Subrena Thompson

MEDT 7462 - Program 4

July 9, 2018

Project 4

Reflection

Children progress at different stages in life. On occasion, a student’s internet

interaction can be a hindrance to their current progression and performance. As a parent, I

truly believe that children require some guidance and support to thrive in the digital era.

Every parent with children that are surrounded by technology should read both books,

Wired Child by Dr. Richard Freed and Screenwise by Dr. Devorah Heitner. Either book

would be beneficial for parents, teachers, and also children. There are substantial materials

in each books are positive guidance based off of families experiences and intense research.

I would like to point out several of the strategies from the books that I felt could be

used at home and school. In Screenwise and Wired Child, the following terms are often

mention throughout; digital immigrates and digital natives. Digital immigrate is a parent or

teacher that inexperience in technology and digital native is the technology savvy child. The

authors seems to focus a lot on these two terms to describe issues relating the both parents

and children. Becoming familiar with digital literacy is something that both authors stress

for parents to do to become more tech start. I can truthful say that I label myself as a

digital native and not a digital immigrate, due the frequent proficient using of technology.

In Screenwise, there is a process that allow parents to get involve into what types of

applications or tools that their children are using on the internet. Called the Greenlighing

Process, start by asking questions about the app, check out the app by exploring with your

child, and engaging the child in questions about how and why is application something he or

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she need to use. The plan to assist parents on cell phones for their children are as

followings, Get clear on what your real fears and desires are on the using a cell phone,

check in about the reasons your child wants the phone, and teach your child some basic

phone etiquette before purchasing it (Heitner PhD., 2016, pp. 125-126). Dr. Heitner input

on ways that parents and teachers can influence children in positive is to be a mentor and

not monitor. She indication that, ”Mentors see that kids are very creative and insightful, by

that they still need models and they still need help navigating this world (Heitner PhD.,

2016, p. 217).”

There are several actions in Wired Child, which the author mentions all through the

book. I like that fact that he states that digital age parents also need to be authoritative

parenting, being responsiveness and demandingness. Limiting children’s’ screen access is

goal that many parents often attempt to achieve, by encouraging other options of

entertainment. Dr. Freed explains how to get children to improve relationship with their

families, “An effective way to provide guidance is by raising examples like this, asking your

child if he or she has ever experienced the misunderstanding of an online remark, and

talking about the advantages of real-world interactions (Freed PhD., 2015, p. 130).” The

books viewpoints that I have listed above can be used regularly by parents and teachers to

guide and aid children of the digital world.

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 References

Freed PhD., R. (2015). Wired Child : Reclaiming Childhood in a Digital Age. North

Charleston, South Carolina, United States of America: CreateSpace Independent

Publising Platform.

Heitner PhD., D. (2016). Screenwise : Helping Kids Thrive and Survive in Their Digital

World. Brookline, MA, United States of America: Bibliomotion, Inc.