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It doesn’t have to be this way. A new wave of so-called “digital wellness” features designed to prevent screen overload is taking hold in some of the most popular tech tools. From operating systems including Apple’s iOS 12 and Google’s upcoming Android Pie update to social media like Snapchat and Instagram, you can see exactly how much time you’re spending online, set limits for yourself and your kids, and reduce distractions and interruptions from notifications.

You have the right to remain skeptical. The idea of tech companies trying to help us stay off their products — after using every trick in the book to keep us hooked — is pretty ironic. And there’s no proof that digital wellness features work — much less help mental health issues associated with technology use, such as anxiety, depression, and addiction. But if you’re concerned about your tech use, as well as about your kid’s, they’re certainly worth trying. Whether they help depends a lot on your family’s needs, your kids’ willingness to be on board, and the kinds of conversations you have around self-regulation. Take a look at some of the most popular platforms’ efforts to protect your digital well-being.

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iOS 12

Screen Time. You can enable Screen Time on your kid’s phone and password-protect the settings so they can’t change them. Or, you can also manage the settings remotely by setting up Family Sharing. We recommend using the features together with your kid. Work on using screens intentionally and mindfully, and help your kid learn to regulate their own use when you’re not around to do it for them. Key features:

• Usage report. A daily and weekly readout of the time you’re spending on your device. You can see exactly how much attention you and your kids pay to app categories such as social networking versus, say, reading and reference.
• Downtime. Turns the phone off during a specific period of time — for example, 9 p.m. to 8 a.m.
• App Limits. Sets daily time limits for app categories such as games and entertainment as well as for individual apps.
• Always Allowed. Lets you choose which apps (for example, music apps) that never turn off — even during downtime.
• Content & Privacy Restrictions. Controls what your kids can see (such as mature content) and do (such as download and delete apps). Also puts limits on how much information third parties can access about your kid.

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Android Pie (available now on Pixel devices; rolling out to other users)

Digital Wellbeing. Unlike the Screen Time features in iOS 12, you can’t enable Digital Wellbeing settings on your kid’s phone and password-protect them. Instead, Digital Wellbeing is designed for individual users to customize their devices to their own needs. If you’re an Android family, you can discuss and try various features to make the phone work for you — instead of the other way around. (If you want to have more control over your kid’s Android phone, check out Google’s Family Link parental-control app, which allows remote monitoring.) Key features:

• Dashboard. Graphs the time you’ve spent in individual apps and lets you set daily time limits for apps that keep you hooked longer than you’d like (for example, 15 minutes tops on Snapchat).
• Do Not Disturb. Silences your device entirely or allows you to specify which alerts you want to see (or not).
• Notifications. Personalizes your alerts, so you can snooze them and schedule them at a convenient time.
• Wind Down. Automatically turns your phone grayscale and enables Do Not Disturb at a time you specify.

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YouTube

Account Settings. One of the most popular platforms for kids and adults, YouTube is easy to get lost in — or it used to be, anyway. Now you can see a full rundown of how much time you and your kids spend scrolling through videos, and if you think you’re overdoing it, you can enable settings to curb your use. You can’t password-protect the settings, though, so they’re mostly helpful for you if you let your kids use your phone or if you help your kid set them so they can regulate their own use. Key features:

• Time Watched. Available only on the app, these stats show how much time you’ve spent watching videos for the present day, the day before, and the past week. Within this feature, you can also set a reminder to take a break after a certain amount of time and disable autoplay so you won’t get sucked in to watching endless videos.
• Scheduled digest. Instead of random notifications about the latest video that distracts you at all hours, you can get all your alerts bundled together at one time.
• Disable sounds & vibrations. If you can’t see or hear your alerts, you’ll stay blissfully engaged in important stuff (such as talking with your kids) until you check your phone.
• Restricted Mode. Though it’s been around for a while, Restricted Mode can be a helpful additional setting to give you some peace of mind. It limits mature content from showing up in your kid’s feed (it’s not perfect, though).

