Parenting in the Digital Age

1. Parenting in the Digital Age Sandra McIlhenny Portland State University Child Welfare Partnership

2. Introductions • Trainer • Production Manager

3. Your Role • A) Caseworker • B) Certifier • C) Social Service Assistant • D) Supervisor

4. Learning Objectives • Describe benefits and concerns in use of computers, cell phones and other electronic devices by children and youth in care • Identify strategies for maintaining a safe computer & internet environment for youth in care • Identify potential dangerous practices and prevention strategies in online social networking sites

5. Digital Natives Digital Immigrants Marc Prensky, www.marprensky.com

6. Uncharted Territory YOU ARE HERE

7. Uncharted Territory DHS IS HERE

8. Charted Territory

9. Caseworker and Certifier Roles

10. Foster Parent and Caregiver Roles

11. Young People’s Role

12. Or you could try this!

13. Safety, Well-Being and Permanency….

14. Privacy

15. YCSM and ICSY Syndromes

17. How?

18. Where?

19. Goodnight, I-Pad

20. Break time!

21. Top Ten Tips for Internet Safety

22. Tip # 1 Keep the computer in a very visible location in the house. Do not put it in an office, den or bedroom, where there is little foot traffic.

23. Tip # 2 Check History, Favorites/Bookmarks, software and pictures on a regular basis.

24. Recognizing picture downloads

25. Tip # 3 Use Strong passwords, and know your children’s passwords to their online accounts.

26. Let’s try this! www.passwordmeter.com

27. Tip # 4 Usernames should not carry easily identifiable information as to name, age, gender and special interests.

28. Usernames Bad Usernames “soccerlad15” “centralhighcheer” “AdamTroop128” “angiesmith” “hotbabe13” “1610dogSt”

29. Usernames Good Usernames “fishface100” “jellybelly29” “malarkus” “bananasplit” “flyspeck99”

30. Tip # 5 Take Cyberbullying seriously.

31. Responding to cyberbullying • Don’t Retaliate • Refute the messages received by others • Talk to the parents • Save the evidence • Talk to the school • Disable text messaging for a brief period • Report to the youth’s worker

32. Tip # 6 ANYTHING connected to the internet is a potential avenue for good or bad things. This includes cell phones, mp3 players, flash drives, PSP, XBOX and Wii, E-readers, Notebooks

33. Flash Drives

34. Tip # 7 Be THE Administrator. Most windows versions and Mac computers have user accounts. Only you should have administrative rights. Set-up all other users as a regular user.

35. This is what it looks like

36. This is what it looks like

37. Tip # 8 Develop age-appropriate guidelines for computer and internet use. In addition to the template provided by DHS, there are contracts on the Web that you can download and have your children sign.

38. Tip # 9 Use the Internet to help you learn what you need. www.google.com www.bing.comwww.howcast.com

39. Tip # 10 Talk to your kids about internet safety. Make sure they know to come to you if they have any “uncomfortable” exchanges on the Web. Tell them you will not get upset if this happens.

40. Break time!

41. Smarter than I am Phones….

42. Parental Controls on Cell Phones Limiting the number of texts sent or received Time of day restrictions on texts or calls GPS location and zoning Restriction of purchases Controlling or blocking text or phone numbers Filtering content or blocking Internet usage Removal of ability to send or receive pics

43. Video

44. This is what it looks like

45. This is what it looks like

46. Texting, Sexting & Chatting

47. This is what it looks like…

48. This is what it looks like

49. Texting 121 4COL BRB AFAIK AITR CICYHW CWOT DDSOS DYHA(B/F G/F) J/K

50. Texting isn’t just for teens anymore!