While it’s important for children and teens to develop an aptitude for technology, after all, they will use computers their whole lives, too much technology use can have detrimental health and physical effects. The negative effects on children’s health run the gamut from increased risk of obesity to loss of social skills and behavioral problems. Of course, this doesn’t mean parents need to ban technology entirely, but it’s important for parents to be aware of the potential effects of technology on children and develop strategies to limit their children’s screen time.

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From smartphones and social media to TV and tablet-based toys, today's kids are constantly inundated by technology. While it's important for children and teens to develop an aptitude for technology, after all, they will use computers their whole lives, too much technology use can have detrimental health and physical effects. The negative effects on children's health run the gamut from increased risk of obesity to loss of social skills and behavioral problems. Of course, this doesn't mean parents need to ban technology entirely, but it's important for parents to be aware of the potential effects of technology on children and develop strategies to limit their children's screen time.

How Technology Affects Children

Technology is everywhere, and while we cannot and should not ban technology entirely, we can set limits for our children to offset some of the negative effects. Too much screen time can affect your child's physical health as well as their behavior. Learn more about the physical and mental effects of too much of a good thing (read: technology) and discover what you can do to help your child.

Childhood Obesity and Technology

With children spending more time typing or tapping on a screen, they're naturally spending less time outside or engaged in physical activities. Research has also found that children and adolescents may engage in more mindless eating while watching TV or playing video games. As a result, we're seeing increased obesity rates in children and adolescents.

While children will naturally be interested in watching various programs, playing video games, and using app-based technology, it's vital for parents to make sure children are spending time outside and getting enough physical activity. Encourage your kids to play outside. If time permits, join your kids in outdoor play. You can play games, like hide-and-seek or tag, or grab a mitt and a ball and play catch, or throw a frisbee around at a park. Think about going camping, your kids will enjoy the extra time they get to spend with you, and the exercise and outdoor time will help them burn off energy and sleep better.

Negative Effects of Technology on Children's Social Development

Technology has completely changed the way we interact with each other. Even as adults, we are more prone to send a text vs. make a phone call. Similarly, we often behave differently on social media than we would in person. These differences aren't exclusive to adults. When kids spend a significant amount of time on social media, it can lead to lower self-esteem . Teens are seeing curated content, a digital highlight reel, which can lead to distress due to teens comparing themselves to their peers. In general, technology use can cause social and behavioral problems in children because it minimizes the amount of time kids spend interacting with others.

Make sure to monitor your child's social media use and be aware of the types of websites they're visiting and the games they're playing online. Set up parental controls on computers, smartphones, and tablets to block inappropriate websites and apps. Also, try to keep the computer, game console, or TV in a common room so you can supervise your child's technology use.

In addition to monitoring your child's screen time, it's also important to make sure they engage in social activities. Schedule playdates with friends and encourage your child to interact with others. Another great way to limit screen time and encourage physical activity and social interaction is to enroll your kids in a sports league. This way, they will have organized practices and games that will allow them to not only exercise but be social with other kids their age.

Technology and Attention Span

Gone are the days where we have to rewind a VHS cassette tape to watch a movie or listen to the radio all day to hear our favorite song. With the Internet and YouTube, you can watch a show or listen to a song almost instantly, and you can even skip through the commercials. As a result, kids today are wired for instant gratification; they want what they want, and they want it now.

Electronics, like smartphones and tablets, make it harder for people to concentrate and easier for people to be distracted by constant sounds and notifications. According to a research study in Canada, since technology use increased (around the year 2000) the average attention span has decreased from 12 seconds to eight seconds.

It's challenging enough to teach kids patience, but how can we combat the negative effects of this always-on culture? One way is to limit technology use while children are focused on other tasks. Prohibit smartphone use while working on homework, encourage conversation and interaction during dinner time, turn the TV off while children are reading. Encourage your kids to take time to unplug and disconnect. Get outside, interact with others, and engage in activities that don't involve screens, like board games, books, and puzzles.

Managing Screen Time: How Much is Too Much?

Do you know how much time your kids spend per day on their devices? According to the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP), teenagers spend up to nine hours per day watching or using screens, and children ages eight to 12, spend four to six hours a day using screens. While some electronic use is vital for schoolwork, especially with distance learning, parents should try to limit screen time, be aware of the websites their kids are visiting, and make sure kids are spending their time watching high-quality educational content.

Mayo Clinic recommends limiting screen time to one hour per day for children between the ages of two and five. While there aren't specific hour guidelines for every age group, The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that parents of kids between five and 18 place consistent limits on technology use.

