Starting the School Year with Kindness as the Expectation

... but we can set the standard for what each interaction should be: kind, understanding, tolerant, and empathetic, by reading stories that demonstrate that it is indeed possible and POWERFUL to do so.

https://ithappensatourlibrary.com/2017/08/21/starting-the-school-year-with-kindness-as-the-expectation/

Xfinity: Parental Controls

If you are a parent subscribing to Xfinity, learn more here:
https://www.xfinity.com/support/cable-tv/x1-parental-controls-service-locks/

Social Media 101: Snapchat

This is Part 2 of our Social Media 101 videos. In this video we explain how Snapchat works and why it is the most difficult platform for parents to monitor. Hopefully parents will get a better understanding of the dangers associated with the improper use of this social media platform. As with our first video, regarding Facebook, we only covered some of the main features of Snapchat. If you have any helpful tips or experiences with Snapchat please share them with everyone down in the comments.

Source: https://www.facebook.com/MiamiPoliceDepartment/videos/1098302166926992/

Also see https://www.commonsensemedia.org/app-reviews/snapchat

Human Sex Trafficking and Social Media

As part of our Social Media 101 Series we have created this SPECIAL EDITION installment to address a very serious issue affecting our teens. HUMAN SEX TRAFFICKING is something many people don't know exists in our communities and/or don't really understand what it is. In today's technologically advanced world, sex traffickers (Pimps) are using SOCIAL MEDIA and the internet to recruit teens as young as 13 into this modern day type of slavery. Please watch this quick video to get a better understanding on how it works and how you can protect your kids.

Source: https://www.facebook.com/MiamiPoliceDepartment/videos/1143308165759725/

Have Smartphones Destroyed a Generation?

Eighth-graders who spend 10 or more hours a week on social media are 56 percent more likely to say they’re unhappy than those who devote less time to social media.

Read more:
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2017/09/has-the-smartphone-destroyed-a-generation/534198/

A Parent’s Guide to Kik from ConnectSafely

Kik is a community chat app that allows users to connect with brands or chat one-on-one or in groups, with text, emojis, memes, videos and photos. Teens love Kik because it’s an “in the moment” experience, without the profile curation fatigue they can feel on other apps, where their photos, videos or status updates are “judged” in the form of likes, shares or comments, and “live on” until removed. Teens worry less about creating a “permanent record” of posts and pictures that can affect them later in life. Teens also like that they can be anonymous on Kik.

Read more:
A Parent’s Guide to Kik from ConnectSafely
http://www.connectsafely.org/kik/

Digital Citizenship Activities

Ten Ideas to Encourage Appropriate Technology Use Among Students

Sameer Hinduja, Ph.D. and Justin W. Patchin, Ph.D.

Access document at https://cyberbullying.org/Digital-Citizenship-Activities-Educators.pdf