According to Dr. Devorah Heitner, parents should assess their kids’ digital and communication needs before handing over access to any digital media. Wait! Not as soon as they start bugging you for a smart phone? As Devorah puts it, “Because we supervise so much of our kids’ face-to-face time with peers, they don’t have a lot of practice dealing directly with other kids when there’s a conflict.” That’s why she advocates parents’ giving kids lots of practice in working through different scenarios so they can be more thoughtful and respectful when issues come up online. Annie talks to Deborah about empowering parents on mentoring kids in the digital age.

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About Devorah Heitner (@DevorahHeitner)

Devorah Heitner, PhD is the founder and director of Raising Digital Natives, a resource for parents and schools seeking advice on how to help children thrive in a world of digital connectedness. An experienced speaker, workshop leader, and consultant, Dr. Heitner serves as a professional development resource for schools wishing to cultivate a culture of responsible digital citizenship. Learn more at RaisingDigitalNatives.com

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