SPH Libraries: Parent Resources: Technology and Parenting

Web Resources for Parents on Technology

Common Sense Media
A website dedicated to improving the media and entertainment lives of kids and families. Family oriented reviews of video games.
ATechnologySociety
Contains over 50 articles written by experts who continually update and add new content.
Parent Concerns
Does exposure to violent media make kids more aggressive? How can media affect kids' body image? How do I keep my kid safe on the Internet? What should I do if my kid is bullied online? Explore articles and videos by experts on these parental concerns and more.
Digital Glossary
Not sure how to decode your teens’ shorthand in the digital world? Feel like you need to brush up on the latest digital apps? Still think that MySpace is the right space?
Children and Media
Find tips and strategies for raising children in a digital age from PBS.

Articles

The Teen Brain
'Teens are also bombarded by information in this electronic age, and multitasking is as routine as chatting with friends on line. But Jensen highlights a recent study showing how sensory overload can hinder undergraduates’ ability to recall words. “It’s truly a brave new world. Our brains, evolutionarily, have never been subjected to the amount of cognitive input that’s coming at us.' from "The Teen Brain" in the Sept/Oct, 2008 issue of Harvard Magazine.
How to Set Screen Rules That Stick
Easy tips for limiting kids’ computer, TV, game, and movie time.

Plugged in Parents

How does parents' media use affect their kids?

It's no secret that tweens and teens spend a lot of time with media. But what about their parents? This report puts the spotlight on parents to understand how they manage their kids' -- and their own -- media use.

Social Media and Teens

"Social Media, Social Life: Teens Reveal Their Experiences sheds light on teens' changing social media habits and why some kids are more deeply affected by -- and connected to -- their digital worlds. The report is a nationally representative survey of more than 1,000 kids age 13 to 17. And because it tracks changes from 2012 to today, we can see how teens' social media use continues to evolve."
READ THE FULL REPORT.

from: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/research/social-media-social-life-2018

Technology and Family Time

From Common Sense Media...

Here's a sure-fire recipe for making family dinners great.

When devices are at the dinner table, it's so easy for a "quick text" or "just one video" to turn a meal into a digital free-for-all, even if you have screen-time rules. In fact, 76 percent of parents are concerned that using mobile devices during family dinner takes away from quality conversations.

So what can your family do to keep dinner full of fun, memorable moments instead of texts and tweets? Take the #DeviceFreeDinner Challenge and make a shared commitment to keeping devices away from the dinner table. It's a small step that makes a big difference. After all, research shows that dinner-table conversations lead to healthier, happier kids.

Sign up and you'll get the #DeviceFreeDinner Challenge Family Starter Kit, full of age-appropriate tips, tools, and advice to get your family started with fun device-free dinners.

Try it tonight!