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Instagram (available soon)

Digital Wellbeing. Running neck and neck with Snapchat as the most popular social media app among teens, Instagram is a key social lifeline. Its parent company (Facebook) has made an effort to help users manage their time and reduce exposure to cyberbullying by adding settings such as Comment Controls, which allow you to micromanage your friends’ replies, and All Caught Up, which lets you know you’ve seen every post since the last time you scrolled through your feed. Digital Wellbeing, which will roll out soon, will add even more functionality. You can check back for updates after the new version is released. Key features:

• Activity Dashboard. Displays a daily average of the time you’ve spent on the app for the week.
• Daily Reminder. Allows you to set a time limit and receive a notification when you’ve hit your limit.
• Mute Push Notifications. Silences push notifications (you can also turn them off entirely in the app’s settings or on your phone’s settings).

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Snapchat

Do Not Disturb. The pioneer of the disappearing message, Snapchat is now a full-fledged portal to friends, videos from around the world, current events, and much more. Needless to say, it can take up a lot of time. But you can cut down on the noise — a little bit. Key features:

• Do Not Disturb. Instead of disabling the phone or the app altogether, Snapchat lets you mute notifications from individual people. If you have a chronic oversharer on your friends list, you don’t have to block or remove them. Just “shush” them for a while and you won’t be alerted to their posts.
• Mute story. Muting a story pushes the friend down your contacts list, effectively making their posts the last in line.

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TikTok – Real Short Videos

Digital Wellbeing. TikTok serves up endlessly scrollable 15-second videos from people all over the world. Averaging 13 million video uploads per day, the app could certainly eat up a lot of your kid’s time. You can password-protect the Digital Wellbeing features on your kid’s phone so they can’t change them. Key features:

• Screen Time Management. Sets a two-hour daily viewing time limit. (The time limit isn’t customizable.)
• Restricted Mode. Filters out videos that may not be age-appropriate.

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Facebook (currently in development)

Your Time on Facebook. Though research shows teens prefer Snapchat and Instagram to Facebook, you’re probably on it more than you would like. The company is rumored to be creating some options to help you keep track of the time you spend on the platform, which in theory should help you cut down. You can check back for updates after the new version is released. Key features:

• Time on Facebook. Displays a daily average of the time you’ve spent on the app for the week.
• Manage Your Time. Allows you to set a time limit and receive a notification when you’ve hit your limit.
• Mute Push Notifications. Silences push notifications (you can also turn them off entirely in the app’s settings or on your phone’s settings) or choose which alerts you want to get.

 

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Syndicated with permission from Common Sense Media. Written by Caroline Knorr 10/25/2018.

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This post is syndicated with permission from Common Sense Media.

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Here’s the thing: Actually using parental controls — just like parenting — is a process. And the devices and software aren’t a solution on their own. What these products do — manage screen time, block inappropriate content, and make sure kids are behaving on online — is ultimately what we want kids to be able to do by themselves. In other words, at some point, we want to hand over control. Easier said than done, right?

The solution is to focus on the key areas you want to tackle. That will make whatever parental control you choose more useful. And simplifying and sharing these goals — when you can — will help your kids understand what they’re working towards.

Remember, you want to support your kids’ learning the same as anything else: set clear expectations, be consistent, and talk about what they’re doing.

(For parental controls buying advice, PC Magazine offers in-depth product reviews and recommendations.)

GOAL: “I want to be able to control how much time my kids spend online — without taking their devices away — and make sure they don’t have access to stuff they’re not ready for.”

What to look for. The ability to pause the internet, set timers, lock individual devices, and block/filter specific types of content. You might be able to get away with the parental control features already built into your device’s operating system or available in a free app. Apple offers Family Sharing, Guided Access, and other restrictions, and is introducing new Screen Time features in its upcoming iOS 12. If you use Android, the operating system Pie will offer information about device use, and Google’s Family Link app for Android allows you to set time limits and restrict content. Devices like XFinity’s xFi or Circle with Disney let you do things like shut down the internet via an app and block certain content.