Work With Your Child to Manage Technology Use

Without hard-fast rules, it's important to assess how much screen time you're comfortable with, and which activities you allow your child to engage in. Many of our National University students are parents, and when you're managing work, college courses, and parenting, some technology use outside of schoolwork is definitely necessary. If your kids are getting more screen time than normal because they're home from school and you're working and taking care of them, that's OK, just try to monitor what they're doing and that it's not interfering with their schoolwork, health, or behavior. Your kids will grow up surrounded by screens and technology. If you establish good habits early on, you can offset the negative effects of technology on children. Remember, not all technology is bad, learn more about how technology can help children learn and develop.

Sources:
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/2167702617723376?journalCode=cpxa& https://www.webwise.ie/parents/parental-controls-2/
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/childrens-health/in-depth/screen-time/art-20047952#:~:text=Developing%20screen%20time%20rules&text=If%20you%20introduce%20digital%20media,doesn't%20work%20as%20well .
https://www.apa.org/topics/healthy-technology-use-children https://childmind.org/article/social-media-and-self-doubt/

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The Negative Effects of Technology on Children | NU

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From smartphones to PCs, kids are constantly surrounded by technology. Some tech-based programming is beneficial for educational purposes.

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Effects of Screen-time on childhood development study

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Effects of Screen-time on childhood development study

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Parents can feel worried when their teen first starts driving or riding around in friends’ cars. What can parents do to help teens stay safe behind the wheel? What rules should be put in place and how well do those rules work? Dr. Lisa and Reena answer these questions and more while also addressing graduated drivers’ license laws and the part they play in reducing accidents among young drivers.

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How Much Should I Share About My Kids? - Lisa Damour, PhD

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Parents can feel worried when their teen first starts driving or riding around in friends’ cars. What can parents do to help teens stay safe behind the wheel? What rules should be put in place and how well do those rules work? Dr. Lisa and Reena answer these questions and more while also addressing…

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TEDxRainier - Dimitri Christakis - Media and Children

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The Departments recognize that families and early educators have many different options for using technology with early learners. The Departments believe that guidance needs to reflect the reality that families and early educators have access to apps, digital books, games, video chatting software, and a multitude of other interactive technologies that can be used with young children. Even as new technologies emerge, the Departments believe that these principles apply, though guidance may evolve as more research on this topic is published.

The Departments' four guiding principles for use of technology with early learners are as follows:

Guiding Principle #1: Technology-when used appropriately-can be a tool for learning.

Guiding Principle #2: Technology should be used to increase access to learning opportunities for all children.

Guiding Principle #3: Technology may be used to strengthen relationships among parents, families, early educators, and young children.

Guiding Principle #4: Technology is more effective for learning when adults and peers interact or co-view with young children.

Two documents in particular influenced the development of the Departments' guiding principles: Uses of Technology to Support Early Childhood Practice and the 2016 National Education Technology Plan (NETP).

HHS published Uses of Technology to Support Early Childhood Practice⁹ in March 2015 to examine how technology can be used to support and improve the quality of practice of early childhood practitioners, particularly in their own professional development. The report presented an overview of research related to the use of technology by conducting a literature review and consulting with experts on the topic in four key focus areas: 1) instruction and assessment; 2) parent, family, and community engagement; 3) professional development and informal learning; and 4) facilitators and barriers.

At ED, the Office of Educational Technology released the 2016 NETP, the federal government's flagship educational technology policy document. Titled Future Ready Learning: Reimagining the Role of Technology in Education, the plan articulates a vision of equity, active use, and collaborative leadership to make everywhere, all-the-time learning possible for all learners. While acknowledging the continuing need to provide equitable access to technology itself, the plan goes further to call upon all involved in American education to ensure equity of access to transformational learning experiences enabled by technology, including for early learners. ¹⁰

The Departments' four principles state the position of the Departments on this topic and are expanded below.

Guiding Principle #1:

Technology-when used appropriately-can be a tool for learning.

Developmentally appropriate use of technology can help young children grow and learn, especially when families and early educators play an active role. Early learners can use technology to explore new worlds, make believe, and actively engage in fun and challenging activities. They can learn about technology and technology tools and use them to play, solve problems, and role play.

How Do You Determine What is Developmentally Appropriate for a Child When it Comes to Technology?

In Technology and Interactive Media as Tools in Early Childhood Programs Serving Children from Birth through Age 8, the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and the Fred Rogers Center state that "appropriate experiences with technology and media allow children to control the medium and the outcome of the experience, to explore the functionality of these tools, and pretend how they might be used in real life ¹¹."

Lisa Guernsey, author of Screen Time: How Electronic Media-From Baby Videos to Educational Software-Affects Your Young Child, also provides guidance for families and early educators. For example, instead of applying arbitrary, "one-size-fits-all" time limits, families and early educators should determine when and how to use various technologies based on the Three C's: the content, the context, and the needs of the individual child. ¹² They should ask themselves following questions:

Content-How does this help children learn, engage, express, imagine, or explore?

