Parenting the Digital
Generation
FORMING OUR KIDS
TO SAFELY USE THE
INTERNET
Parenting the Digital Generation
 Parenting – System for seeing and responding to
the Digital World
 Five parts: Awareness, Protection, Influence,
Freedom and Engagement
 Four challenges: pornography, bullying, gaming,
self-harm
 Goal: form and lead our kids
Protection
 Human level (real world)
 Spiritual level (spiritual world)

“war zone”
 Technology level (digital world)
Protection
 Now moment – the calls & challenges of our time are ours!
 Sr. Andrea – an “ordinary nun” of the Ursulines of the
Agonizing Heart of Jesus in Warsaw during the German
occupation in WWII

She didn’t hide & didn’t run. She faced the challenge

She was named Yad Vashem – Righteous Among the Nations
 What about us?
Protection in the Digital World
 Possession
 Passwords
 Parental Controls
 Provider (of Internet Service)
Possession
 What does this look like?
 Take the smart phone or connected devices into your
possession at agreed upon times

At night, when not in use, on certain days (Sunday), at specific times
(when visitors are here)
 How do we implement it?

This can apply to social events at your home create the expectation
 Use a contract
Possession
 The dynamic you should expect to encounter
 Resistance –as rebellion (Don’t give in! Establish
boundaries to contain your kids – start there)

They are Gen Z – Digital Natives – connected devices are
an “extension” of their very selves

They are uncomfortable, feel lost
 Resistance – as healthy tension in their experience of
freedom (from containment to choice)
Passwords
 Why?

First and easiest technological layer of protection
 Where?

Router, Computer (desktop, laptop), Tablet, Smart Phone, Smart TV, Game
Console
 What?

Memorable but not Guessable, Change them (capital letters, numbers)
Parental Controls
 What parental control software isn’t
 What parental control software is and does
 Net Nanny and Norton Family
 What devices?
 Computer, Tablet, Smart Phone, Smart TV, Game
Consoles
 Smart Phone:
 Based on Country, Rating systems, Ages, etc.
Service Provider Layer
 Overarching Layer – means of accessing the
internet itself
 Restrict use of apps, of bandwidth, time of access
Contracts: Part 2
 Contracts are a powerful tool for Control
 Tool
enables conversation
 It communicates your VISION and VALUES
regarding the digital world
Contracts: Respectful
 Respectful:
1. I will put my smart phone away at public gatherings, at the
dinner table and during family meetings/events/prayer.
2. I will not make hurtful statements.
3. I will tell you if I receive any communication that is hurtful,
disturbing or immoral.
4. I will not "like" anything that is inappropriate, rude or vulgar.
5. I will not post or send any rude, immodest or inappropriate
messages, images or pictures
Contracts: Respectful
 Respectful:
6. I will not use this smart phone to lie, deceive or fool you or
anyone else.
7. I will not give out my personal information (e.g. my phone
number, home address or physical location)
8. I will keep my profile "private" and my location "off".
9. I will give you access to my social media accounts at any time.
10. I will not view content that you disapprove of.
Contracts: Responsible
Responsible:
1. I acknowledge that you are the owner of this smart
phone and you are entrusting it to me.
2. I will put my smart phone in the charger in your
bedroom at ______ p.m. on school nights and at ____ on
weekends.
3. I will not "enable" or "disable" any settings without your
permission.
4. I will not add apps or download songs without your
permission.
Contracts: Responsible
Responsible:
5. If I break, damage or ruin the smart phone, I will pay for
it to be repaired or replaced.
6. I will pay $___ per month for the use of the smart
phone.
7. I will pay for any overage costs (for data or minutes) for
each month.
8. I take responsibility for any activity that happens on my
smart phone.
Contract: Consequences
 Connect this Contract to Consequences!
1.
Establish Rewards for responsible behavior (living out this
agreement)
2.
Establish Punishments for the failure to live up to this
agreement
3.
Remember: Know your child! Know that your child will fail in
some way and maybe often.
4.
This Contract should change over time.
Parenting the Digital Generation Course
1. Five Sessions





Awareness
Protection
Influence
Freedom (Cyberbullying)
Engagement (Gaming)
Parenting the Digital Generation Course
2. Details
 Dates: Dec. 1, 9, 15 (9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT)
 45 min. teaching, 15+ min. Q&A (recording
available)
 Private Facebook Group:
 Questions and comments - before and between
Sessions
 Bring your pressing situations: experts will help
(60 days)
Parenting the Digital Generation Course
3. Bonus Session: Beautiful from the Inside Out

Accompanying your daughter(s) on Instagram

Kari and Mary Grace with Alli

Date: Tuesday, Dec. 22, 6 p.m. (recording
available)
Questions and Comments
 What did you find most striking?
 What did you find most helpful?
 What questions do you have?