#LookUp!

#LookUp!

Julia @ Kids Matter

            My Facebook app just alerted me to the fact that several of my “friends” have enjoyed and liked my quick wit and Twitter constantly bleeps at me, to let me know that someone I have never met is now “following” me. I am sooo popular and loved by social media!

            WHAT AM I DOING??? What are any of us doing? Have we lost touch of who we are? Why is it that kids today can barely speak, let alone write the English language? Why do I see parents simply hand over their $700 phone to their seven year old for entertainment instead of a book? I have asked parents what their kids are looking at or playing on their phone; I always get the same responses, “It keeps him quiet,” and “… because she sees me on it and wants what I have”. That last statement really hits the bulls eye, “… because she sees me on it and wants what I have”. Recently, I ate at Red Robin and everywhere families sat in similar situations; kids jumping and screaming in the booth seats, higgledy piggledy, while their parents looked down at their phones, simply ignoring them.

The table at meal time should be a time for family conversation and recapping each other’s days. Studies have shown that children and adolescence that have at least four meals per week at the table with their family are more emotionally and socially sound than those families who don’t eat together. Also, they have a lower risk of smoking and drinking, as well as higher grades in school. Research states that the reason for these results is due to families eating meals together, at the table, without electronics as a distraction. Your family enjoying a meal and conversation together provides structure, boundaries, and a sense of belonging for your child. All these things are needed for the developmental health of your children.

            It may seem hard enough just to get your teens to the table, let alone to the table without their phones, but if you set that rule early and stick to it for yourselves and them, you will have far more socially adjusted and happy children.

            I recently saw a Youtube video. It was a young man who wrote and performed a spoken word film about unplugging ourselves from our phones. The central message is about getting back to communicating with one another, and more importantly with our kids. Put down your phones, show interest in your kid’s lives, and eat dinner at the table. Show them and teach them that your family unit is, and always will be, more important than whatever is trending.  

Facebook, the Mecca of Social Networking

Close your eyes; imagine life 10 years ago. Did you know anyone in Egypt? Australia? Japan? Most of what Americans knew about those countries was learned in our history classes. We had no real connection with anyone other than people in our own little part of the world. We didn't know, on a daily basis, what was happening all over the world. Time Zones never really affected us unless we had travel plans. Socializing, as we know it, has seen a huge growth in merely 10 years.

Facebook came to life in 2004 and quickly drew us in much the way a new toy does. Many of us start our day by logging into Facebook from our laptop or cell phone. We have this overwhelming desire to see what happened overnight, who has a birthday, and what the weather will be for the day. We log in, scroll through all the post we just aren't interested in… come on, you know you have them… and find the information we seek.

We scan through the many pictures of children, special events, and pets. We “like” the photos and comment on the ones that really catch our eyes. We feel a sudden urge to post the most simple thoughts on our mind from an emoticon expressing our emotions to an “ugh it’s Monday”. We know when, where, and how everyone’s vacation was and always wish that were us. We have the friends that seem to have duo personalities posting religious messages in one post then 30 minutes later posting some inappropriate comment that sounds like it came from an entirely different person. We know what restaurants are good and the many new recipes that everyone wants to try but never has the time.

With social networking we become so enthralled or appalled by it that we sometimes forget that in posting on Facebook, just as with any other form of communication, we must show restraint and use proper etiquette. Be mindful of what and how often you post. There are actually sites you can visit on the internet such as Essential Facebook Etiquette: 10 Do’s and Dont’s (by Michael Poh) and Top 10 Things Not to POST on FACEBOOK! (by Jo Blitz Escotal) that can help you learn how to be a good Facebook friend. 

Keep in mind that not every thought has to be shared, not every picture is cute, the obvious doesn't always need stating, and for security reasons there are personal things you just shouldn't share on the internet. Take the initiative and learn how to use your security settings on Facebook. Create groups you like to share with others who like similar posts. Hide those posts you do not want to see on a daily basis. Make your Facebook a fun and enjoyable use of your time.

Belinda @ Kids Matter

Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Oh MY!

Did you know that Kids Matter uses more than just this blog to get our news out to families?

Like us on Facebook - Kids Matter. We have a second page on Facebook that is our Child Care Council Providers page. On the Kids Matter page, we post a large variety of articles and ideas for families and teachers. On the CCC Providers page, we post lots of articles geared towards teachers and we also post about the trainings that we offer in our office.

We are also on Twitter. We publish a daily paper on Twitter using the hash tag #preschool, in addition to links we find of interest to parents and teachers.

We love our page on Pinterest. It is lots of fun to be able to go to the page, look up any subject and find a large amount of activities to go along with it.

Be sure to check us out in all of these places! Become a fan and show the world that you think Kids Matter!