Dear Friends,

One thing I always fret over in this Digital Age is whether my girls get enough outdoor time. When I was a kid, I played outside for countless hours, coming home always hungry, happy and tired. Apparently now, inmates in the UK get more outdoor time than kids. This week, in a flash that may turn out to be brilliance, I instituted a new rule: for every minute of iPad time, they have to spend a minute outdoors. So far, so good, and if this sticks, I will be one happy CHR. Getting a dog helps the most!

As Chief HR Officers, our concerns run deep. We know the addictive nature of these devices, the pitfalls of social media, the erosion of privacy and the deteriorating social skills of our kids. Because technology is or will be such a deeply entrenched part of our children’s lives, we know they’re best served if we can act as their guide. Added to our 21st Century job description is: helping our children to navigate the many twists and turns inherent in our complex digital world. There are many ‘Tech’-able moments, and we are now parenting technology.

The biggest motivating factor to keeping up with technology is undoubtedly the safety and well-being of our children. So Boost Your Tech Savvy–our future depends on it!

With best wishes,

Julie Paul
Founder and CEO

Are You A Media Mentor For Your Kids?

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The most effective way to help your child develop good digital habits is to be a media mentor. Here’s how…

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The tech industry is using psychology as a weapon against our kids. This lead story is heartbreaking, and that’s why we’ve launched our Let’s Talk Tech! 1-1 services. This is all so preventable; please contact us!

We’re joining Our Friends at Screenagers in support of: Away for The Day, their campaign to get more middle schools to require students to put their cell phones away at school. Please sign the pledge here by March 31st!

Tiger Moms be gone – why parents need to dial back the criticism. With its roots in positive psychology, The Strength Switch encourages parents to build on their children’s  strengths rather than focusing on overcoming weaknesses.

Here’s what Our Friends are asking this week:

“How do I set up Restrictions?”
“How do I set up Family Sharing?”
“Is it possible to set time limits for specific apps?”