Before you begin. Blocking content probably won’t cause too much conflict (if they can’t see it, they’ll eventually forget it). And preventing access to stuff that’s inappropriate is non-negotiable. Turning off the internet without warning, however, is what exasperated parents refer to as “the nuclear option.” Call a family meeting and talk about your goals, concerns, and overall approach as a family: Under what circumstances will you pause the internet? At dinner time? After two warnings? Develop a system so that your kids understand the rules and expectations.

Troubleshooting. Even though they know the limits, kids will ask for “just one more minute.” Try to be consistent. Maybe one more minute is OK, but after five it’s go time. If your kid claims that they need the internet to finish their homework, tell them the internet can stay on if they’re not multitasking (i.e. chatting, texting, playing Fortnite, or scrolling on social media), and keep an eye on them. Determine in advance how sympathetic you’re going to be when they can’t get their homework done by a certain time. They’ll need to learn to work within their limits, and if they can’t, you’ll need to intervene to get them on track. As for filtering and blocking content, be aware that kids can get around almost anything and content blockers aren’t foolproof.

Path to self-regulation. Once you’ve established device-free times and zones, and it seems like you’ve all fallen into the habit, consider going a few days without using the parental control and talk about how you did. Check in with your family: How’s it going? Are the goals the same? What are the challenges and how can you problem solve?

GOAL: “In addition to setting time limits, I want to get details about what my kid is doing online —  like what apps they’re using and what sites they’re visiting — and I want to know who my kid is texting with/talking to.”

What to look for. The ability to set time limits, block and filter content, receive reports about your kid’s online activity (what sites they’ve visited and how long they’ve spent on them), and a call history/contact list. Products like unGlue and Habyts can set time limits, show you the apps and sites your kids are using, and build in elements meant to help form solid habits.

Before you begin. If you’re just trying to prevent trouble before it starts, let your kids know what your biggest concerns are and why. It’s important for them to know that you’re not trying to spy on them or catch them doing something wrong, but to guide and support them. It’s also important to listen and get some buy-in, since it helps avoid conflict later. If you’re considering this type of tool because there’s been a breach of trust or some other shenanigans, you can frame it as a means to get back on track.

Troubleshooting. Decide what you’re going to do with all of the information you gather. Are there very specific concerns you can focus on (for example, too much time watching YouTube and not enough time doing homework)? Also, if you’re worried about specific people your kid is contacting or particular content they’re accessing, know that they could find a way to do an end-run around your controls by using someone else’s phone or hacking the controls. A positive relationship with your kid is a key ingredient to them staying open and honest, so find a way to work online monitoring into that relationship.

Path to self-regulation. Find ways to scale things back as you go, letting your kids know that you’re moving from, say once-a-day checks to twice-a-week, etc. Keep talking about the habits you want them to build and how they can be safe online.

GOAL: “I want to see as much as I can, including social media posts, pictures, email, and texts.”

What to look for. The ability to track and monitor social media content and messages — not just the time spent on Instagram or Snapchat. Avoid programs that require you to “jailbreak” the device. Programs like TeenSafe, Social Judo, and MamaBear let you read your teen’s social media posts, track their phone calls, and even see how fast they’re driving.

Before you begin. There’s some evidence to suggest that getting this far into your kids’ business can damage your relationship. But if you feel it’s necessary to see everything they’re saying and doing, perhaps because of previous transgressions, brushes with cyberbullying, or you’re just protective and concerned, consider being open and honest about the fact that you’re monitoring. Talk about why you feel it’s necessary, what you’re looking for, and what privacy you are willing to give them (because teenagers need some privacy as a part of their development). Try not to set up a game of cat-and-mouse (where you shut down one thing only to have your kid find a way around it). Your kid will play it — and win. If you’re monitoring the phone or device because you’re concerned that your kid is at risk, plan ahead for how you’ll handle sensitive information you gather.