Context-What kinds of social interactions (such as conversations with parents or peers) are happening before, during, and after the use of the technology? Does it complement, and not interrupt, children's learning experiences and natural play patterns?

The individual child-What does this child need right now to enhance his or her growth and development? Is this technology an appropriate match with this child's needs, abilities, interests, and development stage?

Appropriate use in formal early learning settings

Early educators should keep in mind the developmental levels of children when using technology for early learning. That is, they first should consider what is best for healthy child development and then consider how technology can help early learners achieve learning outcomes. Technology should never be used for technology's sake. Instead, it should only be used for learning and meeting developmental objectives, which can include being used as a tool during play.

When technology is used in early learning settings, it should be integrated into the learning program and used in rotation with other learning tools such as art materials, writing materials, play materials, and books, and should give early learners an opportunity for self-expression without replacing other classroom learning materials. ¹³ There are additional considerations for educators when technology is used, such as whether a particular device will displace interactions with teachers or peers or whether a device has features that would distract from learning. Further, early educators should consider the overall use of technology throughout a child's day and week, and adhere to recommended guidelines from the Let's Move initiative, in partnership with families. Additionally, if a child is eligible for services under IDEA and/or Section 504 and Title II, the student may require specific technology to ensure that the student can access the instructional material.

What Are Some Differences Between Using an e-Book and a Physical Book with Early Learners?

E-books have the potential to provide learning experiences for children and they also have capabilities that are impossible to deliver in print format. For example:

A device can hold a complete library of stories and information for children to explore.

Words and sentences can be highlighted during oral narration.

Children can elect to have a pre-recorded narrator read the entire text out loud to them.

Children can experience embedded interactive features within the text.

On the other hand, research has shown that some interactive features may actually impede a young child's comprehension. 14, 15 An example is a feature that allows children to jump around to different points in the story, which can make it difficult for developing readers to follow a sequence of events.

The optimal way for children to experience a physical book or an e-book is with an adult who is actively involved, 16, 17 asking questions that allow children to expand on what they've read to make connections and providing opportunities to check for comprehension. However, the design of some e-books may dampen parents' desires to play that interactive role. Two research studies have shown that when parents read e-books that have features that asked questions, parents were less likely to play that role with their children while reading together, 18, 19. On the positive side, another research study showed that children who read an e-book with a parent remembered content better than children who read an e-book alone, regardless of what the parent was saying during the reading. ²⁰

When making decisions about incorporating e-books, parents should consider what features are available and when and how they will be used. Bedtime use of e-books may also require additional considerations. For example, currently there is limited research on the impact on sleep when using e-books for bedtime reading, but some research suggests that the backlighting of electronic devices can curtail the amount of time children spend sleeping if a device is used right before bedtime. ²¹

Just as with other educational tools, school-aged children should be taught how to correctly handle and care for devices. These skills and the use of technology should generally not be taught as a separate rotation or class, but rather integrated into the learning objective of the lesson. ²² In some cases, however, individualized instruction may be desirable to meet the specific needs of a child. As children grow older, they should continue to build on this basic skill set with lessons in digital citizenship.

What is Digital Citizenship?

In the Ed Tech Developer's Guide, released by the Office of Educational Technology in April 2015, digital citizenship is defined as "a set of norms and practices regarding appropriate and responsible technology use... and requires a whole-community approach to thinking critically, behaving safely, and participating responsibly online." ²³

As early learners reach an appropriate age to use technology more independently, they must be taught about cyber safety, including the need to protect and not share personal information on the internet, the goals and influence of advertisements, and the need for caution when clicking on links. These skills are particularly important for older children who may be using a parent's device unsupervised. Early childhood educators and administrators should ensure that the proper filters and firewalls are in place so children cannot access materials that are not approved for a school setting.

Distinctions between active and passive use

To understand how to use technology appropriately with young children, families and early educators should understand the differences between passive and active use of technology. Passive use of technology generally occurs when children are consuming content, such as watching a program on television, a computer, or a handheld device without accompanying reflection, imagination, or participation. Active use occurs when children use technologies such as computers, devices, and apps to engage in meaningful learning or storytelling experiences. Examples include sharing their experiences by documenting them with photos and stories, recording their own music, using video chatting software to communicate with loved ones, or using an app to guide playing a physical game. These types of uses are capable of deeply engaging the child, especially when an adult supports them.

