Critical Thinking
Managing Online behaviours: Controlling the narrative in difficult times
Taking control of our interactions with others online for greater wellbeing
June 25, 2020 No Comments
Cyberbullying
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Critical Thinking
Safer Internet Day 2020: what can you do?
“Shouldn’t parents be paying closer attention to what their kids are doing online?” “When I speak to the school Principal, they say they have no
February 10, 2020 1 Comment
Contracts / Tips
A letter from Santa for your new device
If your child is lucky enough to be one of the many children who will be receiving a new device, tablet or gaming console this
December 19, 2019 No Comments
Cyberbullying
Building kids self esteem for greater digital wellbeing
As so much of a young persons social world revolves around their online feeds and connections, it is any wonder that likes and comments soon
December 3, 2019 No Comments
Apps
Helping kids manage group chats
Group chats can be a great way for a number of people to participate in an online conversation together. It can make organising events and
November 21, 2019 No Comments
Apps
Tellonym app: what parents should know
Tellonym is another app doing the rounds, part of a growing list of anonymous question and answer feedback apps. Tellonym has been around since 2016
October 30, 2019 No Comments
Cyberbullying
Sexting, Sending Nudes and Image Based Abuse
What advice can we give for our kids to stop them sending nudes? Or if it’s too late and an image gets out, how do
September 3, 2019 No Comments
Critical Thinking
How much screentime is too much? Ask these questions instead
When it comes to our children’s use of the screens the focus for many is to look at issues of overuse and concentrate on ways
August 20, 2019 No Comments
Critical Thinking
Raising a Good Kid in a Digital World
So what does it really take to raise a good kid in the digital world? After working in this space for over 10 years (and
June 13, 2019 No Comments
Cyberbullying
Reality TV shows: a bit of fun or thriving on a culture of bullying?
It always strikes me as odd, and I guess somewhat disturbing and hypocritical, when I see our morning shows spruiking the “no bullying’ message. They
March 14, 2019 No Comments
Critical Thinking
Scrolling with intention: getting the best return on our online investment:
Are we worried about the time we spend online? Should we take heed of warnings by media reports and popular articles that put the sole
February 18, 2019 No Comments
Critical Thinking
The importance of the shrug: a necessary skill for digital resilience
Why is a shrug so important to digital resilience you ask? Recently I was in my “Grit Strength” gym class which is not a regular
June 5, 2018 No Comments
Cyberbullying
The Modern Parents Guide to Fortnite
Fortnite is the latest game craze to sweep the online gaming world and something that I am witnessing with a vengeance in both my own
March 20, 2018 15 Comments
Critical Thinking
A More Respectful Internet for Safer Internet Day 2018
It’s Safer Internet Day on Tuesday the 6th Feb, and that means people around the world are getting vocal about the need for a more
February 5, 2018 No Comments
Critical Thinking
When kids make mistakes online should you tell their parents?
When kids make mistakes online should you tell their parents? Should you dob on other peoples kids or should you stay out of others business
December 11, 2017 No Comments
Critical Thinking
The importance of digital resilience for kids today
Building resilience in a digital world must be a priority for our kids today. What does digital resilience actually mean? A while ago now resilience
February 24, 2017 1 Comment
Contracts / Tips
Internet contract for kids, tweens and teens
Having an internet contract is just one way of opening up the conversation about making good decisions online. I have done these again after many
July 13, 2016 3 Comments
Contracts / Tips
Convincing parents to say ‘Yes’ to technology, social networks and screentime
Do your parents need convincing when it comes to technology? Are you a child who has been asking mum and dad for a new device,
February 16, 2016 9 Comments
Behaviour
Practise in the playground before playing online
I have written many times before about my concerns at simply following age recommendations when it comes time to handing our children a device, or
January 29, 2016 1 Comment
Contracts / Tips
A letter from Santa for a new device, phone or tablet
If you suspect Santa may be gracing your child with a new device, a phone or a new tablet or ipad, then setting up some
December 11, 2015 No Comments
Bullying
Dealing with trolls: advice to my teenage son
What happens when your child gets trolled? When they say to you “why would someone say that? How could they be so horrible?” Here’s what
November 26, 2015 6 Comments
Behaviour
Technology is a great servant, but a bad master: help kids take control
Technology is a great servant, but a bad master. This take on Francis Bacons quote “Money is a great servant but a bad master” could
September 30, 2015 2 Comments
Behaviour
Dealing with bullying: parents questions answered
I get many questions from parents of kids who are being bullied and also some from those suspecting that their child is engaging in bullying
July 2, 2015 5 Comments
Behaviour
Bullying: sorting the facts from the myths
Bullying is nothing new. Our hyper connected world has, however, ensured greater awareness of the nature and consequences of bullying and much needed discussion has
June 23, 2015 3 Comments
Behaviour
Bullying, rude, mean or just a lot of drama? Why we should differentiate
One of the most frustrating things about the attention bullying gets today is the unfortunate overuse of the word. I will say from the get
June 16, 2015 4 Comments
Bullying
Cyberbullying: what does it look like ?
