Digital for Good
Raising Kids to Thrive in an Online World
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- USD 14.99
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- USD 14.99
Descripción editorial
Kids deserve a better digital future. Help them create it.
When it comes to raising children in a digital world, every parent feels underprepared and overwhelmed. We worry that our children will become addicted to online games, be victims of cyberbullying, or get lost down the rabbit hole of social media. We warn them about all the things they shouldn't do online, but we don't do nearly enough to teach them the skills of digital well-being.
It's time to start a new conversation. In Digital for Good, EdTech expert Richard Culatta argues that technology can be a powerful tool for learning, solving humanity's toughest problems, and bringing us closer together. He offers a refreshingly positive framework for preparing kids to be successful in a digital world—one that encourages them to use technology proactively and productively—by outlining five qualities every young person should develop in order to become a thriving, contributing digital citizen:
Be balanced: understand when and how much tech use is healthyStay informed: discern between true and false informationBe inclusive: treat others with respect and kindness onlineBe engaged: use tech to strengthen family relationships and community connectionsStay alert: exercise caution and create safe digital spaces for others
This practical guide will help parents and children discover the path to becoming effective digital citizens, all while making our online world a better place.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Culatta (Stuttering Therapy), former head of the Department of Education's Office of Educational Technology, examines the promises and perils of the digital world in this stellar survey. It's time to move beyond strict limits on screen time, he writes, and instead details how children at any age can learn to become responsible digital citizens. To that end, he offers "five practical digital citizenship skills that all kids need to learn: being balanced, informed, inclusive, engaged, and alert." Culatta suggests parents ensure their children use technology to do more than simply "watch content," balance recreational time with time spent building skills or maintaining personal connections, and help children to intelligently assess the vast amount of information on the web. Parents are also encouraged to make a list of "do's," not "don'ts," for online time (such as being kind and honest), be more specific than "you're addicted to your phone" if screen time becomes a problem, and facilitate nonpunishment technology breaks. His advice is easy to implement and leavened with humor: "We also found that without some structure, our well-intentioned Sunday family time quickly turns into fight-with-your-brothers-all-afternoon time (shoot me now)." The result is a trenchant and hopeful guide for parents anxious about the impact of technology on their children's development.
