Supporting Children's Social and Emotional Well-Being in the Digital Age
Digital Wellness - Bits & Bytes
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Having Meaningful Conversations About Our Digital Lives With Our Children
Caring for our own and our children's social and emotional well-being is a key aspect of being a responsible Digital Citizen. Starting discussions at home about Relationship Skills and Social Awareness in our digital lives is an excellent way to nurture these important qualities.
Common Sense Media suggests the following discussion question starters:
K-2
Relationship Skills
Talk About How Your Child Can Be Kind And Respectful Online
1. What are some ways that you can be kind and respectful online?
2. Why is it important to be kind online?
3. Is it any different than how we should treat people when we are not online?
K-2
Social Awareness
Talk About How Your Child Can Respond to Online Meanness
When someone is being mean online use: STOP: Step away, Tell a trusted adult, OK sites only and Pause & Think
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1. Why do you think you should stop using your device and step away if someone is being mean?
2. If someone makes you feel angry, sad, or scared online, which grown-ups can you tell and ask for help?
3-5
Relationship Skills
Talk About How Your Child Can Keep Online Interactions Fun and Friendly
1. What kinds of things can happen when playing video games online?
2. How do you (or your friends) interact with others online? Does it look differently if its a group text vs. an online game or social media, etc?
3. What are some ways you can keep online interactions fun and friendly?
Listen for:
- Be kind to people you interact with
-Report and/or block someone who is being mean or disruptive
-Avoid strangers online if they make you feel uncomfortable
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3-5
Social Awareness
Talk About How Your Child Can Respond When They See Cyberbullying
When someone is being mean online use: STOP: Step away, Tell a trusted adult, OK sites only and Pause & Think
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1. Why do you think it's important to show empathy towards others and imagine what they might be feeling?
2. Who are the trusted adults you can talk to if you see something online that makes you uncomfortable? (Give kids a few options besides you).
6-8
Relationship Skills
Talk About How Your Child Can Resist the Pressure to Always Be Connected
1. How does social media make you feel?
2. How has social media affected your friendships?
3. What are some things you can do to help you have a positive experience when using social media and to resist the pressure to always be connected?
Listen for:
-Change my notifications so I'm not tempted or pressured to always be on
-Consider sharing and posting to a small group of friends instead
-Be clear with friends about when I might need more space or don't have time to talk
-Work with friends to decide on the best way to connect with each other
6-8
Social Awareness
Talk About How Your Child Can Understand and Respond to Digital Drama
1. Do you see or hear a lot of digital drama in your social media use?
2. Why do you think digital drama conflicts happen?
Listen for:
-People feel more free to say things online they wouldn't say face-to-face
-It's easy to misinterpret what someone says online when you can't see facial reactions or hear tone of voice
-People can be anonymous online, making it easier for them to say mean things
-People can feel more pressure to respond where others can see it
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3. What are some ways you can de-escalate the drama when you see it?
Listen for:
-Respond with a positive comment or action
-Ignore the post
-Talk (offline) with the person involved to try and deescalate the situation
9-12
Relationship Skills
Talk About How Your Teen Can Build Healthy Relationships Online and Offline
1. How do you think digital devices and social media affect your friendships?
2. Do you feel pressure to respond right away when someone texts or DMs you?
3. What are some strategies for making sure your online communication is healthy for everyone?
Listen for:
-Communicate in the appropriate way for the situation (text, phone call, face-to-face, etc)
-Resist the pressure to be constantly connected
-Ask for help when you need it
9-12
Social Awareness
Talk About How Your Teen Can Respond to Online Hate Speech
Hate speech is an attack using any form of communication that targets a person or group on the basis of who they are. The attack might focus on race, gender, religion, ability, sexual orientation, or other aspects of identity.
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1. Have you ever come across hate speech? How did you feel when you saw or heard it?
2. Why do you think people post hate speech online?
3. What are some things you can do to combat hate speech when you see it?
Encourage them to think about:
-How they react if the hate speech is directed at them or their community.
-Ways they can be an ally or upstander when they see hate speech against others
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