Don't Press Send: A Mindful Education to Social Media; An Education in Cyber Civics

Don't Press Send: An Education In Cyber Civics, A Mindful Approach to Social Media is a clear and kind approach to aid in preventing the misuse of social media. Katie's extensive fieldwork through public speaking engagements at schools and organizations throughout the Tri-State Area has educated her to what is needed to help this national epidemic. Today's children live in a world that is very different than that of their parents and teachers. They spend much of their time glued to screens, whether they are chatting with each other, posting pictures of their latest outfit, or researching their next term paper. As parents, most of us did not adopt this technology until adulthood and that has made many of us hesitant, even afraid, to talk to our children about it. As a result, our children are left without guidance. We must find ways to give them the tools they need to find their way in this new world. Don't Press Send provides those tools. Fortunately for us, we do not need to be technological experts, or keep up with the latest social media trends to teach our children how to behave. Online or off, the rules should be the same. We need to help our children push past the emotional barrier that the screen creates and realize that on the other side of that screen is a living, breathing, feeling human being; a human being who must be treated with kindness. We need to help our children create and reinforce their own boundaries, respect the needs of others, and make thoughtful, positive decisions. We must also lead by example, guiding our children to think mindfully about their choices, both on social media and in life. We can teach them to stop, to take a deep breath, and to pause before they post, which is just one of many skills you will learn in this book. This book provides the skills parents need when they hand their child their first cell phone at 13, 12, or even 10-years-old. They need to say more than "don't break it" or don't lose it" and Don't Press Send teaches parents what to say and how to say it. Although we did not do this on purpose, many of us failed to fully consider the consequences of giving our children devices with full internet accessibility. As they say-when you know better, you do better. Providing our children with guidelines and strategies and fostering a kind, healthy interaction while using technology is extremely important. Contained in this book are many of these useful strategies. Throughout this book you will hear firsthand how our children are growing up with social media as a central part of their lives. We need to look at two important factors: How we as parents can better equip them to use technology. How we can find a healthy balance and teach them to use mindfulness as they pause before they post. These factors will help to create a kind cyber community by strengthening their empathetic skills. The author has presented the Don't Press Send Campaign guidelines and strategies to numerous schools and thousands of students. Katie has begun to realize that it is simply another conversation we need to begin to facilitate in our homes and schools. There is nothing in this book or at my presentations that requires a teaching degree. As parents, we are our children's first teachers. As educators, we are aware that creating clear rules and guidelines helps to foster a secure, stable environment in which children can better learn both educationally and emotionally. Children feel safe, secure, and less anxious when they know what the rules are. It is the objective of Don't Press Send: An Education In Cyber Civics, A Mindful Approach to Social Media, to educate and empower our children to use technology responsibly and with good intent. Reinforcing the emotional skills of empathy, discipline, and mindfulness will result in "Kind and Careful" online communication and will in turn create a Kind and Safer cyber community for all.