Deep engagement is less likely to occur when a device is used passively. In many circumstances, minimal learning occurs when children use devices merely to consume videos on their own. However, screen time should not be the only factor when considering the value of a child's interaction with technology since high-quality, research-based video content can lead to deep cognitive processing in the minds of young children. ²⁴ As most content does not meet this standard, adults need to recognize that what matters most is whether the child's mind is active and deeply engaged with the content. One way an adult can tell if a child is actively engaging with content is for an adult to watch with them (known as co-viewing) and to guide them to a deeper engagement. Co-viewing and the importance of adult interaction is further discussed in guiding principle #4.

Similarly, adults need to be cautious about assuming that a child using a device in a physically engaging way reflects active learning. While actions such as swiping or pressing on devices may seem to be interactive, if the child does not intentionally learn from the experience, it is not considered to be active use. To be considered active use, the content should enable deep, cognitive processing, and allow intentional, purposeful learning at the child's developmental level.

Research on Television Use

Research on television has shown that the impact of children passively consuming content is associated with adverse effects on their health in terms of weight 25, 26, 27 sleep habits 28, 29 and language development 30, 31, 32. One study also showed that fast-paced, cartoon television shows can have an immediate negative impact on executive function skills for four-year-olds. ³³ Executive function refers to a set of cognitive and regulation skills involved in goal-directed problem solving, including working memory, inhibitory control, and flexible shifting of attention. These studies have led to previous recommendations from the AAP limiting the amount of time children have spent with screens.

The Departments further encourage families and early educators to think of ways they can reduce the sedentary nature of most technology use. Technology can encourage and complement physical activity, such as a parent and child using a yoga app together, exploring different varieties of flowers in a neighborhood park while referencing an app to learn about them, or playing console games that encourage adults and children to exercise or dance together.

Additional guidance for families and early educators

Adults should strive to provide balance and moderation when using technology with children. They should set limits that are developmentally appropriate and meet the needs of their children and family. When introducing technology to children, adults should model behaviors such as using technology to promote positive interaction instead of allowing it to interfere with interactions, designating and enforcing face-to-face time that is free of interruptions, and using technology together before allowing children to use it independently.

What is Developmentally Appropriate Technology Use for Children Aged 0-2?

Research shows that unstructured playtime is particularly important for infants and toddlers because they learn more quickly through interactions with the real world than they do through media use and, at such a young age, they have limited periods of awake time. ³⁴ At this age, children require "hands-on exploration and social interaction with trusted caregivers to develop their cognitive, language, motor, and social-emotional skills." ³⁵

Research also shows that children aged 0-2 should not watch media or use technology alone. Children age 12-24 months can learn from videos if parents co-view material with them and use the video as a learning tool to build language skills. ³⁶ Some studies have shown that children in this age range can learn from videos, but do not retain information as long as comparison groups who learned the same material using books with their parents did. ³⁷ When video chatting, children under 16 months show no learning gains, ³⁸ though there may be a benefit in promoting bonding when physical distance limits frequent in-person interactions.

Based on this research, the Departments recommend the following:

For children under the age of 2, technology use in early learning settings is discouraged. With families, technology can be used in active ways that promote relationship development, such as using video chatting software to talk to relatives, friends, and families whom they are not able to see on a regular basis. Parents who are interested in using media with their children can start around 18 months with high-quality content, but should always co-view content and use technology with their children. As determined appropriate by the IFSP team under Part C of the IDEA, children with disabilities in this age range may also use technology, for example, an assistive technology device to help them communicate with others, access and participate in different learning opportunities, or help them get their needs met.

For children ages 2-5, families and early educators need to take into account that technology may be used at home and in early learning settings. New recommendations in the AAP's 2016 Media and Young Minds Brief suggest that one hour of technology use is appropriate per day, inclusive of time spent at home and in early learning settings and across devices. ³⁹ HHS supports more limited technology use in early care settings, and more information on their recommendations can be found in Caring for Our Children: National Health and Safety Performance Standards. ⁴⁰ However, time is only one metric that should be considered with technology use for children in this age range. Families and early educators should also consider the quality of the content, the context of use, and opportunities the technology provides to strengthen or develop relationships. At home, parents can use technology to supplement real-world interactions, for instance, by using an app at the zoo or recapping what they experienced while there.

For children ages 6-8 in school settings, technology should be used as a tool for children to explore and become active creators of content. If children have more than one teacher, those teachers should be aware of how much screen time is being used across subject areas and at home. Students should learn to use technology as an integrated part of a diverse curriculum. At home, parents should set limits they feel are appropriate for their children, understanding the differences between passive and active technology use as well as the benefits of using technology with an adult versus solo use. Parents should also be aware of how much technology is being used in the classroom, what is needed for homework, and how this fits into an overall picture of technology use for their child throughout the day. The AAP has created an interactive Family Media Plan Tool on HealthyChildren.org to help parents be thoughtful about media exposure for their children.

Guiding Principle #2:

Technology should be used to increase access to learning opportunities for all children.

