Digital Footprint Archives - The Modern Parent

Critical Thinking

Play It Fair Online: Safer Internet Day 2022

This Tuesday February the 8th is Safer Internet Day. An important day on the global calendar and a great reminder of the importance of staying

February 7, 2022 No Comments

Critical Thinking

What girls really need to thrive online

What do we really need for young girls to thrive online? When talking about the online behaviours, interactions, connections, consumption and everyday immersion into a

September 14, 2021 No Comments

Critical Thinking

Safer Internet Day 2021: Start the chat

Safer Internet Day for 2021 is help globally on February 9th. This year, the focus of Safer Internet Day is all about the need to

February 4, 2021 No Comments

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

Critical Thinking

Why kids take risks online: and how you can help

Whenever our kids share things, engage with others or hang out in online spaces, they are opening themselves up to risk and the real chance

February 24, 2020 No Comments

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

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 1 Comment

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

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

Critical Thinking

Facing the perils of privacy in a digital world

When we think about privacy today, we can probably best sum it up as complicated and constantly changing. The way we interpret privacy. The way

May 13, 2019 No Comments

Critical Thinking

Friend or Follower? Helping kids know the difference

We know young people are spending increasing amounts of time socialising online. This can be both with people they know in real life, as well

October 16, 2018 No 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

Digital Footprint

How do I know if my child is ready for social media?

So your child is badgering you for an Instagram account? Eager to get snapping on Snapchat or become a music video pop star on Musical.ly?

September 14, 2016 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

Critical Thinking

Be Safe. Be Smart. Behave: being better online

Privacy settings and passwords. Predators, trolls and cyberbulling. Scams and viruses. What goes online stays online. These are just some of the things we have

June 9, 2016 No 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

Behaviour

Observing Human behaviour online: what it means for our kids

The arrival of the internet some 20 something years ago, presented us with untold changes to the way we live our lives. Much of those

January 14, 2016 No Comments

Behaviour

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

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

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

Apps & Reviews

Parenting in a Digital World: Stop fighting, start connecting: The E-book!

I want to help my child make good decisions online but I’m not sure how? When I ask my child to stop playing a game

April 30, 2015 4 Comments

Critical Thinking

5 Things to avoid doing online

Things to avoid doing online? Surely we have a good grip on this stuff by now. Haven’t we all heard the mantras. ‘What goes online

April 29, 2015 7 Comments

BYOD

Teaching kids to be private in a public world: Is it possible?

“A child born today will grow up with no perception of privacy at all……they’ll never know what its like to have a private moment to

October 29, 2014 1 Comment

Digital Footprint

Cyber Safety and Parenting: Are we getting it right?

Do you think parents have a good understanding of what their kids are doing online? Is ‘cyber safety’ something parents are really thinking about? Are

October 9, 2014 5 Comments

Behaviour

Using teachable moments to keep kids safe online

Using teachable moments is one of the most effective strategies I have used to help keep kids safe and responsible online and help get them

September 21, 2014 7 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

Digital Footprint

Self esteem and the online world: More than likes and followers

Are likes, followers, shares and comments the new currency for self esteem? Must every child’s friendship be legitimised with a selfie proclaiming BFF status? Are

April 28, 2014 14 Comments

Digital Footprint

Confide, Whisper and Yik Yak: should we fear online anonymity?

The online anonymous user has in recent times been viewed with suspicion, neglect and even fear. Their animated avatars providing a false sense of bravado

March 31, 2014 15 Comments