With recent studies showing that teens spend an average of 7.5 hours a day on devices—and that more than 70% of sextortion victims in Canada are aged 12 to 17—it’s never been more critical for parents to understand the risks their kids face online. While smartphones help children stay connected and entertained, they can also…
In January of last year, a series of actions aimed at enhancing student safety and well-being concerning digital technology was initiated by the provincial government. The integration of personal digital devices (PDDs) into classrooms has been a topic of significant discussion, as technology becomes increasingly embedded in daily life. The COVID-19 pandemic acted as a…
As your kiddo grows up before your eyes, their wants and needs when it comes to technology will also evolve. A smartphone can be essential for communication, learning, safety, and socializing. But navigating the world of kid-friendly devices can be overwhelming, especially if it’s your first time. This guide will walk you through everything you…
Parents need to take an active role when it comes to helping their child manage his/her online life. Here are 7 practical tips to help your child on their screen journey:
Embracing togetherness with family at dinnertime is a worldwide tradition spanning generations and a multitude of cultures. Sharing a meal with good conversation is a valued part of our social wellbeing, yet a recent survey1 by Maple Leaf Foods shows that this coveted time of togetherness is another aspect of our lives negatively impacted by…
In order to tackle the large issues we are facing in today's (and tomorrow's) world, STEM skills are needed more than ever, and benefit everyone. Thriving in work and in life requires computer and data literacy skills. It's a given that future researchers and scientists will rely on these skills. Imagine a world though where…
Present parenting can be defined as actively engaging with and being emotionally available to one's children in the present moment. It involves creating a nurturing and responsive environment that fosters trust, communication, and connection.
It was reported in 2019, that one in four youth (25%) aged 12 to 17 years experienced cyberbullying in the previous year (Statistics Canada).
Bullying used to be upsetting but contained. A victim would most often be verbally or physically bullied but once away from the “bully”, the victim would have a reprieve until perhaps the next interaction. Technology has resulted in a far worse form of bullying, known as “cyberbullying” which results in the victim never being able…
The recent Wren Eleanor discourse is centered on the ethics of posting children on social media. This discourse is primarily fueled by other TikTok content creators who posted stitches (videos directly commenting on the original Wren videos) and commentaries offering their views: predominately, that Wren’s videos were saved by people who were sexualizing children.
The pandemic has many children spending more time online than they may have ever before.Of course, that also brings it with a series of safety concerns and challenges. Many young children are not fully aware of the cybercriminals that lurk around the World Wide Web. Although you may think you recognize these bad actors and…
Children live within a world predominantly defined by their ability to access the digital community within seconds. Thanks to the rise of portable devices such as smartphones and virtually ubiquitous Internet connectivity, this generation of children can enjoy freedoms which would have been impossible to imagine 20 years ago.
A story from Sharon Selby about how smartphones/social media contribute to so much teenage angst – toxic competing and comparing which then increases anxiety and depression. I believe we need to take a stronger stance on smartphones.
For many parents, concern over kids being glued to screens is not a new phenomenon. However, with the pandemic causing a 500% spike of digital media usage amongst younger generations, the issue has become a new kind of monster. Our current reality is forcing families to rethink screen time limits and come up with solutions…
We just learned about an incredible extracurricular program for high school students and wanted to share it with parents in Vancouver. The Knowledge Society (TKS) is a 10-month innovation program for students ages 13-17 who want to solve the world’s biggest problems. The program is modeled after curriculums from Harvard, Stanford, and MIT, and designed…
Technology is here to stay and will prove to be one of the most important tools in your child’s life. Parents must be careful not to villainize technology. By painting excessive screen time in a negative light or punishing your child for spending too much time on their device, this does not deter them away…
Smartphones are causing negative health effects. We even have a medical diagnosis for smartphone addiction (it’s Nomophobia, by the way). Look for yourself-you don’t have to dig very deep to find it. We have developed difficulties with sleeping, anxiety, compulsive web surfing, loneliness, depression, even vision and balance disturbances.
Technology use carries with it myriad potential consequences—among them cyberbullying, sleep deprivation, poor posture, back and neck pain, sedentary behaviours, obesity, loneliness, diminished eyesight, anxiety, depression, body image disturbance, and addiction. All of these are changing children in elemental ways, interrupting rudimental biological drives to connect, to become independent, even to procreate. Tech executives were…
At PK Beans we spend most of our days focused on bringing play into children’s lives, as we believe play is the backbone to a healthy start in life. So, it isn’t surprising, especially during this time of social isolation, to be asked how parents can balance screen time and encourage active play. The mother…
One of the biggest challenges for parents is deciding when (not if just when) a child or teenager will have access to technology such as a laptop, tablet, or mobile phone. And there’s no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. Famously, industry leaders from the computer and technology industry are reported to prevent their kids from…
If you ask your children what they want to be when they grow up, there is a good chance that the answer will be “an influencer.”
Last week, my teenager spilled a milkshake on his MacBook Air and I’m convinced it was on purpose. You see, he’s been lobbying for a PC because my current ability to satellite parent requires the household to be on Apple, lest I will have to come up with different parental controls. Parenting has always been…
Back to School Means Back Online: How to Teach Children to Stay Safe on the Internet NordVPN gives advice on keeping children safe online Going back to school is an exciting time of the year, but it also means children will be using Internet on a regular basis in school and at home to do…
The reality is that in the last twenty years technology has become a mainstay of everyday life, and like it or not, it is here to stay. However the effects of technology in schools is still largely unknown and studies into the subject have come up with no definitive answers either way.