When appropriately used by early learners with guidance and modeling by adults, technology can complement or extend learning in ways not easily achieved otherwise. For example, technology can introduce children more directly to cultures and places outside their community. Although children may have access to print resources from libraries, technology can increase the amount of reference information immediately available to them on a given topic and give them the ability to ask questions of people outside of their classroom. Additionally, within a child's own community, technology should be culturally responsive.

What Does It Mean to Be Culturally Responsive?

Culturally responsive materials are designed to create learning environments that are conducive to learning for all students, no matter their ethnic, cultural, or linguistic background. In a chapter titled "Technology Tools for Family Engagement: The Role of Diversity," in the book Family Engagement in the Digital Age: Early Childhood Educators as Media Mentors edited by Chip Donahue, Kevin Clark suggests that early educators ask themselves the following questions when selecting media:

Do children see different types of people, characteristics, and attributes?

Do children hear a variety of sounds, voices, and music?

Are a variety of situations being depicted (e.g. family structure, lifestyles, power/working relationships?)⁴¹

It is important that these questions are considered across content, including in apps and other media.

Children themselves may be encouraged to take part in creating this content. Technology can help children author their own materials and stories and share their real-life experiences with others, increasing the amount of diverse, culturally relevant, and community-based content in the classroom.

How Does Technology Support STEM and Early Learning?

Technology can be a powerful tool to support learning in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). There are many resources that use technology to make STEM come to life for young children, allowing access to experiences they wouldn't otherwise have. For example, children can use the panda cams at the Smithsonian National Zoological Park to observe animals that aren't found in their everyday lives, take virtual tours of science museums, and observe cause and effect through simulations and games, without risk of harm.

When combined with social interactions and guidance from parents and early educators, the combination of video and games (transmedia) can be powerful tools at home and in the classroom to promote STEM learning. For example, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting-PBS, a 2010 grantee of ED's Ready to Learn Television program demonstrated significant improvement in 4-year olds' math skills when using the PBS KIDS Transmedia Math Supplement to bolster mathematics instruction. ⁴² The 2015 Ready to Learn Television program grant application included a competitive priority to support scientific literacy, which has additional potential to support young children in STEM.

The "T" in STEM is often confused with technological devices such as tablets, laptops, and other physical devices or with the broad term "educational technology." Educational technology is content agnostic and describes using technology as a tool to promote learning across disciplines or content areas. The "T" in STEM, however, is intended to introduce children to the underlying concepts of building or creating technology, including computational thinking, which is the basic logic underlying computer science and is beginning to be incorporated into early childhood settings.

Digital use divide

The 2016 NETP presents research that points to a widening digital use divide, which occurs when some children have the opportunity to use technology actively while others are asked primarily to use it passively. The research showed that children at lower income levels are more likely to complete passive tasks in learning settings while their more affluent peers are more likely to use technology to complete active tasks. 43, 44

For low-income children who may not have access to devices or the internet at home, early childhood settings provide opportunities to learn how to use these tools more actively. For example, research shows that preschool-aged children from low-income families in an urban Head Start center who received daily access to computers and were supported by an adult mentor displayed more positive attitudes toward learning, improved self-esteem and self-confidence, and increased kindergarten readiness skills than children who had computer access, but did not have support from a mentor. ⁴⁵ Access to technology for children is necessary in the 21st century but not sufficient. To have beneficial effects, it must be accompanied by strong adult supports.

Children with disabilities

The 2016 NETP discusses equity in the context of connectivity, access, and active experiences, including the accessibility of technology by children with disabilities. These include apps, devices, materials, and environments that support and enable access to content and educational activities for all learners. ⁴⁶ The Departments support the creation of "born accessible" materials (a play on "born digital," which refers to materials created specifically for digital platforms) that use the principles of Universal Design for Learning and follow industry accessibility standards from the very beginning of the development process. ⁴⁷ Accessibility is not limited to those with sensory or physical disabilities; it also includes individuals with intellectual or other developmental disabilities.

Universal Design for Learning

In the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), reauthorized by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is defined as "the meaning given the term in Section 103 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. § 1003)." In that section of the Higher Education Act of 1965, UDL is defined as "a scientifically valid framework for guiding educational practice that-(a) provides flexibility in the ways information is presented, in the ways students respond or demonstrate knowledge and skills, and in the ways students are engaged; and (b) reduces barriers in instruction, provides appropriate accommodations, supports, and challenges, and maintains high achievement expectations for all students, including students with disabilities and students who are limited English proficient."