Troubleshooting. You know that line from Jurassic Park, “Life finds a way”? The same is true of kids. While you’re monitoring one Instagram account, your kid may already have set up another. When kids feel like you’re spying on them, they often try to be more secretive. Make sure that they know you’re not trying to catch them doing something wrong or set them up for failure. Share your worries and your desire for their ultimate safe and responsible online behavior. Be clear about what’s OK and what’s out-of-bounds.

Path to self-regulation. Let them know what they need to do to end the monitoring. Is it when they buy their own phone? Get to a certain age? Do they need to prove something or earn trust? Define what it will take for them to have a bit more privacy and let them know you’ll still need to check in and want to stay involved in their online lives.

This post was syndicated with permission from Common Sense Media.

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By Common Sense Media Editors

Stressed out about your kid’s entry into kindergarten? Scouring the app store for resources to help your little one learn letters, numbers, shapes, and colors before school even starts?

That’s normal. But it’s not really necessary. We all want our kids to be prepared for kindergarten — and many of us turn to preschool and pre-K educational products hoping for an advantage. But the truth is, kindergarten readiness is less about the ABCs and 123s than you might think. What really makes for a successful start to schooling may surprise you.

We’ve rounded up the six most important things you can do to get your child ready for kindergarten, with suggestions for great media picks that may help.

Encourage a love of learning.

While kindergarten may be your immediate focus, you’re really laying the foundation for lifelong learning. It’s more important for your child to enjoy learning than to master facts and figures. Nurture curiosity, encourage questions, support critical thinking, and model being a learner yourself. Try:

• Activities that teach concepts in novel ways.
• TV shows and movies that put emphasize curiosity.
• Games that call upon critical-thinking skills.
• Apps and sites with lots of problem-solving.

Help your kindergartner get along well with others. 

Much of school — and life — involves relating to and working with those around you. Kids who can share, take turns, play well with peers, and resolve conflicts are starting the game ahead. Check out:

• Movies, TV shows, and games that teach teamwork.
• Empathy-building movies, TV shows, books.
• Games that support kindness and compassion.
• TV shows with positive social messages.

Support self-control and planning skills. 

Young kids are just beginning to learn crucial self-regulation and executive functioning skills. Child development experts call this internal “air traffic control” — and it’s key to success in school. Even kindergartners have to manage a lot of information, avoid distractions, and carry out plans. Help your kid practice remembering a sequence (after breakfast, we brush our teeth, put our shoes on, and go to school), curbing impulses (grabbing other kids’ toys), and adapting when things don’t go as planned. Try:

• Movies and TV shows that promote self-control.
• Apps that can help kids stick to a routine.
• Computer-coding programs that help kids understand sequence, if-then relationships, and cause and effect.
• Activities that prompt kids to recognize and name their feelings.

Talk and read … a lot.

One of the strongest predictors of later success in reading and other school subjects is early vocabulary — and oral language skills in general. Talk to your kids, use challenging words, describe what they mean, read to them, play word games, make up nonsense rhymes and stories together, teach listening skills, listen to them, sing songs — anything that emphasizes language. These may help:

• Quality shows that focus on literacy-building.
• Activities with built-in storytelling features.
• Books that play with language.
• Books that are especially great to read aloud.

Boost independence. 

Kindergarten is a big transition into a world of strange adults and peers, especially if your kid hasn’t had much preschool experience. But there’s lots you can do at home to set the stage: Teach kids to put away their things and to carry out basic routines independently. These picks can help your child prepare for the novelty — and inevitable separation anxiety — that school brings. Try:

• TV shows that encourage kids to try and try again when things don’t go as planned.
• Books with great role models for girls and boys.
• Apps that prompt kids to plan, think ahead, and be present.
• Movies and TV shows that teach the value of effective communication.

Provide opportunities to learn the three Rs. 

The “softer” skills above are core to kindergarten readiness. But if your kid’s showing interest, these cool tools can introduce the building blocks of reading, writing, math, and more. Try:

• Apps and sites that focus on early-learning skills including reading and math fundamentals.
• Fun math games geared for kindergartners.
• Activities that let kids explore English and language arts.

