What is the appropriate age to give your child a phone? Are there steps you should take before this milestone? What rules should be in place for your child’s first phone? Parents today face these tough questions and more. This post shares three things you can do to help your child and your family prepare The post 3 Steps Before Giving Your Child a Phone appeared first on Jessica Speer - Author ..read more

My first book, BFF or NRF (Not Really Friends), grew out of a kids’ friendship program I ran in schools with small groups of students. Participants gained social awareness and skills alongside their peers through activities and conversations in a fun, supportive environment.  These friendship groups typically met weekly for six to eight weeks.  It’s The post 5 Steps to Start a Friendship Group for Kids appeared first on Jessica Speer - Author ..read more

Recently, a parent asked me this question: “I gave my kid a cell phone without establishing rules first. It’s not going well. She is glued to her phone night and day. Is it too late to put rules in place?” The good news is that it is not too late to implement new phone rules The post Help! I Gave My Kid a Phone Without Rules. appeared first on Jessica Speer - Author ..read more

Summary: Parental controls and child safety settings can help protect kids online and reduce young kids’  access to inappropriate content. To be most effective, controls should be set up on all devices your child accesses and accompanied by ongoing family conversations about digital safety.  This past week, I visited an elementary school to discuss digital The post Parental Controls and Child Safety: Protecting Kids Online appeared first on Jessica Speer - Author ..read more

In the digital lives of adolescents, the terms “cyberbullying” and “digital drama” are often used interchangeably, but there are key differences and unique ways to respond to each. Let’s start with a quiz. Quiz: Is it Cyberbullying or Digital Drama? Answer: At first glance, scenarios #2 and #3 appear to be cyberbullying, while #1 is The post Cyberbullying Vs. Digital Drama appeared first on Jessica Speer - Author ..read more

The author reflects on parenting insights gained over 18 years, acknowledging the learning curve and the impact of these lessons on her daughter’s well-being. She emphasizes the importance of listening, repair, and nurturing confidence in children, with a focus on staying grounded through social challenges and supporting their emerging independence. The post Five Parenting Insights I Wish I’d Learned Earlier appeared first on Jessica Speer - Author ..read more

How can parents talk to kids about digital footprints so they actually listen? How can caregivers explore online reputations in a way that connects with teens? This post explores these questions and more. Many parents are concerned that their child or teen might post something they later regret or that will negatively impact their future. The post How to Talk to Kids About Digital Footprints appeared first on Jessica Speer - Author ..read more

Kids become more informed tech consumers when they understand the tech business model. This article, inspired by The Phone Book – Stay Safe, Be Smart, and Make the World Better with the Powerful Device in Your Hand, shares 3 words tech-savvy kids understand. Over the past decade, anxiety surpassed depression as the most common reason The post 3 Words Tech-Savvy Kids Understand appeared first on Jessica Speer - Author ..read more

This post shares five family conversations about technology and devices that help kids build healthy screen habits. Helping kids develop safe and healthy screen habits is a cornerstone of parenting today. Conversations about digital footprints, stranger danger, screen addiction, and more are common in families today as parents try to keep their kids safe. While The post 5 Family Conversations that Support Kids Healthy Screen Habits appeared first on Jessica Speer - Author ..read more

This series of articles explores what students told me about the trickier parts of middle school. Here’s the final post in this series –  #10 Stress.  If you missed earlier posts, here are links: #1 – Judgment, #2 – Friendship Changes, #3 – Popularity,  #4 – Crushes & Dating, # 5 – Cliques & Groups, The post Middle School Stuff #10: Stress appeared first on Jessica Speer - Author ..read more