The Center for Applied Special Technology (CAST) developed the UDL framework for making a curriculum inclusive of "flexible approaches that can be customized and adjusted for individual needs." The CAST guidelines encourage instructional practices and educational content that embrace the widest possible diversity of learners. The UDL approach encourages the development of tools that consider this diverse range of users in the original design rather than add-on features. To see the guidelines, refer to the CAST website.

When used appropriately, technology has the potential to help learners of all ages and abilities fully engage in learning by providing greater access to curriculum and improving learning outcomes. ⁴⁸ For instance technology may provide children who struggle to communicate with an efficient means of communicating. One example is an app that enables children to point to a picture or a series of pictures and then says the words that correspond to the selected item.

For IDEA-eligible children receiving early intervention services or special education and related services, decisions about assistive technology use would be made by the child's IEP or IFSP) team under IDEA, as appropriate. For children with disabilities who are not eligible for services under the IDEA, children could receive appropriate technology in a preschool program operated by a recipient of Federal financial assistance or in a public preschool program, regardless of receipt of Federal funds. For students enrolled in public elementary schools who are not IDEA-eligible who are entitled to special education or related aids and services under Section 504, these determinations generally would be made by the group that makes the placement and services decisions for that student under Section 504.

Recommendations regarding active and passive use for entertainment and learning purposes apply to all children, including those with disabilities. For assistive technology that is necessary for the child to communicate with others or allows them to participate in developmentally appropriate activities, age or time limits should be determined together with the child's IEP or IFSP team.

Dual language learners

For dual language learners, digital resources can support language skills development in the home language and English. For example, students and families can use digital tools to create and share stories in their home language that are culturally relevant for classroom use. Educators can use digital tools to adapt materials with translations in both languages to improve comprehension and communication. In addition, oral language development focused on listening and speaking skills can be enhanced in two or more languages using speech-recording and playback features. When used appropriately and sensitively, technology can help meet the needs of dual language learners as individuals and enhance their learning opportunities. ⁴⁹

Guiding Principle #3:

Technology may be used to strengthen relationships among parents, families, early educators, and young children.

Connections between home and school

In early childhood settings, technology can be used to strengthen relationships between early educators and family members. For example, digital portfolios documenting student work through photos, audio, and video recordings enable teachers to share what children are learning in class with families more often and more informally than is possible in traditional school-based conferences. This allows parents to track their child's progress, provides more opportunities for them to validate their child's efforts and accomplishments, and opens up opportunities for the parents to engage their child about their learning to reinforce or supplement it. In addition to using e-mail, text messages, and social media to make communication between early educators and families easier, technology can also be used to provide information and coaching to parents to reinforce at home what is learned at school. In fact, according to the HHS report, Uses of Technology to Support Early Childhood Practice, 40% of parent, family, and community engagement (PFCE) products used video technology to model ideal parent behaviors or coach a parent's behavior. An additional 40% of PFCE products were used to present parents with educational materials. ⁵⁰ Technology has tremendous potential to strengthen communication and connection between families and early educators to the benefit of children.

Strengthening relationships

Technology can also be used to enhance relationships between children and adults and between children when distance or other barriers such as health prevent in-person interaction. While video chatting can be done at any age (as interactions tend to be brief and guided by an adult), "new evidence shows that infants and toddlers can attend to and engage in joint attention during video-chat interactions but do so more effectively after approximately 16 months of age and with parental support." ⁵¹ Video chatting is not limited to interactions between parents and children or grandparents and children, but is also applicable when children communicate with peers.

While technology has the power to bridge the physical divide between children and loved ones in the ways described, technology should not be used to replace meaningful face-to-face interactions. Precautions should be taken to ensure that technology use does not impede the development of healthy, authentic interactions with adults and peers.

Guiding Principle #4:

Technology is more effective for learning when adults and peers interact or co-view with young children.

Most research on children's media usage shows that children learn more from content when parents or early educators watch and interact with children, encouraging them to make real-world connections to what they are viewing both while they are viewing and afterward. ⁵²

The Ready to Learn Television Program

The Ready to Learn Program: 2010-2015 Policy Brief, published in March 2016, summarized ED's Ready to Learn Television program research on the effectiveness of three educational television production organizations. ⁵³ The brief reported on 15 effectiveness/summative research studies with children aged 3-8 using media in informal learning settings (such as after school or child care programs); 7 of the studies focused on learning at home. From the 7 studies that focused on learning at home, positive associations were found between at-home engagement and children's math learning with children whose parents received interventions such as content guides and suggestions for supplemental activities. The studies also found that parents' awareness of children's math learning increased their likeliness to engage in activities and strategies to help their children learn math. ⁵⁴

While technology such as tablets and smartphones are designed to be handheld and lend themselves to individualized instead of shared experiences, children may benefit greatly when parents are actively involved while children use such devices. One research study of maternal interaction with 15-month olds found that the infants are 22 times more likely to transfer learning from a touchscreen to a real object, but only if the interaction with the mother was highly scaffolded with high levels of maternal input and emotional responsiveness. ⁵⁵

There are many ways that adult involvement can make learning more effective for young children using technology. Adult guidance that can increase active use of more passive technology includes, but are not limited to, the following:

Prior to the child viewing content, an adult can talk to child about the content and suggest certain elements to watch for or pay particular attention to;

An adult can view the content with the child and interact with the child in the moment;

After a child views the content, an adult can engage the child in an activity that extends learning such as singing a song they learned while viewing the content or connecting the content to the world.

