Help! My Kid Wants to Use Social Media!
Get your child, and yourself, ready for the next step with these conversation starters.
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/blog/help-my-kid-wants-to-use-social-media
Our Virtual Angel Tree event is off to a great start; we already have a few students who will have a brighter holiday this season! Learn more and #SponsorASpartan today! bit.ly/olyAngelTree20
Instagram, Middle School, and Digital Citizenship!
"Forming an identity is a big part of being a middle schooler. Most students are working it out through experimentation, with plenty of awkward missteps and mistakes along the way. It's a normal, natural part of growing up. But in the age of social media, this part of adolescence can be tough -- both for kids to navigate and for adults to understand. New social media platforms come and go, often with features designed to captivate young users right in the midst of figuring out just who they are."
Read more about how teachers use classroom lessons to teach about online identity: https://www.commonsense.org/education/articles/instagram-middle-school-and-digital-citizenship
Post, Comment, & Upload Responsibly! As teens start sharing content and engaging with others online, it's vital to understand what they're leaving behind and what they might reveal. Help guide kids toward creating the kind of footprint they can be proud of @ bit.ly/Oly2DF
Video: bit.ly/OlyDFV1
Many kids are already posting and sharing information about themselves. But in a world where oversharing might seem like the norm, it’s important for kids to think about their digital footprints. Listen to what these teens have to say about sharing on social media. Are you making the right sharing decisions?
Every day, teens engage with countless images and videos that have been edited or digitally altered. But are your kids aware of, or have they thought deeply about, disinformation online, including the phenomenon of deepfake videos?
For more information about this new media manipulation method, check out the following video. It has never been more important for our students to think critically about the media they consume and identities they see online.
https://youtu.be/OUSworJiRWg
For more information, and some wonderful discussion points to talk over with your kids after watching the video, check out this lesson:
https://www.commonsense.org/education/articles/are-deepfake-videos-a-threat-to-democracy
#DigCit! In a time of 24/7 connectivity, do the benefits of online sharing outweigh the risks? In Nov. our digital citizenship focus will be on the topic of Digital Footprint & Identity. Look for posts throughout the month to use as discussion points with your family!
My kid seems addicted to her phone. What do I do?
It may seem like your kid is addicted (and may even "feel" addicted) to the phone, but it's more likely normal teen behavior.
Read more: bit.ly/Oly_QA1
How to Set Screen Rules That Stick
Easy tips for limiting kids' computer, TV, game, and movie time. | Caroline Knorr | 2/21/2019
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/blog/how-to-set-screen-rules-that-stick
Do you multitask in front of your kids? Check out that and other solutions to help your child reduce multitasking during homework time:
https://d1pmarobgdhgjx.cloudfront.net/parenttip/PT_6WaysToStopMultitasking-new.mp4
Concerned about your kid's digital life? Here are five signs that they have a healthy relationship with screens:
https://d1pmarobgdhgjx.cloudfront.net/parenttip/PT_5_Healthy_Relationships.mp4
Help keep media/tech use in check by following a few simple practices:
1. Create screen-free times and zones
2. Explore built-in digital well-being tools
3. Model the behavior you want to see
4. Help kids identify healthy behaviors
...
Read more: bit.ly/OlyMBTipsS
October 15th Activities
Girls Swim is home vs. Central Catholic @ 4:30
October 13th Activities
HS Cross Country is @ Heyworth @ 4:30
Girls Swim is @ Peru @ 5:00 (no fans)
MS Cross Country Sectional @ home @ 4:00
Screen time; the reality is that there really is no magic number that's "just right." What's more important is the quality of kids' media, how it fits into your family's lifestyle, and how you engage your kids with it. Read more: http://bit.ly/OlyScreenTime
October 8th Activities
Girls Swim is home vs. Pontiac @ 4:30
It's easy to get distracted from homework (and life) when the phone never stops pinging and the next episode plays automatically. Let's some common sense guidelines by signing this Family Media Agreement within your family: bit.ly/OlyAgree
October 6th Activities
Boys Golf Regional @ Lincoln Elks @ 9:00
JV Cross Country @ St. Joseph @ 4:00
Girls Swim @ Macomb @ 4:30
Do the benefits of being ever-connected also come with risks to our mental health? It's an important question to ask - especially for our kids. In Oct. we will be exploring Media Balance & Well Being. Read more: bit.ly/OlyMediaBalance
October 1st Activities
Girls Golf @ Ireland Grove @ 3:50
Boys JV Golf @ Lincoln Elks @ 4:00
Girls Swim @ Pontiac @ 5:00
MS Cross Country @ Eureka @ 4:15