We all want our kids to have a healthy relationship with technology. But sometimes our most well-intentioned efforts, like limiting screen time, don’t work. So what are the most effective ways to put our kids on the right digital path? Richard Culatta has plenty of ideas. Richard is the CEO of the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), a nonprofit that serves education leaders in more than 100 countries across the globe, and was appointed by President Obama as the Director of the Office of Educational Technology for the US Department of Education. “Technology is like a hammer,” he says. “You can use it to build great things or to smash things apart.” Richard joins us to share ideas from his new book, Digital for Good: Raising Kids to Thrive in an Online World, on how to encourage kids to unleash their creativity, learn new skills, and use tech for good. He shares actionable steps parents and children can take to create healthy digital cultures in our families, practice good digital citizenship, and make our online – and physical – world a better place.

Listen to this episode to learn:
-The problem with the concept of “screen time” and why we need to realize that not all screen time is created equal
-Common mistakes parents make when teaching kids responsible tech use, and steps you can take to correct them (Pro tip: Relax...don’t beat yourself up over it!)
-The “digital dysfunctions” threatening kids and society, and how we can prepare kids now to combat them
-Why you should involve your kids in drafting a family “device use agreement” 
-Why giving kids a list of online don’ts only reinforces negative behaviors more 
-Practical strategies to help kids stay alert and ensure that sure their privacy, identities, and personal data are being protected (Ask, “How is this app or website being paid for?”)
-Why it’s imperative that we take responsible digital citizenship seriously, and the risks we face if we don’t

For more information, visit innovativelearning.com.

Teaching kids to use technology for good

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