Syndicated with permission from Common Sense Media

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You may be able to avoid impulse-buying by shopping online. But that won’t solve the problem of your kids getting targeted with back-to-school buying messages through websites, online games, Facebook updates, and even YouTube.

Plus, social shopping — wherein kids spread the message about their favorite products to other kids online — is gaining momentum with marketers. Help your kids learn to recognize — and avoid clicking on — these types of promotions.

Always keep your family’s budget and practical needs in mind as you shop. If your kids are interested in a product, challenge them to comparison shop and list the pros and cons of an item. Help them figure out what they really need — as opposed to what they want (and may get tired of soon). If you have the teachers’ school supplies list, pay attention to the “no” items — for example, why buy a fancy calculator if they’re not allowed in school? Encourage kids to join their peers in spending their own money (which, according to the NRF’s survey, averages about $34.40 per kid).

Beyond that, nurture a healthy sense of skepticism — what we call “ad savvy” — so your kids learn to view media critically.

This post was syndicated with permission from Common Sense Media

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Johns Hopkins University researchers Karl Alexander, Doris Entwisle, and Linda Olson (2007) studied this topic extensively and the researchers concluded that two-thirds of the 9th-grade reading achievement gap can be explained by unequal access to summer learning opportunities during elementary school. This achievement level is a huge determinant of whether students stay in school and follow a college-preparatory track.

Every kid, regardless of socioeconomic or academic status, needs to keep their tools “fine-tuned” during their time off.

Don’t get me wrong. Summer is not about non-stop reading, writing, math and science “lessons” in our house. However, we do incorporate these things into our daily routines in a FUN way.

Here are a few of our favorites:

READING

• Start the morning with a little reading time while breakfast is being made
• Pick a classic book and read it out loud to your kids for 20 minutes each day
• Pick a topic and head to the library to find 3 books
• Let your kids go to bed with a stack of books and a flashlight

WRITING

• Write letters to friends, aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, or previous teachers.
• Journal once a week to highlight the best parts of the week
• Create new stories about their favorite characters. For example, what happens next at the end of Frozen?

MATH

• Practice mental math while cooking dinner or driving places. “What is 2+3+5-4 / 2?”
• Going to a museum? zoo? amusement park? aquarium? Set a budget and have the kids manage the money for the trip.
• Bring a tablet or phone to the grocery store and have your kids keep a running total on the groceries while you are shopping. See if their total adds up to the cashier’s total. (subtotal)

Sometimes it’s fun to incorporate a little screen time to tap into those areas. WHAT?! Learning can be fun?! You betcha!

Make it the best summer ever with digital tools for playing, learning, and doing – while having fun! Explore categories like science, tinkering, creativity, memory making, and more!

Some additional tips from Common Sense Media:

• Keep kids reading. Kids who read a lot over the summer not only maintain reading skills, they go back to school better prepared for all subjects. Make summer reading fun. They can read graphic novels, fanfiction — anything that captures their interests is beneficial.
• Think outside the book. Apps, games, and websites offer lots of unique learning opportunities for kids. Check out our Summer Learning Guide for ideas.
• Go for code. Computer programming apps and sites teach kids everything from problem-solving to thinking and logic.
• Make lasting memories. With easy-to-use digital tools, kids can collect videos, photos, stories, and more in electronic journals that tell the story of their summer.

REFERENCES

Alexander, K. L., Entwisle, D., & Olson, L. (2007). Lasting consequences of the summer learning gap. American Sociological Review, 72, 167–180.

The post 10 Tips on How to Avoid the Summer Slide K-12 first appeared on BonBon Break.

Your kid’s new favorite magazine might just be … a podcast for little kids? That’s right, Goofus and Gallant from Highlights magazine are going high-tech, and they’re not alone. They’re joining rebel girls, talking cats and dogs, and even pirate comedians on this list of some of the best podcasts you and your little kids might not be listening to yet.

