We sat down with David Kaufmann a technology teacher at Medina City Schools who has been a teacher for over 18 years and a coach for 22 years. In this podcast episode, discover tactical tips for monitoring your child’s social media activity, setting internet safety rules, and teaching them how to develop positive screen time habits.

Listen to this episode on our podcast:

Key Takeaways on How to Set Social Media and Internet Safety Rules

• When parents know what their kids are doing, it gives the kids a sense of being. Children are more likely to stay within their boundaries when they know they're being monitored
• An 11-year-old doesn't need Snapchat or anonymous apps, so consider starting with apps that can have a positive impact on their digital footprint
• Teach your children not to befriend anyone on social media if they haven’t spoken to them face to face

How can parents manage screen time once their child has a mobile device?

• Keep mobile devices out of your children’s bedrooms
• Keeping devices out of their bedrooms is ideal for preventing anything negative or dangerous that could happen
• When parents know what their kids are doing, it gives the kids a sense of being. Children are more likely to stay within their boundaries when they know they're being monitored

What can parents do to encourage healthy screen time habits?

• Have the devices turned in at a particular time everyday
• Collecting their devices every night ensures that your children aren’t staying up on their phones all night
• Consider collecting their phones a few hours before bed so that you can have more family interactions
• When your child isn’t on their phone all night it can have a domino effect and encourage their friends to do the same

How can parents monitor their children online without feeling like they’re spying?

• Create a separate sealed envelope for each of your children
• Ensure that the envelope has all their passwords for all their social media accounts
• Following this process can protect your children if their accounts are compromised or something unusual happens

How can parents encourage family interaction around the dinner table?

• Collect devices before dinner (including the adults’ phones)
• Talk about your day
• Consider talking about your day at school, struggles at work, or if you’ve had a conflict with a friend

What can parents do to help their children be more productive during homework time?

• Phones and devices should be away from their homework area
• Kids should not have access to their phone while they do their homework
• Phones provide a distraction for kids because if they receive a notification, they will want to stop doing their homework and check their phone

How can parents ensure that their younger students are safe on social media?

• Make sure all of their social media accounts are private
• An 11-year-old doesn't need Snapchat or anonymous apps, so consider starting with apps that can have a positive impact on their digital footprint
• If your younger student is persistent about being on a risky app, have same ownership of the account so that you can see everything that is being posted or talked about in private messages

What should parents do if their child doesn’t have a mobile device yet?

• Create a MUST DO list before giving your children access to a device
• The list should consist of activities that your children have to do before getting a device

How can parents protect their kids from stranger danger on social media?

• Limit the number of people your children can be friends with on social media
• Remind your children that the more friends they have does not mean they are more famous
• Teach your children not to befriend anyone on social media if they haven’t spoken to them face to face

What parents can do to be the best parent in a digital world?

• Consistently talk with your kids about social media
• Set a positive example for your children to help them build a solid foundation for their screen time habits
• Be on the apps that your children use and know how to use them. Educate yourself on the hidden features of the app, like private messaging
• Find balance when monitoring your children online and give them digital space so that they don’t feel like they’re being “stalked”

How can parents set ground rules around social media?

• Create a set of social media rules
• What is their phone curfew
• What happens if they misuse an app
• Outline the consequences of breaking the rules
• Ensure that your children understand the consequences before giving them access to their device

How can parents be a positive digital role model?

• Your children are watching you – even if you don't think they are – they're watching you. Know when to unplug and put away your phone
• Explore, share, and celebrate with your kids online
• Encourage your children to show you how to do something on an app
• Take some time to explore social media together, doing this exercise can build trust
• Teach your children to understand that social media is mostly used as a highlight reel; just because someone’s life looks perfect on social media doesn’t mean they don’t have low moments