I participated in an Influencer Activation Program on behalf of Influence Central for BGCA. I received a promotional item to thank me for participating.
My daughter made it through the first year of middle school and I’ve been wordering if it’s time to consider if Amelia is mature enough for a simple smart phone as she enters grade 7.
That idea truly has cybersafety on my mind! While my girls are both tech savvy, they have not been on social media but the time is coming very soon, I’m sure. In fact, on my last field trip with my former 3rd grader, she was the only one on the bus without a tablet or phone! That’s surprising to someone who was long out of college before cell phones were a thing.
And that leaves me with a host of questions on how to keep her safe! For example:
- What should I know for first time phone owners who are tweens?
- What is the most important thing to teach a 4th grader about to keep her safe when all her friends have tablets & phones?
Fortunately, the Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) is running their 3rd annual Cyber Safe Futures campaign, where you can find all the answers to any question you have like this from their cyber-savvy teen ambassadors! June is Internet Safety Awareness month, and BGCA and Sprint have teamed up to invite parents to submit their questions about keeping their kids safe online to these teens. Kids really do know better, right? I mean, maybe Amelia and Zoe’s teachers may know something about how she can stay safe around other kids’ tech, but these teen ambassadors will have first hand, up close experience on what it’s like to be a kid in today’s tech-heavy classrooms.
So who are the BGCA Cyber Safety Ambassadors? They include Boys and Girls Club teenagers who hail from all around the world. Many responses even feature short videos that answer questions so you can help your child navigate the world of cyberbullying, social networking, online privacy and mobile smarts safely. Online safety for kids is very important to BGCA and Sprint, which is why they have recruited to help your children get a cyber safe future! Our kids deserve it. Visit the BGCA Cyber Safety Ambassadors to learn more.
Chris Carter says
Have you heard about Galit’s “KIndness Wins” book? Oh Gina- you simply MUST check it out! I wrote a bit about it on my blog, and it is rolling through the internet waves fast and furious. You will LOVE it. It’s all about teaching kids about social media and how to navigate it with wisdom, manners, respect.
Also- my Cassidy is going into 7th grade too… she just got a phone this winter- for communication purposes. (I dropped her off at swim team practice and she quickly realized the door was locked and no practice… thereby no way to call me or contact anyone. It was a long cold wait.) <— thatdidit.
Cass will not be on social media for a long time… as long as I have control over it/her!! BUT- she loves taking pics and texting with her friends. And I get to have peace of mind, when I drop her off ANYWHERE- knowing she can now get a hold of me, and I with her. 🙂
Gina says
Thank you Chris for sharing the story and that book! Poor kid 🙁 Amelia is watched all the time but I don’t want her to feel left out. She’s very much a 12yo! Social media is probably a way off too.
Chris Carter says
OKay- I’m back to give you the link to amazon! That’s how much I love this book, and know you will too!!! 🙂
Btw- if you haven’t read Galit, you must. She is a gift! (And a total sweetheart to boot)
http://www.amazon.com/Kindness-Wins-Galit-Breen-ebook/dp/B00TQ4NA6M/ref=la_B00N3JZSIE_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1424279502&sr=1-6