How Can We Protect Privacy and Security for Young Children?

The Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) (15 U.S.C. § 6501-6505) governs online collection of personal information by online services such as apps and websites from children under aged 13. For example, before a developer can collect personally identifiable information from a child under 13 verifiable parental consent is required. Any information collected from a child, including photos of the child or a voice recording, must be protected by reasonable security measures. The Federal Trade Commission, which enforces COPPA, has said that school officials can act in the capacity of a parent to provide consent to sign students up for online educational programs at school.

If technology is being used in a school setting, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) might also protect the child's privacy online. More information on FERPA is available through the U.S. Department of Education's Privacy Technical Assistance Center: http://ptac.ed.gov/.

Regardless of whether either of these two statutes applies, families and educators should evaluate an app's privacy policies prior to using the app. Assistance on what to review for can be found in the PTAC Model Terms of Service.

Advertising and in-app purchases

Beyond ensuring privacy and security, before downloading an app, families, educators, and others who work with young children also need to evaluate whether the app offers in-app purchasing or advertising. Many apps, particularly those that are free, offer advertising or in-app purchases, both of which are generally inappropriate for young children. Many methods of online advertising have the ability to track a user's behavior across multiple sites and services, putting a child's privacy and security at risk. Additionally, parents should also evaluate whether the app includes advertising, particularly age-inappropriate advertising. While adults can sometimes protect from in-app purchases by using appropriate passwords or disabling in-app purchases at the device level, a best practice is to choose software for very young children that avoids in-app purchases and advertising altogether.

Parents and early learning educators should stay up-to-date and informed

Parents and early learning educators who follow the Departments' principles can help ensure that technology is being used intentionally and appropriately to expand a young child's learning and enable experiences and opportunities that previously were not available. However, not all technology is appropriate for young children and not every technology-based experience is good for young children's development. To ensure that technology has a positive impact, adults who use technology with children should continually update their knowledge and equip themselves to make sophisticated decisions on how to best leverage these technology tools to enhance learning and interpersonal relationships for young children. Some sources for information on how to do this include: Common Sense Media, Fred Rogers Center, Joan Ganz Cooney Center, National Association for the Education of Young Children, and Zero to Three.

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Guiding Principles for Use of Technology with Early Learners - Office of Educational Technology

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The Departments recognize that families and early educators have many different options for using technology with early learners. The Departments believe that guidance needs to reflect the reality that families and early educators have access to apps, digital books, games, video chatting software, and a multitude of other interactive technologies that can be used with [...]

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Over the past several years, integrating technology in early childhood learning environments has become a topic of concern among the early childhood professional community. Educators worry that children spend too much time on electronic devices at home and it may not be developmentally appropriate to utilize technology at a young age.

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Over the past several years, integrating technology in early childhood learning environments has become a topic of concern among the early childhood professional community. Educators worry that children spend too much time on electronic devices at home and it may not be developmentally appropriate to utilize technology at a young age.

How Much Time Are Children Spending on Technology?

There is no denying that young children are growing up in the digital age and technology is an integral part of their world. A study published in 2017 by Common Sense Media revealed statistics of technology use for children from birth to age 8 by comparing usage from 2011 to 2017. The statistics revealed:

The percentage of families who used mobile devices rose from 52% in 2011 to 98% in 2017.

A third of all screen time is mobile for this age group. This is an increase of 31% from 2011.

The average time spent on mobile media has tripled, increasing from 5 minutes to 48 minutes per day.

Overall, from birth to age 8, children spend an average of just over 2 hours per day with screen media.

Does Technology Have a Place in the Early Childhood Curriculum?

A joint statement released by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and the Fred Rogers Institute in 2012 was the beginning of a movement to start integrating technology into the early childhood environment. Prior to this, many felt that young children should not be exposed to technology in the early learning environment because they already have enough exposure in the home environment. However, this statement indicated that technology, when used appropriately and with intention, can be an effective tool to support learning and development. The phrase "with intention" is a key point in this statement and refers to technology being considered only if it is an effective way to extend learning beyond what traditional methods can offer.

