Jessica Speer's Blog

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 prepareContinue reading "3 Steps Before Giving Your Child a Phone"

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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’sContinue reading "5 Steps to Start a Friendship Group for Kids"

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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 rulesContinue reading "Help! I Gave My Kid a Phone Without Rules."

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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 digitalContinue reading "Parental Controls and Child Safety: Protecting Kids Online"

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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 isContinue reading "Cyberbullying Vs. Digital Drama"

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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.

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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.Continue reading "How to Talk to Kids About Digital Footprints"

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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 reasonContinue reading "3 Words Tech-Savvy Kids Understand"

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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. WhileContinue reading "5 Family Conversations that Support Kids Healthy Screen Habits"

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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,Continue reading "Middle School Stuff #10: Stress"

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