From toothbrushing tips to fabulous folktales, these fresh podcasts for little kids prove without a doubt that audio shows have come into their own. With creative offerings featuring lively narration, original songs, and occasional big-name guest stars, even the youngest listeners can get in on the action. Now road trips and activities that used to be a chore can be transformed into fun, educational experiences for the whole family.

If you’re a podcast newbie, check out 20 Podcasts for Kids, which offers tips for how to listen plus more recommendations for all ages. Otherwise, open up your favorite audio app and dive into these age-appropriate picks for preschoolers and little kids.

Podcasts for Little Kids

Chompers
Chompers is a bite-sized, twice-daily podcast meant to encourage kids to brush their teeth for the full dentist-recommended two minutes. Each morning and night, kids can enjoy short quizzes, fun facts, stories, riddles, and jokes, all with gentle reminders to get the front, back, and tops of their teeth. There are even morning cliffhangers to encourage you to come back for your nighttime brush.

Circle Round
Circle Round is an engaging, gentle storytime podcast aimed at kids. In every episode, narrator Rebecca Sheir tells a lesser-known folktale or story from around the world, helped by a rotating voice cast of talented stage-and-screen actors. The stories are captivating and compelling and nearly always accompanied by a positive message or moral.

Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls
Rebels of all genders will be enthralled by this podcast, based on the best-selling book by the same name, with inspiring biographies of historical women read by inspiring modern women. These true stories are fascinating bits of history told simply enough that kids will be able to follow them. It’s hard not to feel empowered after listening to a few episodes.

Highlights Hangout
The minds behind the kids’ podcast Wow in the World have transformed the popular magazine Highlights into a high-energy audio series. Classic favorites from the magazine like “Goofus and Gallant,” “Ask Arizona,” and “Hidden Pictures” (or, in this case, “The Hidden Sounds Game”) are reimagined as variety show segments, cheerfully guided along by hosts Tim and Juanita.

Little Stories for Tiny People
The whimsical, soothing stories on this podcast are perfect for preschoolers, but “big people” will appreciate them, too. Host Rhea Pechter’s melodic voice and the recurring cast of animal friends will delight young kids. And the clever, well-crafted stories touch on age-appropriate messages and topics.

Story Pirates
Nothing can really match a kid’s original story in terms of absurd comedy. And that’s what’s at the heart of this wacky, wild, imaginative podcast. In each episode, the Story Pirates crew — a group of talented improvisers pretending to be pirates — read short stories written and submitted by kids, then reenact them with hilarious results. There are even original songs, famous guest stars, and interviews with the young authors about how it feels to have their work adapted.

This Podcast Has Fleas
With a hilarious concept and a fantastic voice cast, This Podcast Has Fleas is a delight for all ages. The premise is that two family pets — an exuberant dog named Waffles and a cool cat named Jones — have dueling podcasts where they talk about what’s going on in the house from their (obviously superior) perspectives. Dog people and cat people will be howling with laughter.

PIN IT FOR LATER:

This post was syndicated with permission from Common Sense Media.

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Pixar’s highly anticipated sequel Incredibles 2 picks up immediately after The Incredibles, exploring the Parr family’s dynamics and eventually pitting them against a villain named Screenslaver. It has plenty of intense superhero action/violence, but there’s also lots of humor, as well as themes of teamwork, courage, communication, and perseverance — not to mention how easy it is to be manipulated by the screens all around us. All of which means there’s plenty for families to talk about after watching this Common Sense Seal-honored film.

Try these discussion questions for kids:

• Talk about the messages related to family and gender roles in Incredibles 2. Is it important to see movies/TV shows in which parents take on nontraditional roles? Why, or why not?
• Did you see the original Incredibles? What’s different between the two movies? What’s the same?
• How do the characters in Incredibles 2 demonstrate teamwork, courage, and perseverance? What about compassion? Why are these important character strengths?
• What do you think the movie is saying about people’s relationships to screens? Are we at risk of being manipulated by what we see on them? What’s the best way to prevent that from happening?
• How are teen angst and insecurity portrayed in the movie? What does Violet learn about herself, and how does she change by the end of the story?

Syndicated with permission from Common Sense Media.

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