Keeping Kids Safe in Cyberspace and Helpful Tips for Electronics Usage

Presented by:

Steven Huecker, LCSW, Cummings Valley Elementary

Carolyn Snyder, MSW, Golden Hills Elementary

Michelle Hagerty, MSW, Tompkins Elementary

What will be discussed today?

• The use of electronics and how this can affect our children's well-being
• Staying safe and protecting our children in a digital world
• Apps and programs to help monitor and protect our children
• Q & A

What types of electronics are we talking about?

• Smartphones
• Tablets
• Laptops and personal computers
• Gaming systems, i.e. Xbox, Playstation, Nintendo, etc.
• others?

How does electronics usage affect our children?

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What is the average time children spend on their electronics?

• The CDC reports the average hours of electronic usage by age group (this does not include screen time for schoolwork):
• 8-10 years old:
• 11-14 years old:
• 15-18 years old:

How does electronics usage affect our children?

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What is the average time children spend on their electronics?

• The CDC reports the average hours of electronic usage by age group (this does not include screen time for schoolwork):
• 8-10 years old: six hours
• 11-14 years old: nine hours
• 15-18 years old: seven and ½ hours

What is the appropriate amount of time for children to be on electronics?

• Under 2-years-old: zero screen time except for video chatting with family and friends

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• 2 to 5-years-old: no more than 1 hour per day co-viewing with a parent or sibling

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• 5 to 17-years-old: generally no more than 2 hours per day, except for homework

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Screen time tips………

• Set limits on phone, tablet, computer, or gaming system usage (your children will survive without their electronics, despite what they tell you)
• It’s okay to make them earn screen time, i.e. 30 minutes of screen time for cleaning their room, doing the dishes, feeding the dog, etc.
• In lieu of electronics, your children can go play outside, read a book, draw, etc. (children are losing the ability to use their imagination, let’s get back to that)
• Keep TV’s, phones, computers, and tablets out of the bedroom

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At what age should a child get a phone?

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• 12 or 13-years-old (it’s okay to wait longer): If your child needs a phone prior to this age so you may contact them when not at home, consider an older style flip phone without internet capabilities

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How does electronics usage affect our children?

Health concerns:

• Mental health: depression, anxiety, behavioral issues
• Physical health: obesity, sleep disturbance

These health issues can affect school performance!

Mental Health

• On social media, people generally share their happiest moments and photos, which causes us to compare our lives to others, leading to envy (anger), low self-esteem (depression), and worry (anxiety)
• Research has linked too much screen time to “sensory overload”, which causes poor focus and depletes their mental energy
• 30 second video clips are affecting our ability to focus
• Other possible symptoms of too much screen time:
• Irritability, tantrums, mood swings, defiance
• Reduces a child's ability to have interpersonal relationships

Physical Health

• A sedentary lifestyle can lead to poor eating habits, obesity, poor muscular development, and a lack of quality interpersonal relationships
• Sleep disturbance:
• Falling asleep in class
• Lower academic performance
• Connected to mental health issues
• Tip:
• Limit screen time before bedtime

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Do not use electronics as a babysitter!!

Internet safety…social media, gaming apps, and gaming systems to be aware of.

• Social media: YouTube, Tik Tok, Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram, Discord, Yik Yak, Omegle, Kik
• Gaming Apps: Among Us, Roblox, Fortnite, Minecraft
• Gaming systems with online chat features: Xbox, Playstation, and Nintendo
• Vault Apps

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Internet safety…social media, gaming apps, and gaming systems to be aware of.

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Social media

• Potential issues with social media
• Cyberbullying
• Dangerous viral trends
• Exposure to violent or sexual images/videos
• Identity theft
• Invasion of privacy
• And let’s not fail to mention………… ONLINE PREDATORS

Social media

Who your kids think they are talking to…

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Versus who they are potentially talking to…

Gaming Apps

• Examples:
• Among Us, Roblox, Fortnite, Minecraft
• Others?

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• Children can interact with others in cyberspace within the game, but often times they are interacting with adults who have bad intentions, are exposed to inappropriate images, or online bullying

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• Utilize parental controls within the game, or turn off online features altogether

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Gaming systems with online features

• Examples:
• Xbox, Playstation, and Nintendo

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• Cyberbullying is common on these platforms
• Privacy issues
• Webcam worries
• Exposure to online predators
• Exposure to violent games (this isn’t necessarily an online feature, but a concern parents should be aware of)

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Vault Apps

• What are vault apps?
• Phone apps used to hide photos or videos on mobile devices
• The apps are often disguised to look like other common apps, like a calculator, so parents don’t think twice when looking at their child's phone.
• Utilize parental control apps to prevent your child from installing these types of apps on their devices

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Apps and Programs to help you monitor your child’s online presence

• Bark
• Parental Control
• MM Guardian
• FamiSafe
• …many others are available
• These apps allow parents to set screen time usage, real-time location capabilities, see internet browser history, monitor texts, emails, social media platforms, and alerts parents with potential issues, will also block suspicious apps and websites

Apps and Programs

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• Your home internet provider may also have child protection features
• Race Communications offers Race CommandIQ
• AT&T offers Smart Home Manager
• Verizon and Spectrum offer parental internet controls
• Check your internet provider’s security controls for more information on how to set up these features

Why monitor and protect your children?

Parent stories:

• “My 8-year-old daughter was approached by a stranger on Roblox.”
• “His (a stranger’s) character would approach young children and ask for sexual favors within the game.”
• Child victims have been groomed by strangers within these platforms resulting in assault, rape, and even murder amongst these children

Common sense safety tips

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• Talking to your children and educating them about potential issues, and have open communication as a baseline for internet safety
• Boundaries: not talking to strangers within internet games, and reporting suspicious activity including inappropriateness
• Never giving out personal information: phone numbers, names, addresses
• Report concerns to the vendor, i.e., Microsoft, Apple, or the social media platform. If needed, contact the police

Use the “SMART” acronym

Internet safety contract

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• Internet safety contracts set boundaries and expectations for your child. If your child is unsure about what to do, or a rule is broken, you can always refer back to your contract for clarification
• Children need guidance, parenting, and rules. This will help them promote self-control, teaches responsibility, and make thoughtful decisions.

Internet safety contract…for a copy, email shuecker@tehachapiusd.com

Internet safety contract

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Internet safety contract

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In conclusion…

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• Talk to your kids, ask them questions, and if something doesn’t feel right, investigate further

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• Children need parents to be parents, not their best friend. Your child will have lots of best friends, but they only have 1 set of parents. Set limits and protect them, they will thank you for it later

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• For questions or comments, please email Steven Huecker at shuecker@tehachapiusd.com