According to Highscope's Position Statement on Technology, there are some important considerations when adding technology into the early learning environment. Early learning educators should have a choice about whether or not to offer technology in the classroom, but the educators should be mindful that lack of exposure to technology may negatively impact children's school readiness when compared to programs that do incorporate technology. Developing digital literacy skills has increasingly become a part of the early childhood curriculum.

What Are the Common Obstacles When Implementing Technology Into the Curriculum?

To be used effectively, technology depends on the tools being used in the right way by skilled users. Early childhood educators will want to provide opportunities for children to gain new skills and have access to new content. According to a study by Head Start, the primary obstacle for early childhood programs when trying to successfully implement technology effectively is the lack of staff technology literacy. Therefore, in order to provide extended learning, many teachers may need professional development to familiarize themselves with new strategies and techniques in the areas of digital literacy and technology.

Highscope's Position Statement indicates that early learning should still primarily occur through interactions with a child's peers, adults, hands-on materials, and actual experiences. This consideration is shared by the NAEYC. When identifying the key factors that create a high-quality early learning environment, NAEYC includes interacting with caring adults, hands-on learning, play-based activities, as well as providing opportunities to explore and experience independently. Consequently, finding ways to appropriately integrate technology into these types of activities can be challenging for many early learning programs.

How Can Early Learning Programs Use Technology Effectively and Appropriately?

The Office of Educational Technology within the Department of Education believes guidance is needed when using technology with early learners. This is based on the reality that families and early educators have access to a wide range of technology including apps, games, video chat software, and digital books. The Department has created four principles to help guide parents and educators on the appropriate use of this technology for early learners. These guiding principles are as follows:

Technology-when used appropriately-can be a tool for learning.

Technology should be used to increase access to learning opportunities for all children.

Technology may be used to strengthen relationships among parents, families, early educators, and young children.

Technology is more effective for learning when adults and peers interact or co-view with young children

Although accessing some form of technology has become commonplace with young children, these principles clearly guide early educators with the appropriate use of technology in the learning environment. The principles stress that technology should not be used for technology's sake alone. Integrating technology should only be done if it is used for learning and can help meet developmental objectives. Technology can be used along with art activities, books, and play materials.

The Department of Education describes the use of technology as either active or passive. When children are passively participating in technology, they can be watching a television program without any participation. Active participation is defined as content that should "enable deep, cognitive processing, and allow intentional, purposeful learning at the child's developmental level." For example, a child can be using a computer but engaging with imagination or responses and include learning with intention.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics' (AAP) Brief " Media and Young Minds," children under the age of 2 are not encouraged to engage in technology because it is not developmentally appropriate. However, for young children ages 2 through 5, technology can be beneficial if used appropriately. An example provided by the AAP is that technology can aid in expanding cultural diversity in the early learning environment by exposing children to communities and cultures outside of their own. When used in this way, we can expand children's understanding of the world around them in a way they haven't experienced, with only a discussion or a book. By adding technology to these other methodologies of learning, a child can experience learning at a deeper level.

Learn More About Early Childhood Development and Education

If you are interested in early childhood development and education, you may consider a bachelor of science in early childhood administration. Students in Purdue Global's early childhood administration program learn the skills to provide developmental and learning opportunities for children from birth to age 8. For more details, request more information.

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Technology in the Early Childhood Environment -- Is It Appropriate?

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Professionals and parents alike struggle with how to handle technology in early childhood. Learn what experts say about this practice.

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Toddlers and Technology: A Guide for Responsible Introduction to Devic

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It's important to take the time to help your toddler develop a healthy, positive relationship with technology. Start with these tips

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Welcome to the ProtectMIChild Registry, your frontline defense in blocking adult-themed content from reaching your child or teen on their phone, tablet or other electronic device. Just register your child's cell phone number, email address, Instagram, Snapchat, or Twitter to help prevent ads for alcohol, tobacco, online gambling and even pornography from reaching your child. It's free, simple, and so important. Sign up today!

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Michigan Children's Protection Registry : Home

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The Michigan Children's Protection Registry website allows Michigan parents to register their children's electronic contact points for protection from inappropriate messages.

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Sharing photos/videos of children and consent 

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Sharing photos/videos of children and consent 

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KC Davis discusses children, SA material, and their ability to give consent.

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domesticblistersKc Davis · 1d ago Follow

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I’m doing a two part series on my podcast Struggle Care that launches Nov 27 where I dive deeper into the issues of family vlogging and family youtube channels. I admire this dad’s mission and the steps he has taken, but I dont think its enough. #strugglecare #mentalhealth #familyvlogging #familyinf…

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This website was recommended to me from our regional Children's Advocacy Center's Prevention Coordinator. Lots of great tip sheets explaining the harm done to children by exposure to pornography and explicit sexual material.

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