Parent U Coffee Talk Audio Podcast Jeff and Cami Summers

How do we protect our teens and tweens from the dangers of the internet? On this episode, Jeff and Cami Summers share their thoughts on barriers and blockers. What are the defensive strategies we should consider when equipping our kids to navigate the pitfalls of life online.


Show Notes:
Investigate and discuss the barriers you think are appropriate in your home. What type of barriers do you need and what are the vulnerabilities that need to be addressed?
How much to time do you spend addressing your child’s heart vs policing their actions? Share with your child how these things online tempt you and that you are in the struggle with them.
Check all your computers browser history. Look into the parental controls of your devices and discuss what is reasonable and realistic in your online strategy.

How do we introduce our teens to social media? On this episode, Jeff and Cami Summers share strategies and practical ways to intentionally equip your teens to be a part of the online community..

Show Notes:
Homework:
Discuss the “why” behind social media. Help your child discern his/her own heart? Share your own desire to be accepted, known, and a part of community. Differentiate between real, life, in-person community, and social media.
Watch Social Dilemma on Netfiix and discuss it with your teen(s). https://www.netflix.com/title/81254224
Plan a weekly check-in about social media: How does it make you feel? How much time are you spending on it? ---make sure your interaction is more like a coach than a dictator.

How do you decide what to post online? On this episode, Jeff and Cami Summers discuss the heart behind posting on social media and how to equip your teen to think intentionally about how and what they post.

Homework:
Discuss the difference between “real” and “fake” online. How do you know what’s real online?
Share your own heart in how you decide what you post. Discuss a personal code of conduct online. Encourage your teen to come up with his/her own standards.
Plan a weekly check-in about social media: How does it make you feel? How much time are you spending on it? Make sure your interaction is more like a coach than a dictator.

How do we guide our teens as they consume social media? On this episode, Jeff and Cami Summers share some practical principles to equip your teens to be discerning as they consume social media.
Homework:
How much time do you spend on social media?
How much time do you think you should spend on social media?
Is this post true? What is the source? What is the world view?
How does this post make me feel?
Read Philippians 4:8 and talk about how it pertains to social media.

Resources:
- Faith for Exiles by David Kinnaman and Mark Matlock: (https://www.pcabookstore.com/p-6274984-faith-for-exiles.aspx)
- Tech-wise Family by Andy Crouch
- Screenwise, Helping Kids Thrive and Survive in Their Digital World by Deborah Heitner
Train kids to navigate this world

Homework:
- How much of my time do I spend on social media?
- Am I modeling good boundaries?
- Discuss with your teen how much time they think their friends spend on social media. Is that a good use of their time?
- What boundaries does your teen think are reasonable? (the goal isn’t to agree or to argue, but to hear your teen’s heart and to begin a conversation)
- What does your teen enjoy about social media? And what does he dislike about it?
Get on social media with your child and talk about what they see.
- Do they see good posts?
- Do they see bad posts?
Discuss the ugly parts of social media.

How do we encourage our kids to be both innocent and wise when it comes to technology? On this episode, Jeff and Cami Summers share both offensive and defensive strategies to help you equip your teens.

- What is our defensive strategy when it comes to protecting your teen from the dangers in the world and even in his or her own heart?
- What are our offensive strategies when it comes to teaching our kids the right things? 
- How do we respond when our child fails with technology? Do we expect our child to fail? How can failure help us to point them to Jesus? 

How have do you struggle with technology? What does your use of technology reveal about your own heart?