When Cierra Karson found her preschool daughter saying her daily affirmations in the mirror, it made her cry happy tears, because she knew that one day, this little girl would have the confidence she needs to navigate the challenges she will face in the social media world. Read along as Cierra shares why and how this young family makes this practice a part of their everyday routine.

Filmmakers Rob and Zareen Cope are a couple of New Zealander parents who spent a year talking to leading experts around the globe about the hazards our kids face in the online world, and what could be done about them. They share this info in their documentary, “Our Kids Online.” Listen in as we talk about how they’ve handled everything from sleepovers and playdates… to the porn talk.

For Actor/Artist/Author Brady Smith, raising kids in Hollywood is about more than just the big screen; it’s about finding balance with your little screen, so you don’t miss out on the biggest screen of all—life. Join us as Brady shares thoughts about the relationship between screens, creativity, and making family memories your kids will always cherish.

Scott Bacon is the principal of Blue Valley High School. He joins the podcast this week to discuss the challenges of education in a digital age, the process he went through to establish phone-free classrooms, and the ways that COVID has opened up different opportunities and different thinking for students, parents, and teachers.

With near-constant exposure to news and social media amidst this injustice, more kids are watching graphic videos of tragic violence and reading hateful comments on social media. Dr. Allison Briscoe-Smith, Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion of the Wright Institute, recently shared thoughts on how parents can help kids process and respond to what they are seeing.

START recently partnered with the Wall Street Journal to share thoughts about a hot app for kids: Facebook’s Messenger Kids, an introductory social media app designed for kids age 6-12. If you decide to take the plunge, it’s likely your child’s first foray into social media and it’s important to equip them for it and to be attentive to potential unexpected side effects.

Looking for a fun activity to do to help your family unplug at dinner? Or a tool to help your kids have a successful Zoom play date? Print out and complete this “quarantine mad lib” with your family. We hope it leads to conversations and connections to help your family weather this storm.

During this time when kids are likely on screens longer and with less supervision, they are more likely to accidentally stumble onto unsavory content.  If you haven’t yet installed filters and controls on your child’s devices, now is a great time. Here are a few ideas to help your family navigate the internet with a safety net.

The days will be long and emotionally challenging, but if you can, we encourage you to look for some unexpected positives. In quarantines throughout history, Shakespeare wrote King Lear and Isaac Newton developed calculus and discovered gravity. We encourage you to make this season “time well spent” by guiding your kids towards meaningful activities—both online and offline. 

As schools are out and families are stuck in, it’s creating a lot of change in routine and isolation. One idea for maintaining relational connection and consistency for our kids? Consider doing a facetime playdate! For many working professionals, a “virtual coffee” is a well-established way to connect with colleagues in other offices – to maintain connection though you can’t be together. Let’s try these for our kids!