Kids across Canada are excitedly counting down the days until March Break.
They are SO ready for a whole week off school, but are YOU prepared?!
There’s no doubt that our kids are spending more and more time on their phones & tablets these days. Whether they are outside or online, we, as parents/guardians, just want to be sure that they’re always being careful, and making good choices. Read on to find ways to help keep your kids safe online this March Break.
Staying Safe Online:
Here’s a new “Put a finger down” Challenge for you 🖐️
Put a finger down if your 9 year old daughter has become more independent lately and has started walking down the street to her friends house on her own because she doesn’t want her Mom to drive her anymore, and then starts asking to walk to school with friends for the same reason, and with this new-found freedom has started asking to go to the local playground without parental supervision and even though you know there will be other kids there it just seems weird that YOU won’t be there, so for her 10th birthday you get her a cell phone so that she always has a way of contacting you and letting you know where she is, but then she starts asking about Snapchat and TikTok because “all her other friends have it!”, and you don’t let her download those apps but she keeps asking about them and wants to know WHY she can’t use them, and now you’re wondering if you made the right decision with the cell phone thing, and you feel like you both maybe need to have a good chat about online safety….
We think all children (and even some adults) could benefit from Usborne’s Social Media Survival Guide. 💪📲
Whether you use social media or not, it can be difficult to ignore this global online world. Sometimes you, or people you know, might spend more time on social media than doing anything else!
This book will answer questions about all different aspects of social media, the good and the bad, as well as how to get a bit of time and space away from it when you need to. It may also be able to help your children with any topics that they’re not comfortable searching for online, or asking friends or family about.
Starter Safety Tips for Kids:
RESPECT AGE LIMITS:
Social media apps are free to download, but you must be OVER 13 to be able to create a social media account. If you are under 18 you will likely need your parent’s permission to complete the account creation. Please always talk to you parents/guardians about the apps you’d like to use.
LOG IN EACH TIME:
Most apps allow you to stay signed in, so it remembers your password. This is handy, but not as safe as logging in each time you open the app. You don’t want someone sneaking onto your phone and posting something on your socials, pretending to be you.
DON’T ADD PERSONAL INFO TO YOUR PROFILE:
Some apps have a form with lots of questions you could fill in to make your profile more detailed, such as your age, gender, or where you live. DON’T put any of that personal information on your profile. Your friends already know it, and it’s none of a stranger’s business.
REVIEW PRIVACY SETTINGS:
Whichever app you use, your account will be public by default (automatically). This means that your profile and posts can be seen by ANYONE, ANYWHERE. Look through the app’s privacy settings with an adult and choose the best one for you. When in doubt, choose the highest possible privacy settings. They are all designed to protect you from unwanted contact by strangers, and puts you in control when you’re using social media.
DON’T GIVE YOURSELF AWAY:
Even if you have the highest privacy settings, there are some things you should never post, such as your phone number, home address, bank account details, where you hide your spare key to your house.
BE CHOOSY WITH YOUR ONLINE FRIENDS:
Always stop & think before accepting any connection requests online. Adding someone as a friend or contact means they can comment on all your photos and see what you’re up to. Be as choosy about who you are friends with online as you are in person. Don’t worry about seeming rude by turning down a friend request from someone you haven’t met in person.
DON’T USE LOCATION TAGGING:
Double check the app’s location settings with an adult. Some apps have map features that are designed for people to tag their location to see where the nearest coffee shop is, or who else is nearby to meet up. It sounds fun, and it’s nice to have online ‘followers’, but you don’t want to be actually followed anywhere. So it’s a good idea NOT to use these features.
And that’s just part of Chapter 2! It’s so important to keep our kids (and all kids) safe when they’re using social media.
Take some time this March Break to talk with your kids about online safety, and rest a little easier knowing that you’re creating an open and honest conversation with your family about their social media use.
PARENTS/GUARDIANS/ADULTS:
If you’re looking for a little more information on online safety and parental controls, please watch this video called “Parental Controls and How to Protect Your Kids Online”.
Life is more than likes, comments, and follows…
and no one knows that more than Eva Andersen.
Eva has been famous since before she was born. The whole world knows about her first tantrum, her first zit, and now even her first period! All because her parents overshare her entire life on their super successful internet channel. AND. SHE. HAS. HAD. ENOUGH.
Enough of stupid outfits and viral posts, constant teasing at school and no privacy ever. She is taking back control of her life – even if it means sabotaging her own parents.
GIRL (in real life) is a funny and heartfelt novel about growing up in the spotlight and realizing that life is about more than life, comments, and follows.
If your preteen/teen/avid reader-and-social-media-user is looking for a good book this March Break, look no further than Girl (in real life) by award-winning author Tamsin Winter!
If they love this book as much as we do, then check out Tamsin’s other Usborne novels, Being Miss Nobody, and Jemima Small Versus the Universe. Each book as heart-warming, confidence-boosting, and as charming as the last!
Find all of Tamsin Winter’s novels and our Social Media Survival Guide on your Usborne Consultant’s website.
Don’t have a Consultant? No problem!
Click here to use our Consultant Finder, and we’ll get you connected with someone as soon as possible.
Keep an eye on our blog as we continue our March Break Countdown tomorrow with…ARTS & CRAFTS!