The bullying that takes place online or via any technological device is known as cyberbullying. The more we are consumed by the technology, the more
June 10, 2015 1 Comment
Apps
Periscope, Meercat: how safe are live video streaming apps for kids?
Filming ourselves and uploading, creating short movies and recording interviews, speeches and conversations for all to view has been going on for a while now.
May 26, 2015 1 Comment
Bullying
Videos to help teach our kids to be safe and smart online
Having open honest discussions with your kids is one of the best ways to help keep them safe and responsible online and to help them
May 19, 2015 6 Comments
BYOD
What age should kids be allowed on social networking sites?
So what age should our kids be allowed on social networking sites? This past week, and indeed for many years for those of us working
September 7, 2014 6 Comments
Building Resilience
Rituals to make our kids more Resilient
To safely interact online it is becoming increasingly evident that our kids are going to require more resilience than ever before. Whilst we like focus
August 19, 2014 13 Comments
Cyberbullying
Is Our Natural Parenting Making Our Kids Bully?
Could the natural reaction of parents to their child’s behaviour be making them the bully? Or at the very least preventing them from developing empathy,
August 1, 2014 1 Comment
Cyberbullying
Why laws won’t stop cyberbullying
Recently there have been more rumblings about the need to have updated laws and laws that are more readily used when it comes
June 8, 2014 9 Comments
Cyberbullying
Interview with Rosie Thomas from Project Rockit: Empowering our kids to lead the change
I am so thrilled to have the amazing Rosie Thomas, co founder and director of Project Rockit interviewed here on The Modern Parent. Rosie, along with
May 26, 2014 2 Comments
Contracts / Tips
A letter from Santa for your new technology, games and devices
If your kids are getting some new technology this year, a game, iPod, ipod touch, phone , ipad or tablet, then here is a letter
December 19, 2013 6 Comments
Building Resilience
Should we teach our kids to be tough or kind?
Should we be teaching our kids to be kind or to be tough? Do we need to focus on stopping our kids being nasty, or
September 20, 2013 14 Comments
Cyberbullying
Digital Self-harm: what parents need to know
Is Digital self-harm the new buzz affliction plaguing our youth? Is it a genuine cry for attention from our angst ridden teens? Or is it
August 26, 2013 20 Comments
Cyberbullying
Chain mail: harmless fun or harassment?
To some they are seen as a bit of harmless fun. A spreading of quaint little dittys, quotes and stories. To some they are an
June 20, 2013 13 Comments
Teaching kids empathy in order to tackle the bully
There was a documentary we sat down to watch with the 10 and 12 year old last week about a football team from America in
April 2, 2013 15 Comments
Parenting with Technology: Top posts of 2012
This post is dedicated to the most popular cybersafety and parenting with technology posts of 2012. This is an area of parenting that is increasingly
January 15, 2013 16 Comments
It’s not just about switching off: helping kids deal with Cyber Bullies
When we hear reports in the media of cyber bullies and trolls harassing, stalking and abusing others, the immediate reaction for many has been “Why
November 5, 2012 17 Comments
